In the days when pianos had to be tuned by ear, the process was entirely beyond the powers of most nonprofessionals. Electronic tuning devices now make tuning possible without using the ear, but adjusting the strings to the right tension requires a special technique, as does repairing the actual mechanism of the piano.
Tune and Repair Your Own Piano gives a clear and precise explanation of both these techniques as well as the principles of tuning—both by ear and electronic aid—and is written in language that nontechnical readers can understand. It is a necessary book for every piano player, from those in areas where professional help is not readily available, to those who just wish to tune their instruments and carry out simple repairs which might, if done professionally, prove expensive. And it is especially useful for players of harpsichords and other early keyboard instruments that go out of tune every time the weather changes.