Returning to a piano that has not been played or tuned for years.

A piano that has not been played or tuned for several years is not necessarily beyond use, but it is not necessarily worth the investment either. This guide covers what to note safely from the outside, when to call a technician and what not to attempt yourself.

Published 19 October 2026 · 3 minute read · Written for buyers, not for any one instrument

What to note safely

Observe from the outside, do not adjust.

Before calling a technician, note the following from outside the instrument. Do not open internal panels, remove parts or attempt any repair, tuning or adjustment.

Try the keys. Slowly, one at a time. Note which keys stick, return slowly, make no sound or make a buzzing, clicking or rattling sound. Write down the note names.
Try the pedals. Does the sustain pedal hold notes? Does it release cleanly? Does the soft pedal change the volume? Any squeaks, clicks or stuck pedals are worth noting.
Listen. Are any notes noticeably out of tune with their neighbours? Does the instrument produce any sounds when you are not touching it (a hum, a rattle from the room)?
Smell. Report a musty or unusual smell near the case without assuming its cause.
The room. Note whether the piano has been near direct sun, in the stream of an air conditioner, against an outside wall, or in an uncontrolled room.

These observations help you describe the piano to a technician and help them prepare for the visit. Yamaha's maintenance guidance covers the environmental conditions that affect a piano over time.

What not to do.

An unused piano in unknown condition needs a qualified technician, not an experiment:

Do not attempt to tune it yourself. Tuning requires controlled work on the tuning pins. Forcing pins without the right tools and knowledge can break strings or damage the pinblock.
Do not spray anything inside the case. No lubricant, no polish, no compressed air. Yamaha's maintenance guidance advises against DIY cleaning of the action and strings.
Do not remove parts or open internal panels. Removing an action, a panel or a key is professional work. A technician removes and reassembles these; you do not.
Do not move the piano to a different room. Moving it changes the climate it sits in and can stress an instrument in unknown condition. Let the technician assess it where it stands.

Booking the assessment.

For a piano that has been unused for years, ask what the first visit should include rather than assuming a standard tuning covers every concern. Tell the technician:

The make and model of the piano, if you know it. The make is usually on the fallboard (the board that covers the keys when closed).
How long since it was last tuned or serviced, even approximately.
The room conditions: air conditioning, dehumidifier, direct sun, outside wall.
What you noticed from the observations above: stuck keys, unusual sounds, smells, visible damage.

The technician can then assess the instrument and quote any work needed. The tuning guide explains what a standard tuning visit covers. The repair or replace guide covers how to compare the cost of work with the cost of a replacement.

What the assessment covers.

A qualified technician assessing an unused piano will typically evaluate:

Pitch level: how far the piano has dropped from standard pitch, and what is needed to bring it back.
Tuning stability: whether the pins will hold a tuning reliably.
Soundboard and bridges: structural condition that affects the sound.
Action condition: whether the keys, hammers and dampers are in working order or need attention.
Humidity effects: swollen parts, corroded hardware, mould or felt damage.
A quotation for the specific work needed, itemised.

With the quotation in hand, you can decide whether to invest in this piano or consider a replacement. The sell or trade-in page explains what Music Companion needs from the owner if the piano is not worth the work.

Questions

Unused piano questions, answered.

Can a piano that has not been tuned for five years be tuned again?

The work depends on the individual instrument and its condition. Ask a qualified technician whether an assessment is needed and what the visit would include. Do not assume from the time alone that it needs a pitch raise or a particular number of visits.

Should I play a piano that has not been tuned in years?

You can try the keys and note what you find. Use it to notice which keys feel different, which notes sound wrong, and whether anything buzzes, sticks or rattles. Those observations help the technician. Do not assume the action is in good order or attempt to force a stuck key.

Is it worth tuning an old piano or should I replace it?

That depends on the instrument, its condition and the work quoted compared with a suitable alternative. Ask a technician to assess and quote the specific work before deciding. The repair or replace guide explains how to compare the complete options.

What has Singapore humidity done to my unused piano?

Humidity can cause wooden parts to swell, felt to absorb moisture and metal parts to corrode over time. The extent depends on the room conditions and how long the instrument has been sitting. A technician can assess the damage and advise on what is practical to address.

Where the rest is set out on this site: Tuning and service booking → Tuning guide → Humidity and care → Repair or replace decision → All guides →

Request a quotation

Have a piano that has been sitting?

Send the make, model, how long it has been since the last tuning, and the room conditions. We can advise on whether a tuning assessment is the right starting point.

Ask about assessment Call +65 8883 3266