Questions to Ask When Buying a Piano
For parents and adult learners about to buy a piano, whether it is new on a showroom floor or secondhand in someone's living room. The questions run in the order the purchase does: which kind of instrument, the piano's past, tuning and what is inside the case, the technician's inspection, price and warranty, then getting it home. Some are for the seller or the dealer, some for a teacher and some for the technician you hire.
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The questions
Each question, and why to ask it
Choosing a type
Do we need an acoustic piano, or will a digital one do for the first few years?
Why ask it
Put this to the teacher before any seller, since teachers draw the line in different places. A digital suits a home where practice has to happen on headphones or the piano has to go up three flights of stairs, while an acoustic gives the touch and sound a digital is imitating. If the answer is digital for now, ask at what point the student will have outgrown it.
Should we buy new or used with the money we have?
Why ask it
New buys a warranty and a piano with no past to investigate. Used can buy a better instrument for the same money, but only once a technician has looked inside it. Tell the dealer and the technician your figure, ask each which way they would go, and notice where the two answers differ.
Upright or grand: what would the difference mean in a room this size, for this player?
Why ask it
A grand's action repeats faster and its sound opens into the room, but it wants floor space on every side and costs more to move. Bring the room's measurements and the player's level to the conversation. At the same money a healthy upright is often the better buy than a worn-out small grand, so ask the technician which they would pick.
How tall is this upright, or how long is this grand, and what does that do to the sound?
Why ask it
Longer bass strings and a bigger soundboard generally give a fuller low end, which is why a tall upright can outplay a very short grand. Have the lowest octave played on two sizes side by side. Bottom notes that thud without a clear pitch are the size talking, and no tuner can change that.
Would renting, or a rent-to-own plan, make more sense than buying right now?
Why ask it
Worth raising when nobody knows whether the lessons will last a year. Find out how much of the rent counts toward a purchase, whether it applies to any piano in the shop or only the rented one, and who pays to move it back if you stop.
Is this a spinet or a console, and will a local technician work on it?
Why ask it
Spinets are the shortest uprights, and their action sits below the keys on rods, which makes repairs slower. Some technicians charge more for them and some turn them down, so call your tuner with the make before a cheap one becomes yours.
On this digital piano, are all 88 keys full size and weighted with a hammer action?
Why ask it
Light, springy keys build a touch that does not carry over to an acoustic at the teacher's house. Play the same loud-then-soft phrase on the digital and on an acoustic in the same shop and compare how much control you get. Then ask how many notes it can sound at once and whether the stand and three pedals are in the price.
Can this acoustic be played silently, and was the system fitted at the factory?
Why ask it
A silent or hybrid system stops the hammers short of the strings and sends a sampled sound to headphones, which answers the apartment problem without giving up real keys. One added later can change the touch a little, so try the piano with it switched on and off before you decide.
Age and history
How old is it, and what are the make, model and serial number?
Why ask it
The serial number dates the piano, and it is often stamped on the iron plate near the tuning pins. Get it before you visit and look up the year with the maker or a published serial list, so the age in the listing can be checked against the instrument. A seller who cannot find it can send a photo of the inside with the lid open.
How long have you owned it, and where was it before that?
Why ask it
Twenty years in one living room is a history you can question in detail. Someone who took it in free last spring knows almost nothing, and the technician's inspection has to fill the gap. With an inherited piano, ask who used to tune it for the previous owner.
Why are you selling the piano?
Why ask it
A move, a smaller home or a child who stopped lessons are the everyday reasons, and they fit an instrument that was simply left alone. Slow down if the answer is that a tuner said it needs work. Ask exactly what work, and what figure was quoted.
Who played it, and roughly how many hours a week?
Why ask it
Half an hour a day in a family home wears a piano slowly. One that came out of a school, a church or a teaching studio has had many times that use, though it was probably tuned on a schedule. For those, look hard at the hammers and ask what has already been replaced.
Which rooms has it lived in, and was it ever kept in a garage, a basement, a porch or a storage unit?
Why ask it
Swings between damp and dry do more harm to a piano than playing does. Follow up on any unheated space or any spot beside a radiator or vent, and ask how many seasons it spent there. Damp tends to leave rust on the strings and a musty smell, and dry heat leaves cracks and loose tuning pins.
Has it been rebuilt, restrung or refinished, and can I see the invoice?
Why ask it
Rebuilt and reconditioned have no fixed meaning, so the paperwork is what counts. An itemized invoice should name what is new: strings, tuning pins, pinblock, hammers, dampers. A glossy new finish on its own changes how the piano looks and nothing about how it plays.
Has it ever been through a flood, a fire or a bad move?
