The 88 Lessons Journal
Learn Piano Tuning.
By Ear.
Deep dives, guides, and field notes on aural tuning, ear training, and the craft of the piano technician. Written by Eathan Janney — PhD in Neuroscience, professional piano tech, founder of PTM.
All Articles
46 articlesEpisode 10: Laying the Bearings — Setting Your First Complete Temperament Octave — 88 Lessons Show Notes
Episode 10: Laying the Bearings — Setting Your First Complete Temperament Octave 88 Lessons: Learn to Tune a Piano by…
Episode 8: The Fourth-Fifth Cross-Check — Your First Temperament Verification — 88 Lessons Show Notes
Episode 8: The Fourth-Fifth Cross-Check — Your First Temperament Verification 88 Lessons: Learn to Tune a Piano by Ea…
Episode 6: The Perfect Fifth — Your First Temperament Interval — 88 Lessons Show Notes
Episode 6: The Perfect Fifth — Your First Temperament Interval 88 Lessons: Learn to Tune a Piano by Ear in 90 Days Ho…
Episode 3: The Unison — Two Strings, One Sound — 88 Lessons Show Notes
Episode 3: The Unison — Two Strings, One Sound 88 Lessons: Learn to Tune a Piano by Ear in 90 Days Hosted by Eathan J…
How to Become a Piano Tuner in 2026
Piano tuning is one of the few skilled trades where genuine scarcity meets genuine demand. The workforce is aging, re…
Episode 4: Equal Temperament — The Map Your Ear Is Building — 88 Lessons Show Notes
Episode 4: Equal Temperament — The Map Your Ear Is Building 88 Lessons: Learn to Tune a Piano by Ear in 90 Days Hoste…
Best Piano Tuning Tools for Beginners (2026 Guide)
Best Piano Tuning Tools for Beginners 2026 Guide By Eathan Janney, PhD — Piano Technician & Founder of 88 Lessons ---…
The One Interval That Unlocks Aural Piano Tuning
The One Interval That Unlocks Aural Piano Tuning 88 Lessons Newsletter — Issue 1 --- Welcome to the first edition of …
The Beginner's Ear Training Starter Kit: Hear the Piano Like a Pro Tuner
A free guide from Eathan Janney — PhD in Neuroscience, professional piano technician, and your instructor for 88 Less…
88 Lessons Is Now on YouTube — Watch Lesson 1 Free
88 Lessons Is Now on YouTube — Watch Lesson 1 Free The 88 Lessons podcast curriculum is now on YouTube. If you've bee…
Aural vs. Electronic Piano Tuning: Which Method Is Better?
Aural vs. Electronic Piano Tuning: Which Method Is Better? By Eathan Janney, PhD — Piano Technician & Founder of 88 L…
Is Piano Tuning Hard to Learn? What Beginners Should Know
Is Piano Tuning Hard to Learn? What Beginners Should Know By Eathan Janney, PhD — Piano Technician, Neuroscientist, F…
Episode 2: The Tuning Fork — Your Only Reference — 88 Lessons Show Notes
Episode 2: The Tuning Fork — Your Only Reference 88 Lessons: Learn to Tune a Piano by Ear in 90 Days Hosted by Eathan…
The Neuroscience of Learning to Tune a Piano by Ear — Why Your Brain Can Do This (Even If You Think It Can't)
The Neuroscience of Learning to Tune a Piano by Ear — Why Your Brain Can Do This Even If You Think It Can't By Eathan…
How Long Does It Take to Learn Piano Tuning? An Honest Answer
How Long Does It Take to Learn Piano Tuning? An Honest Answer By Eathan Janney, PhD — Piano Technician, Neuroscientis…
Episode 1: What Is Aural Piano Tuning? — 88 Lessons Show Notes
Episode 1: What Is Aural Piano Tuning? 88 Lessons: Learn to Tune a Piano by Ear in 90 Days Hosted by Eathan Janney, P…
How Much Do Piano Tuners Make? (2026 Income Guide)
How Much Do Piano Tuners Make? 2026 Income Guide By Eathan Janney, PhD — Piano Technician, Neuroscientist, Founder of…
Can You Learn to Tune a Piano by Ear? (The Honest Answer)
Can You Learn to Tune a Piano by Ear? The Honest Answer By Eathan Janney, PhD — Piano Technician, Neuroscientist, Fou…
Piano Tuning Tools: What You Actually Need to Get Started
Piano Tuning Tools: What You Actually Need to Get Started By Eathan Janney, PhD — Piano Technician & Founder of 88 Le…
What Is the Piano Technicians Guild (PTG) and Should You Join?
