Piano Tuning After Moving: Why It’s Essential

Introduction

Your piano has safely arrived at its new home—professional movers have placed it exactly where you wanted, removed the wrapping, and driven away. The instrument looks fine, the keys work, and you’re eager to start playing. But something sounds wrong. Notes clash that shouldn’t, chords sound harsh, and the overall impression is that your piano has somehow become broken during the move.

In almost every case, nothing is broken. Your piano simply needs tuning—and it needs it specifically because it has been moved. This isn’t a sign of damage or poor handling; it’s an inevitable consequence of relocating any stringed instrument. Understanding why pianos need tuning after moving, when to schedule that tuning, and what to expect helps you plan appropriately and maintain your instrument’s best performance.

In our 33 years of piano moving across Gloucestershire and throughout the UK, we’ve moved thousands of pianos—and recommended post-move tuning for every single one. This guide explains the science behind post-move tuning and provides practical guidance for ensuring your piano performs beautifully in its new location.

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Why Moving Affects Piano Tuning

The Physics of Piano Strings

A piano contains approximately 220 strings under combined tension of 15-20 tonnes. These strings are stretched across the soundboard and attached to tuning pins in the pin block. The entire system exists in careful equilibrium—and any change to that equilibrium affects tuning.

What moving changes:

Position and orientation: Simply moving a piano from one room to another changes how gravity acts on the soundboard and strings. The minute flexing this causes is enough to alter string tension.

Vibration during transport: Even careful transport involves some vibration. Vehicle movement, going over bumps, and loading/unloading all create micro-movements in the tuning pins and strings.

Handling forces: Tilting, lifting, and repositioning apply forces that the piano doesn’t experience when stationary. These forces temporarily stress components.

Environmental Change

The bigger factor is usually environment:

Humidity difference: Your new home almost certainly has different humidity than the piano’s previous location. Pianos are extremely sensitive to humidity—the wooden soundboard expands and contracts as moisture content changes.

Temperature difference: Different heating systems, different room positions, and different building characteristics create new thermal environments.

The combined effect: A piano moved from a humid Victorian house to a dry modern flat, or from an unheated room to a centrally heated home, experiences significant environmental stress that takes time to stabilise.

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The Science Behind Post-Move Tuning

Soundboard Response

How the soundboard affects tuning:

The soundboard—the large wooden panel that amplifies sound—has a slight crown (upward curve). This crown maintains pressure on the bridge, which in turn maintains string tension.

When humidity changes:

• Higher humidity: Wood absorbs moisture, soundboard swells, crown increases, strings tighten, pitch rises
• Lower humidity: Wood releases moisture, soundboard shrinks, crown decreases, strings loosen, pitch falls

This happens gradually over days and weeks, which is why immediate post-move tuning often doesn’t “stick.”

Pin Block and Tuning Stability

The pin block holds tuning pins:

Tuning pins are friction-fit into the wooden pin block. Any stress on this system—from handling, vibration, or humidity change—can cause pins to shift microscopically, releasing string tension.

Additionally: Moving can cause the wooden pin block to expand or contract as it adjusts to new humidity levels, temporarily affecting how firmly pins are held.

String Behaviour

Strings themselves respond to movement:

• Strings may slip slightly at pressure points during transport
• Vibration can cause minute settlement at bridge pins
• The overall string system may shift toward a new equilibrium

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When to Schedule Post-Move Tuning

The Settling Period

Wait 2-4 weeks after moving before tuning.

This waiting period allows:

• The piano to acclimatise to new humidity and temperature
• The soundboard to reach equilibrium with the new environment
• Initial settling of all components
• Strings and pins to stabilise

Tuning immediately after moving often fails because: The piano continues adjusting after the tuner leaves. Within days or weeks, it may be out of tune again as environmental adjustment continues.

Timing Guidelines

Situation	Recommended Wait	Notes
Local move, similar environment	2 weeks	Minimal environmental change
Move to different building type	3-4 weeks	Different heating/humidity characteristics
Move from storage	3-4 weeks	Storage environment differs from homes
Major climate change (moving to UK from abroad)	4-6 weeks	Significant adjustment needed
Move during seasonal transition	4 weeks+	Environment still changing

Exceptions

Consider earlier tuning if:

• A performance or event requires the piano
• The piano was significantly out of tune before moving
• You simply can’t tolerate the current pitch

Understand that early tuning may need repeating once the piano fully settles.

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What to Expect at the First Tuning

The Initial Assessment

Your tuner will:

1. Play through the piano to assess current condition
2. Check for any mechanical issues that may have developed
3. Evaluate how far out of tune the piano is
4. Explain what work is needed

Pitch Raising vs. Fine Tuning

If the piano has dropped significantly in pitch:

A process called “pitch raising” may be needed first. This involves rough-tuning all strings to approximately correct pitch before doing fine tuning. The reason: when pitch is raised on some strings, it affects others (the soundboard flexes), so a single pass can’t achieve stable results.

Pitch raising:

• Takes additional time
• May cost more than standard tuning
• May require a follow-up fine tuning later

If the piano is close to pitch: Standard fine tuning can proceed directly.

