What Happens When a Piano Hasn't Been Tuned for Years?
Professional advice from a piano tuner with over 40 years' experience
It’s a question I’m often asked: “My piano hasn’t been tuned for years. Is it too late?”
In most cases, the answer is no.
I’ve been tuning and working with pianos for over 40 years, and I’ve encountered plenty of instruments that haven’t seen a piano tuner for many years. Sometimes they’ve been inherited, sometimes they’ve been sitting unused, and sometimes life has simply got in the way and regular tuning has been forgotten.
The good news is that many of these pianos can be brought back into enjoyable playing condition.
What happens to a piano when it isn’t tuned?
A piano is under enormous tension. Its strings are constantly pulling against the structure of the instrument, and changes in temperature and humidity can gradually affect the tuning.
When a piano is left for several years, it will often drift below standard concert pitch.
That doesn’t necessarily mean there is anything seriously wrong with it. It simply means that a normal tuning may not be enough.
It may need a pitch correction
If the piano has fallen significantly below standard pitch, I may recommend a pitch correction before carrying out the fine tuning.
This involves carefully bringing the overall tension of the strings back towards the correct level before completing the final tuning.
Trying simply to tune individual notes perfectly while the entire instrument is substantially flat can result in instability because changing the tension of one section affects other parts of the piano.
A pitch correction deals with the instrument as a whole.
Will an old piano stay in tune?
Age alone doesn’t determine whether a piano can hold a good tuning.
I’ve worked on older pianos that remain remarkably stable and considerably newer instruments that need attention.
What matters is the condition of the piano, including the strings, tuning pins, action and general structure.
If I find something that concerns me, I’ll explain it rather than simply carrying on and presenting you with an unexpected bill.
What if the piano needs more than tuning?
Sometimes a piano that hasn’t been maintained for years needs more than its pitch correcting.
The action may need adjustment, notes may be sticking or not repeating correctly, or years of dust and debris may have accumulated inside the instrument.
These are separate issues from tuning and can be dealt with through piano repairs, regulation, voicing, servicing and deep cleaning, depending upon what the individual piano actually needs.
Not every older piano needs extensive work.
My approach is to assess the instrument and recommend only what is genuinely worthwhile.
How often should a piano be tuned afterwards?
Once the piano has been brought back to pitch and stabilised, regular tuning helps keep it there.
For most domestic pianos, I generally recommend having the piano tuned approximately once or twice a year, depending on the instrument, its environment and how much it is played.
Has your piano been neglected for years?
Don’t be embarrassed about it. I’ve seen it many times.
Whether your piano hasn’t been tuned for two years, ten years or considerably longer, the sensible starting point is simply to have it assessed.
I provide professional piano tuning throughout Cardiff, Newport, Usk, Monmouth, Abergavenny, Crickhowell and surrounding areas of South Wales.
Standard piano tuning: £120
If your piano requires pitch correction or any additional work, I will explain what is needed before proceeding.
Robert King
Piano Tuner
Over 40 years’ experience
