I had a player piano and, as he was tuning it for me, I made a camcorder
video tape of the friend who sold it to me.  At first I thought the
tape was to show me how to remove the mechanism, as that was necessary
to get to the tuning keys.  However, it also showed me the sequence of
inserting the felt for damping, and how he used his ear for the tuning.

This was invaluable to me for touch-ups, as it was the last piano the
fellow tuned, after doing thousands at the Ampico Piano Works in East
Rochester, New York.  Another alternative is to tune with the aid of
a good keyboard, as a guide.  Either way, knowing how to get the player
assembly out _and_ back into the piano makes the video well worthwhile.

I only had to pay a pro once.  But my wife insists that her player
piano be tuned by one of the last of the guys who knows and does tune
player pianos.

Will Herzog