How To Move A Grand Piano: A Step-by-Step Guide
Introduction
Pianos elicit astute comparisons to a two-edged sword. They have a dark side, despite the melody, soul-soothing sensations, and life-altering epiphanies they bring. No, it does not. It’s not that their 8-octave, 88-key width means you’ll get hand cramps from yanking your fingers beyond their natural reach, or that you’ll be able to wake the neighbors while rockin’ it.
It’s the heavy-duty, high-risk, and time-consuming nature of moving them.
Let’s be honest. Moving pianos is one such household furniture chore that may leave you perplexed. It’s even worse if you don’t know which keys to press (no pun intended).
If you fall into this category and are here looking for answers, take a deep breath because we have all the tips and tricks you need to go from newbie to know-it-all.
Should you 'do it yourself' or hire professional movers?
Pianos are also known for being as tough as they are delicate to play. With over 10,000 moving parts, it’s not surprising that the slightest misstep can cause long-term damage to your piano. Furthermore, given that pianos can weigh anywhere from 130 to 450 (or more!) kg, we strongly advise hiring a professional moving company with piano moving expertise and movers you can trust. Pianos are frequently the most valuable and expensive piece of furniture in a person’s home. A good piano can range in price from tens of thousands of Singaporean dollars to more than $100,000. Because of the high value of a piano, it must be handled with extreme care, necessitating the use of professional movers.
If hiring professional movers is out of your budget or schedule, most pianos can be moved with the help of friends. We strongly advise you to hire a professional if your grand piano weighs more than 450kg. These large pianos frequently necessitate specialized equipment and handling that only professional movers can provide. We also recommend hiring professionals if there are any steep staircases or narrow corridors.
Piano Moving Kit
You can’t afford to be caught short on piano moves, or any other top mission. That being said, if you’re looking to move a grand piano, you might want to hire a pro and sit this one out. It’s fine if you don’t. Just. Come. Prepared. You’ll need all of your weapons to complete this mission!
We’ve listed them below:
The first and most important is a four-wheel piano dolly. Refrain from using piano rollers/wheels for this task. They’re designed for inch-long movements. They lack the structural efficiency and toughness required to withstand the weight of long-distance moves, such as a piano dolly.)
Tailgate Lorry
Tape (because what DIYer could possibly do without tape?)
Straps for weightlifting;
Truck for moving (This could be rented.) Oh, and You will require a trailer or a rental truck (a pickup truck would be wayyyy too tall to lift your piano into)
gloves for work;
Plastic wrap (clothes can also be used!)
straps for a dolly;
Pads made of cardboard
The Different Kinds of Pianos (And How to Move Them!)
Most pianos’ extremely delicate composition begs the question, “How are you going to know how to maneuver your Piano if you can’t tell its features?” A successful move begins with getting to know your piano, and we’re going to tell you all about the different breeds of these black-and-white beauties!
GRAND PIANOS
Grand pianos are large, as the name implies, with lengths ranging from 120cm to 280cm and weights weighing up to 550kg. The smallest grand should have a total floor area of at least 150cm wide by 190cm long, not including bench space. The length of a grand piano is measured with the lid closed from the very front of the keyboard to the farthest end of the piano along the spine.
You’ll need various-sized screwdrivers to dismantle parts of the piano, moving pads to cushion and guard the piano, stretch wrap to protect the moving pads, moving straps to enable safe handling of the piano, and a piano dolly to transport your piano securely from your apartment to your moving truck as part of your preliminary preparation for moving grand pianos.
To move a grand piano, begin by lifting the piano’s body onto the piano skid or four-wheel dolly once it’s completely covered. Then, using the ratchet straps, secure the piano to the skid and wheel it out of your home and into your moving vehicle or truck. If you’re moving it with friends, make sure that someone steers the piano from both ends of the piano skid or four-wheel dolly. We also recommend having one or two assistants to provide instructions, make a path, and act as a spotter for the piano’s sides.
Once you’ve gotten the piano on board the truck, lift the body of the piano off the skid and place it against one of the truck’s walls. Finally, use ratchet straps to secure the body to the slats on the truck’s walls. Before loading anything you’ve separated into the vehicle, wrap it in moving pads and stretch wrap.
Upright Piano
Upright pianos are typically 110cm – 135cm tall, 155cm wide, and 60cm deep, with the height being the most variable across all models.
Moving an upright piano necessitates extensive planning. You should also ensure that the piano keys and pedals are well-protected. You can do this by wrapping it in a blanket and taping it down. Moving blankets should then be placed on the front, back, and sides of the piano to protect it.
