Piano Tuning After Moving

Should you hire a piano tuning service after moving to a new home in Kuala Lumpur or Selangor?

This is a question that most piano owners will think about when planning to move their piano. The answer is that is not clear-cut because a piano is not a simple instrument with hundreds of strings and moving parts

Firstly we must understand the main reason that causes a piano to be out of tune. Physically moving the piano or transporting it from your old home to new home does not cause this.

However, subtle differences in humidity and environment between two different locations will cause a piano to be out of tune.

This is because pianos are made of natural materials (such as wood) that absorb moisture and will be affected by changes in humidity.

When humidity increases, the wooden soundboard will swell, increasing the tension of metal strings and causing the pitch to go up; the opposite is true when humidity decreases.

A tuning is required to adjust the tension of the strings so that the sound produced is in tune. Often, it is recommended to tune a piano at least one time in every year to keep the piano in good condition.

Besides tuning, sometimes a piano may need additional servicing too, which includes regulation, voicing and restoration. This is will depend on the condition of the piano and how long since the last service. Giving your piano a regular tuning and servicing is similar to giving your car regular maintenance. An experienced piano technician should be able to advise you if your piano is due for servicing.

There is a myth that after moving, a piano should be left to “settle” for a few weeks before tuning it. In reality there is no real advantage of waiting because a change in humidity or temperature will impact the piano directly, just like how a drop of water will soak into wood within a few seconds.

So back to the question should a piano be tuned after moving it?

It really depends on how sensitive the piano is to changes in humidity and climate, or maybe how sensitive your ear is to the tune of the piano.

You may contact us if you require any piano tuning services. Our company provides the best piano servicing and tuner to ensure that your piano is in top condition after your move.

Share with us your piano tuning after moving experience in the comments below.