Why ask it
Water lifts veneer, softens glue joints and rusts the strings from the bottom up, and the effects can take months to show. On an upright, ask to unclip the lower panel, then look for a tide line or warped wood near the floor. If the piano is expensive, ask for the answer in writing.
When was it last tuned, and how often in the years before that?
Why ask it
A date within the past year, backed by a receipt, is the answer you are hoping for. After a long gap the pitch sinks, and bringing it back up can take more than one visit, which you pay for. Count that into your offer.
Do you have service records, or the name of the tuner who has looked after it?
Why ask it
Tuners often pencil the date inside the case or leave a card under the lid, so look there if the seller is unsure. Ask permission to phone that tuner. Someone who has worked on this piano can say in five minutes what it needs and whether it stays in tune.
Was this piano made for sale in this country, or imported secondhand?
Why ask it
A question for dealers selling used instruments, which are sometimes shipped in bulk from abroad. Opinions differ on how such pianos settle in another climate, and the maker may not supply parts or warranty service for them where you live. Ask who stands behind this one, then check with the brand's local distributor.
Tuning and condition
Is it at standard pitch, and how long does a tuning last?
Why ask it
Check for yourself with a free tuner app: the A above middle C should read close to 440. Evenly flat across the keyboard usually means neglect. Sour a few weeks after a tuning points at the tuning pins, which is the next question.
Are the tuning pins tight, and has the pinblock been treated, repaired or replaced?
Why ask it
The pinblock is the wooden plank that grips the tuning pins, and once it stops gripping the piano will not stay in tune for anyone. Only a technician with a tuning lever can test how firmly each pin holds. What you can spot yourself are dark stains around the pins or a few pins driven deeper than their neighbors, both signs of an earlier attempt to tighten them.
Are there cracks in the soundboard, and does anything buzz when the piano is played loudly?
Why ask it
Hairline cracks are common in older instruments and many play well with them for decades. The trouble starts when the board comes away from the ribs glued across its back, and you hear that as a buzz on particular notes. Shine a flashlight on the back of an upright or under a grand, then play every note firmly and listen.
Do the notes above middle C sing on when I hold them, or die away quickly?
Why ask it
This is the home test for a soundboard that has lost its arch, which technicians call crown. Hold single notes and count: a tone that dies in a second or two while the bass still rings on is hard to bring back. Compare with another piano in the room or the shop if you can.
What state are the strings and bridges in, and have any strings been replaced?
Why ask it
Rusty strings can snap when a tuner pulls them up to pitch. A few bright new ones among dull neighbors show that some already have. Notes that waver or sound like two pitches at once can come from cracks in the bridge, and that one is for the technician to confirm.
How worn are the hammers, and have they been reshaped or replaced?
Why ask it
Look down at the felt where it meets the strings. Shallow grooves are normal wear, while deep grooves and a flattened face give a harsh tone and leave little felt to work with. Reshaping is a modest job and a new set is a big one, so ask which this piano is facing.
Does every key play, repeat quickly and come back up on its own?
Why ask it
Go through all 88 one at a time, softly and then firmly, then tap each one fast a few times. A handful of sluggish keys in humid weather is often a small adjustment. A long row of silent ones suggests broken parts, so count them and give the technician the number.
When was the action last regulated, and is the touch even from the bottom note to the top?
Why ask it
Regulation means adjusting the many small parts between the key and the hammer, and it drifts as felt packs down. Keys that sink to different depths, notes that only speak when struck hard and hammers that hit twice all say it is overdue. It is ordinary maintenance, but it is hours of labor, so get a quote.
Are the key tops original, and are any chipped, loose or sitting unevenly?
Why ask it
Crouch to eye level and look along the keyboard: the tops should form one flat line with even gaps. Chips are cosmetic and replaceable, and keys that wobble from side to side need new felt bushings. If the old tops are ivory, rules on selling and shipping it differ by country and state, so ask how it works where you live.
Do the pedals all work quietly, and do the dampers stop each note cleanly?
Why ask it
Press the right pedal and watch: the dampers should lift together with no squeak or clunk. Then play short notes up the keyboard and listen for any that ring on after you let go. The middle pedal can be a practice mute, a bass sustain or a true sostenuto, so find out which this one is.
Are there any signs of moths, mice or damp inside the case?
Why ask it
Moths eat the felt on hammers and dampers, and mice nest under the keys of pianos left in quiet rooms. Nibbled felt, droppings or shredded paper mean a cleanup at the least and new felt at worst. A musty smell when the lid goes up tells you about damp more reliably than the seller will.
Can I bring someone who plays and have twenty minutes alone at the keyboard?