You should also use tape to secure all blankets in place. After the upright piano has been covered with moving blankets, you and your crew can safely lift it onto the dolly. Before lifting the piano, make sure there is someone on both sides of it. To avoid back problems, your moving crew should take extra precautions, such as bending their knees. After the piano has been placed on the dolly, carefully transport it to your moving truck.
DIGITAL PIANOS
The term “digital piano” refers to a diverse range of electronic keyboard instruments that generate sound in a variety of ways. When you press a key on a digital piano, instead of a hammer striking a string as in a grand piano, a sensor is triggered, and an acoustic piano recording is played through a set of speakers. Some digital pianos are extremely portable, and some even run on batteries.
Digital pianos are the easiest to transport, and the reason for this isn’t exactly rocket science. It comes with two main accessories: a stand and a keyboard. The digital piano should be relatively simple to remove from the stand; it should be secured at either corner. Remove the pedal box and power adapter before packing your portable digital piano; otherwise, the inputs may be damaged, causing your instrument to malfunction. You should remove the music stand before relocating it because it is a significant extra load that may fall out or snap off during transit.
Move Piano... In three stages
Moving this whale-like furniture that you treasure requires more than a few steps, especially if you want to move it safely. The possibilities for creativity are limitless. However, as a general rule, you should begin by taking measurements to determine the exact dimensions of the piano in order to meticulously plan the relocation process.
The length of your piano is measured from the keys to the far back, which is referred to as the “tail of the piano.” For accurate length measurement, it’s also critical to use a sturdy measuring instrument and keep it perfectly straight all the way to the end of the piano rim at the top of the tail.
Keep in mind that, while some larger concert grand pianos have a slightly thicker rim and a broader frame to handle the weight and strength distribution, the width of the piano almost never changes.
An upright piano measures 110 to 135 cm in height, 150 cm in width, and 60 cm in depth. Keep in mind that these measurements vary and that yours will most likely be slightly different. However, the standard size is 125/150/60 cm.
The measurements for grand pianos vary because they come in a variety of sizes.
—A baby grand piano’s length ranges from 120cm to 150cm. They weigh about 250 kg each.
— The length of a medium grand piano ranges from 150cm to 180cm. They weigh about 270 kg each.
—A large/professional grand piano’s length ranges from 180cm to 210cm. They weigh approximately 320 kg.
—A concert grand piano’s length ranges from 210cm to 280cm. They weigh between 400kg and 550kg.
—The moving process is divided into three stages: pre-move, move, and post-move.
PRE-MOVE
You should begin by sketching out your route and clearing it. To ensure that your piano will fit through the door frames, use tape or a rope to measure them. Then, to avoid slips, remove any obstacles, such as rugs, from the path.
Wrap a blanket around the piano. To begin, tape the keyboard cover over it as a precaution. This is done to keep the lid in place while traveling. You can use plastic wrap or a large enough cloth to completely cover the rest of the instrument. Tape the wrap to the wall.
MOVING
This is where the dolly, as the most important piece of the puzzle, comes into play. Place the piano on a dolly first, then put on your work gloves and enlist the help of a friend to lift it.
If you’re wondering how heavy a piano is, an upright piano weighs about 130 kg. A grand piano, on the other hand, can weigh up to 500 kg. Lifting an upright piano on a dolly necessitates the use of at least three muscular arms (and at least six for a grand piano). Professionals, on the other hand, use technological tools to make the process simple, safe, and stress-free.
Make a push with the piano on the dolly while the dolly straps are tied to secure it.
Use a ramp if you’re using a moving van or a vehicle large enough to hold the piano. The piano should be dragged and pushed in the vehicle at the same time. You should also use lifting straps for this, and be careful standing behind it because it is heavy enough to crush or injure you.
Cover the floor with moving blankets when loading the piano into the back of the vehicle. The piano should be placed against the back wall of the van, with a lot of other items in front of it. Furniture can be used to secure it.
AFTER MOVE
After you’ve relocated your piano, you should tune it. However, tuning your piano is dependent on the type of move. Moving from one side of a room to the other, or even from one room to another, rarely necessitates any adjustments. If the piano is moved with care in these circumstances, it is highly unlikely that it will go out of tune.
However, if it sounds different after the move, you should consider whether it needs to be tuned.
Moving the piano from one building to another is an example of a relocation that necessitates tuning. A piano can become detuned during a move for a variety of reasons. The most important factor is the change in temperature and humidity from one building to another, as well as during the transfer (as most moving trucks do not have climate control).
