What You'll Do

  • Play instruments to evaluate their sound quality and to locate any defects.
  • Adjust string tensions to tune instruments, using hand tools and electronic tuning devices.
  • Disassemble instruments and parts for repair and adjustment.
  • Inspect instruments to locate defects, and to determine their value or the level of restoration required.
  • Repair cracks in wood or metal instruments, using pinning wire, lathes, fillers, clamps, or soldering irons.
  • Reassemble instruments following repair, using hand tools and power tools and glue, hair, yarn, resin, or clamps, and lubricate instruments as necessary.
  • Compare instrument pitches with tuning tool pitches to tune instruments.
  • String instruments, and adjust trusses and bridges of instruments to obtain specified string tensions and heights.
  • Repair or replace musical instrument parts and components, such as strings, bridges, felts, and keys, using hand and power tools.
  • Polish instruments, using rags and polishing compounds, buffing wheels, or burnishing tools.

Essential Skills

Quality Control Analysis 3.88/5
Troubleshooting 3.75/5
Repairing 3.75/5
Critical Thinking 3.62/5
Service Orientation 3.12/5
Complex Problem Solving 3.12/5
Judgment and Decision Making 3.12/5
Reading Comprehension 3.0/5
Active Listening 3.0/5
Speaking 3.0/5
Equipment Selection 3.0/5
Equipment Maintenance 3.0/5

Career Fit Overview

Use this summary to sense whether the day to day rhythm and focus of this path line up with what energizes you.

Top passions

  • Maker: Building and fixing energizes you. You like tangible results and practical tools.
  • Artist: Creating original work and expressing ideas feels natural.
  • Organizer: Bringing order to data and processes satisfies you.

Common styles

Attention to Detail, Integrity, Dependability, Achievement/Effort, Initiative

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Key Abilities

This career demands strong capabilities in the following areas:

Hearing Sensitivity 4.38/5
Arm-Hand Steadiness 4.0/5
Manual Dexterity 4.0/5
Finger Dexterity 4.0/5
Near Vision 4.0/5
Control Precision 3.75/5
Auditory Attention 3.75/5
Problem Sensitivity 3.62/5

Technologies & Tools

Katsura Shareware KS Strobe Tuner Katsura Shareware ProLevel Katsura Shareware SoundFrames Mensurix Audio Reyburn CyberTuner TonalEnergy Tuner & Metronome Tunable Instrument Tuner TuneLab Tunic OnlyPure Veritune Verituner

Work Environment & Style

Common Styles for This Career

  • Attention to Detail (High importance: 4.86/5)
  • Integrity (High importance: 4.77/5)
  • Dependability (High importance: 4.68/5)
  • Achievement/Effort (High importance: 4.45/5)
  • Initiative (High importance: 4.45/5)

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How to Become One

This career typically requires vocational school, related on-the-job experience, or an associate's degree. Some specialized training or certification may also be required.

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Also Known As

This career is known by many different job titles across industries. Here are all the variations:

Accordion Repairer Accordion Tuner Band Instrument Repair Technician (Band Instrument Repair Tech) Band Instrument Repairer Banjo Repairer Bow Repairer Brass and Wind Instrument Repairer Brass Instrument Repair Technician (Brass Instrument Repair Tech) Fretted Instrument Repairer Fretted String Instrument Repairer Guitar Builder Guitar Inspector Guitar Repair Technician (Guitar Repair Tech) Guitar Repairer Guitar Technician (Guitar Tech) Harp Regulator Instrument Builder Instrument Repair Technician (Instrument Repair Tech) Keyboard Instrument Repairer Keyboard Instrument Tuner Luthier Mandolin Repairer Metal Reed Tuner Musical Instrument Mechanic Musical Instrument Repair Technician (Musical Instrument Repair Tech) Organ Fixer Organ Installer Organ Pipe Voicer Organ Preservationist Organ Tuner Percussion Instrument Repairer Percussion Instrument Tuner Piano Inspector Piano Mechanic Piano Regulator Piano Technician (Piano Tech) Piano Tuner Piccolo Mechanic Pipe Organ Installer Pipe Organ Mechanic Pipe Organ Repairer Pipe Organ Technician (Pipe Organ Tech) Pipe Organ Tuner Player Piano Technician (Player Piano Tech) Reed or Wind Instrument Repairer Reed or Wind Instrument Tuner Registered Piano Technician (Registered Piano Tech) Stringed Instrument Repairer Stringed Instrument Tuner Tone Regulator Tuner Violin Mechanic Violin Repairer Voicer Wind Instrument Repairer Woodwind Instrument Technician (Woodwind Instrument Tech)