Why ask it
Bring the student, the teacher or a friend, plus music that uses the whole keyboard at both ends of the volume. Walk across the room while they play, because that is where most of the listening at home will happen. Bright or mellow is partly taste, and a technician can adjust it only within limits.
How was this new piano prepared after it came out of the crate?
Why ask it
New pianos reach the shop needing tuning and fine adjustment, and dealers vary in how much of that they do. Get the dealer to say what was done to this one, and when. Then make sure the invoice carries the serial number of the piano you played, so that a different one from the warehouse is not what arrives.
The technician
May I have an independent piano technician inspect it before I pay?
Why ask it
A seller with nothing to hide agrees at once, and hesitation is worth noting. Find and pay the technician yourself; do not use one the seller suggests. Ask what qualification or guild membership is recognized where you live.
From the make, the serial number and these photos, is this piano worth a visit at all?
Why ask it
Many technicians will give a quick opinion by phone or message, which can save the fee on an instrument they already know to avoid. Send pictures of the tuning pins, the hammers and the soundboard. As a rule of thumb the visit pays for itself on any used acoustic, a free one included; a new piano under a dealer's warranty and a digital are the usual exceptions.
What does a pre-purchase inspection cost, and what will you look at?
Why ask it
Fees vary by area, so get the figure first and ask whether it is credited if the same technician later does the repairs. A proper inspection covers pin tightness, soundboard and bridges, strings, action, keys, pedals and the case itself. Have the findings put in writing, even as a short email.
What does it need now, what will it need within five years, and what would each job cost?
Why ask it
Sort the answer into three piles: needed before it is playable, sensible to do soon, and cosmetic. The first pile added to the asking price is what this piano really costs. Take that total back to the seller as the basis for your offer.
It has not been tuned in years. Can it be brought up to standard pitch without breaking strings?
Why ask it
The technician may want two or three passes over a few weeks, or may advise leaving old strings tuned low. A piano kept below pitch sounds wrong against recordings, a teacher's duet part or a school band. That may be acceptable in a free piano and is a poor bargain in one you pay for.
Would you buy this piano at this price for one of your own customers, and would you take it on for regular tuning?
Why ask it
Technicians see what local pianos sell for and which ones keep coming back with trouble. A pause before answering is an answer. So is reluctance to tune it in future, since nobody wants to keep returning to a piano that will not hold.
Price and warranty
How did you arrive at the asking price?
Why ask it
Private sellers often work from what they paid or from an online listing for the same brand, and neither reflects this piano's condition. Come with what similar instruments have actually sold for nearby and with the technician's repair list. Presented as arithmetic, a lower offer is hard to take personally.
Is the price on the tag what people actually pay here, and what is the total with tax and delivery?
Why ask it
In many showrooms the tag is where the conversation starts. Ask for one out-the-door figure in writing, then get a quote for the same model from a second dealer if there is one within reach. If the offer is said to end today, ask what happens to it tomorrow.
What exactly is included: a bench, delivery, the first tuning?
Why ask it
Have each item written on the invoice next to the serial number. For a child, check that the bench adjusts or that a footstool will fit, because a seat at the wrong height undoes a lot of teaching. With a private seller, ask whether the bench, the lamp and any music inside it are coming too.
What warranty comes with it, who backs it, and what does it leave out?
Why ask it
A new piano usually carries the maker's warranty, and a used one from a dealer has whatever the dealer chooses to write. Check whether parts and labor are both covered, whether a technician comes to your home, and whether humidity or a tuning schedule is a condition. Read the document itself, not the summary on the sales sheet.
Does the warranty transfer if the piano is sold, and is any of it left on this one?
Why ask it
Some warranties cover only the first buyer, which matters when a nearly new piano is offered privately as still under warranty. Do not take the seller's word for it. Send the serial number to the maker's distributor for your country and ask.
Do you offer trade-in or trade-up credit, and what are the terms?
Why ask it
Some dealers credit most or all of what you paid toward a better piano within a set number of years, which suits a family starting modestly. Pin down the deadline, whether the credit applies against the tag price or the sale price of the next piano, and who judges the condition of yours. If you are trading in an old one now, get its value as a separate figure from the discount.
If it does not suit the room or the player once it is home, can it be returned or exchanged?
Why ask it
A piano can sound quite different under a low ceiling on carpet than it did in a showroom. Ask how many days you have and who pays for the second move. Private sales are generally final and buyer protection differs from place to place, so find out what applies to you before money changes hands.
Is the piano yours to sell, and will you write a receipt that includes the serial number?
Why ask it
Pianos get left behind by tenants, shared between relatives and bought on payment plans, so the person showing it is not always the owner. A few lines with both names, the date, the price, the make and the serial number are enough. Choose a payment method that leaves a trace for both of you.