Post-Move Tuning Costs

Typical UK pricing:

Service	Approximate Cost
Standard tuning	£70-£120
Tuning + minor pitch raising	£100-£150
Significant pitch raise + tuning	£120-£180
Multiple tunings (package)	£150-£250

Factors affecting cost:

• How far out of tune the piano is
• Whether pitch raising is needed
• Your location (urban/rural)
• Technician experience level
• Whether additional work is discovered

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Multiple Tunings After Moving

Why One Tuning May Not Be Enough

For significant moves, multiple tunings are often necessary:

First tuning (2-4 weeks after move): Brings the piano to approximate correct pitch after initial settling.

Second tuning (2-3 months later): Fine-tunes after the piano has fully acclimatised. This tuning often holds better.

Ongoing maintenance: Return to normal tuning schedule (typically twice yearly).

The First Year After Moving

Expect some instability:

The first year in a new environment is often challenging for pianos. The instrument passes through a full seasonal cycle—summer humidity, winter dryness—in its new location. Each season may cause some pitch drift until the piano “learns” its new environment.

This is normal and doesn’t indicate damage.

When Additional Tunings Are Essential

New pianos: New pianos (under 3-5 years old) need more frequent tuning anyway, as new strings stretch. Combined with moving, this may mean quarterly tuning for the first year.

Significant environmental change: Moving from one extreme environment to another (very humid to very dry, or vice versa) creates more adjustment than local moves.

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Environmental Factors in Your New Home

Humidity: The Critical Factor

Ideal piano humidity: 40-50% relative humidity

Common UK home environments:

Environment	Typical Humidity	Effect on Piano
Modern centrally heated home (winter)	25-35%	Too dry—pitch falls, components shrink
Victorian house (poor heating)	55-70%	Often too humid—pitch rises, sticky keys
Conservatory	Highly variable	Worst environment—constant change
Well-controlled modern home	40-50%	Ideal

Temperature Considerations

Temperature itself is less critical than humidity, but:

• Rapid temperature changes cause expansion/contraction stress
• Position near radiators or heat sources causes problems
• Cold drafts affect the side of the piano they hit
• Consistent temperature is better than “correct” temperature

Positioning Recommendations

For best tuning stability:

• Away from direct sunlight (causes uneven heating)
• Away from radiators and heating vents
• Away from external walls (temperature fluctuation)
• Away from fireplaces (dry heat)
• Not in conservatories or unheated rooms
• Ideally against an internal wall in a stable room

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Common Post-Move Issues

Normal Post-Move Symptoms

Don’t panic about:

General out-of-tune sound: Expected and fixable with proper tuning.

Individual notes worse than others: Different strings respond differently to change. Tuning resolves this.

Slight action changes: Keys may feel slightly different as the action adjusts to new humidity. Usually normalises within weeks.

Issues Requiring Attention

Contact a technician if you notice:

Buzzing or rattling: May indicate something loose—either from the move or previously hidden.

Keys not working: Individual keys that don’t produce sound need mechanical attention.

Significant change in touch: If the action feels dramatically different, investigation is warranted.

Visible damage: Any cracks, splits, or damage should be assessed.

When Problems Aren’t Move-Related

Sometimes post-move tuning reveals pre-existing problems:

• Issues that were masked before
• Gradual deterioration that coincidentally manifests
• Problems the previous owner didn’t mention

The move itself rarely causes major damage if handled professionally.

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Maintaining Tuning Stability Long-Term

Regular Tuning Schedule

For most home pianos:

• Minimum: Once per year (adequate for light use)
• Recommended: Twice per year (spring and autumn)
• Optimal: Quarterly (for serious players or in challenging environments)

Maintaining regular tuning prevents:

• Gradual pitch drop
• Strings becoming accustomed to wrong tension
• Greater instability over time

Humidity Control

Consider installing:

Piano Life Saver / Dampp-Chaser system: An internal humidity control system that maintains consistent humidity around the soundboard. Particularly valuable in environments with significant seasonal variation.

Room humidifier/dehumidifier: Maintains overall room humidity, benefiting the piano and other wooden furniture.

Hygrometer: Monitor humidity to understand your environment and identify problems.

Environmental Consistency

Small investments in environmental control pay dividends:

• Consistent heating rather than dramatic on/off cycles
• Avoiding piano in extremely variable rooms
• Addressing obvious humidity problems (damp walls, excessive condensation)

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Expert Tips from A1 Piano Removals

From Our Moving Experience

1. Factor tuning into your moving budget: Post-move tuning isn’t optional—it’s essential. Budget £80-£150 as part of your overall piano moving costs.
2. Don’t panic at first impressions: The piano sounding bad immediately after moving is normal. Wait, arrange tuning, and judge the outcome.
3. Inform your tuner about the move: Tell them the piano was recently moved, from where, and any known environmental differences. This helps them understand what they’re dealing with.
4. Book tuning in advance: Piano tuners can have waiting lists. Book post-move tuning when you book the move, scheduling for 2-4 weeks after.
5. Give feedback after tuning: If the piano goes out of tune quickly after professional tuning, tell the tuner. They can investigate whether there’s an underlying issue.

Questions to Ask Your Tuner

• Is the piano holding pitch well since the move?
• Do you recommend a follow-up tuning?
• Are there any concerns about the action or soundboard?
• What humidity level should I aim for in this room?
• Do you recommend humidity control systems?

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About the Author

Liam

Piano Moving Specialist

Liam is part of the A1 Piano Removals team, bringing professional expertise to every piano move.