Why Tuners Tune the High Notes—Even If You Don’t Play Them

It’s tempting to ignore the highest notes on your piano, especially if you rarely touch them. But keeping them in tune matters more than you might think.



Even unused, those strings sit under high tension and drift with seasonal changes. When they go out of tune, they can vibrate sympathetically and subtly affect the notes you do play. Over time, leaving an entire section neglected can also throw off the piano’s overall tension balance, making the whole instrument less stable.

And of course—musical needs change. Someday you or someone else may want those bright top notes ready to go.

In short, tuning the full range keeps your piano healthier, more stable, and better-sounding. Even the notes you don’t play contribute to the sound you hear.