Moving and setup
What will it cost to move, and who is going to do it?
Why ask it
Get a quote from a specialist piano mover before you agree a price, because on a cheap or free piano the move can cost more than the instrument. The figure depends on the type of piano, the distance and the stairs at both ends. Check what the mover's insurance covers: the piano, your floors and the seller's walls.
How many steps, turns and narrow doorways are there on the way out of your house?
Why ask it
Movers price on exactly these details, and a surprise on the day can mean a surcharge or a piano left on the sidewalk. Ask the seller for photos of the route and measure your own doors, landings and stair turns. Mention every step, the single one at the front door included.
Is delivery done by your own crew or a contractor, and what happens if the piano arrives damaged?
Why ask it
This one is for a dealer. Before signing the delivery slip, walk around the case and play every note, and write any scratch or dead key on the slip itself. Once the truck has gone, damage is far harder to pin on anyone.
How long should it settle before its first tuning at home, and how many tunings will it need in the first year?
Why ask it
A moved piano spends its first weeks adjusting to the humidity of a new room, so many tuners prefer to wait a little before they come. New strings also keep stretching, which is why a new piano tends to want extra visits early on. Check how many the dealer includes and budget for the rest.
What will it cost each year to keep in good order?
Why ask it
Take your technician's tuning fee and the number of visits a year they recommend in your climate, and multiply. Add something for adjusting the action and the tone every few years. A digital piano has none of these costs, which belongs in any honest comparison between the two.
Where in the house should it go, and does this climate call for humidity control?
Why ask it
The usual advice is an inside wall, away from radiators, vents, fireplaces, direct sun and outside doors. In a very dry or very damp region, ask the technician whether a room humidifier or a system fitted inside the piano is worth having. Check the warranty too, since some set conditions on where the piano is kept.
How to check a piano before you buy it
Practical guidance for the conversation itself
Before you go to see it
Get the serial number and photos first
Ask for the make, the serial number and pictures of the open top, the hammers and the back or underside. With those you can date the piano, and a technician can often say by message whether it deserves a trip.
Ask the teacher what they expect
If lessons are already arranged, find out what the teacher wants a student to practice on before you spend anything. Some will name models they like and local sellers they trust, and a few will come along and play one for you.
Measure the room and the way in
Write down the wall space, the door widths and the number of steps. A piano that fits the room but not the staircase is an expensive thing to discover on delivery day.
Find a technician before you find a piano
Ask a teacher, a school music department or a neighbor with a well-kept piano for a name. With someone lined up you can book an inspection within days, before the seller loses patience or another buyer turns up.
What to do at the piano
Play every key before you play any music
Start at the bottom and go up one note at a time, white and black, soft and then firm. It takes three minutes and finds dead notes, sticking keys and buzzes that a favorite piece would skate over.
Open it up
Lift the lid and, on an upright, take off the panel above the keys and the one by your knees if the seller allows. Rust, moth damage, water marks and a run of mismatched strings are visible even to someone who has never looked inside a piano.
Check the pitch with your phone
A tuner app on the A above middle C tells you in ten seconds whether the piano sits near 440 or well below it. Note the reading together with the date of the last tuning, because the pair says more than either alone.
Leave with notes and pictures
Photograph the serial number, the tuning pins and anything that worried you, and write down which notes misbehaved. Your technician can do a lot with that before deciding whether to come out.
Dealer, private seller or free
New from a dealer
The questions that matter most are preparation, warranty, trade-up terms and the out-the-door price. Condition is less of a worry, so spend the time comparing how two or three models feel and sound under the same hands.
Used from a dealer
Ask what the shop did to the piano after it came in and have that list put on the invoice. The dealer's own warranty and a return window are what you pay extra for compared with a private sale, so read both.
Used from a private seller
History and the technician's inspection carry the weight here, since there is usually no warranty and no way back. A lower price leaves room for repairs only if you know what the repairs are.
The piano that is free
Someone giving a piano away is often avoiding the cost of having it hauled off. Add the move, the tunings needed to bring it up to pitch and the first repairs before calling it free, and have a technician look at photos at the very least.
When to walk away
The seller will not allow an inspection
There is no good reason to refuse a technician the buyer is paying for. Thank them and leave the piano where it stands.
It cannot hold a tuning
Loose tuning pins and a failing pinblock turn every tuning into money spent on a few weeks of pitch. For a learner, a piano that is always out of tune is a worse instrument than a modest digital.
The repairs outrun the value
An old upright can need more work than it would sell for afterward. Unless the instrument means something to the family, put the same money toward one in better health.
You are being hurried
The other buyer coming at four o'clock may be real, and the piano may be a good one, and neither is a reason to skip the checks. Pianos come up for sale every week.