The Piano Technicians Guild is the main professional association for piano technicians. Learn what membership offers,…
How Often Should a Piano Be Tuned?
The standard recommendation is twice per year — but the real answer depends on your piano, your environment, and how …
Piano Voicing 101: How Technicians Shape Piano Tone
Voicing is the art of adjusting a piano's tone through the hammers. Learn what voicing is, how it works, and when you…
The Best Piano Tuning Courses Online in 2026
Comparing the best online resources for learning piano tuning — from free podcast-based learning to professional cert…
What Is a Pitch Raise and When Does a Piano Need One?
A pitch raise is a necessary first step when a piano has drifted far below standard pitch. Learn what it is, why it m…
How to Tune a Piano Unison: The Skill Every Tuner Learns First
Unison tuning is the foundation of everything in piano tuning. Learn what a unison is, why it matters, and how to tra…
How Long Does It Take to Learn to Tune a Piano by Ear? (Honest Answer)
How Long Does It Take to Learn to Tune a Piano by Ear? Honest Answer By Eathan Janney, PhD — Piano Technician, Neuros…
Piano Tuning as a Career: What Nobody Tells You Before You Start
Piano Tuning as a Career: What Nobody Tells You Before You Start By Eathan Janney, PhD — Piano Technician, Neuroscien…
What Are Beat Rates in Piano Tuning? A Beginner's Guide to Hearing Intervals
What Are Beat Rates in Piano Tuning? A Beginner's Guide to Hearing Intervals By Eathan Janney, PhD — Piano Technician…
How Much Does Piano Tuning Cost? (2026 Complete Guide)
How Much Does Piano Tuning Cost? 2026 Complete Guide If you've been putting off getting your piano tuned because you'…
How to Tune a Piano by Ear: A Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners
How to Tune a Piano by Ear: A Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners By Eathan Janney, PhD — Piano Technician & Founder of …
How to Tune a Piano by Ear: The Complete Beginner's Guide
How to Tune a Piano by Ear: The Complete Beginner's Guide There's a moment in every aural tuner's education when some…
Piano Technician vs. Piano Tuner: What's the Difference (And Which Should You Hire)?
Piano Technician vs. Piano Tuner: What's the Difference And Which Should You Hire? Most piano owners call them "piano…
PTG Membership vs. Self-Taught: What's the Real Path to Becoming a Piano Technician?
PTG Membership vs. Self-Taught: What's the Real Path to Becoming a Piano Technician? By Eathan Janney, PhD | Piano Te…
ETD vs. Ear: The False Choice That's Holding Piano Technicians Back
ETD vs. Ear: The False Choice That's Holding Piano Technicians Back By Eathan Janney | 88 Lessons --- The debate has …
What Is Aural Piano Tuning (And Why Every Technician Should Know It)
What Is Aural Piano Tuning And Why Every Technician Should Know It By 88 Lessons | Published June 4, 2026 --- There i…
ETD vs. Ear: The False Choice That's Holding Piano Technicians Back
The debate between electronic tuning devices and aural tuning has been framed as a competition. It isn't. Here's what…
How I Learned to Hear Equal Temperament — And Why It Changed Everything
A personal account from PhD neuroscientist and master piano technician Eathan Janney on the moment equal temperament …
The Piano Technician's Complete Guide to Training Your Ear From Scratch
A comprehensive guide to developing the aural skills required for piano tuning — from absolute beginner to tuning you…
What Is Aural Piano Tuning (And Why Every Technician Should Know It)
Aural tuning is the art of tuning a piano entirely by ear — no electronic device, no app, just trained listening. Her…
88 Lessons: Why We Built a Piano Tuning Course as a Daily Podcast
Why a serialized daily podcast is the best possible format for teaching aural piano tuning — and how 88 Lessons was d…
How to Become a Piano Technician: The Complete Career Guide
Everything you need to know about becoming a piano technician — training paths, what the work actually involves, inco…
Piano Inharmonicity: The Hidden Challenge Every Tuner Must Understand
What is piano inharmonicity, why it matters for tuning, and how experienced technicians hear and compensate for it. T…
What Is Equal Temperament and Why Does It Matter for Piano Tuning?
A clear explanation of equal temperament — the tuning system all modern pianos use — what it is, why it was invented,…
How Long Does It Take to Learn Piano Tuning?
The honest answer about how long it takes to learn piano tuning — from first mute placement to charging for your work…
Piano Tuning Tools: What You Actually Need to Get Started
A practical guide to the essential piano tuning tools for beginners — from tuning hammers to mutes to learning resour…
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