What's wrong with my piano? 8 Common Problems - Restoring Bradfield Pianos (2023)

Since herInvention mid 17th century, Pianos have occupied a prominent place in many households. Both decorative and functional, pianos are one of the most natural ways people keep music in their lives.

However, like any instrument, pianos - especially older pianos - require maintenance due to age-related issues. From sticky keys to muffled voices, pianos can show a variety of signs that you should contact a qualified technician to make the necessary repairs. For the beginner, it can be overwhelming to realize that several different factors can cause a symptom. Recognize these problems, along withUnderstanding essential piano components, is an essential part of instrument ownership.

With a solid understanding of common problems and symptoms,professional repair and maintenancecan prevent minor problems from becoming more pronounced. However, owners should also keep in mind that pianos are delicate instruments - adjustments made without the help of a professional could worsen a problem or even ruin the instrument.

Eight common piano problems to watch out for

Fortunately, if you are aware of the most common symptoms, you can accurately describe any problems to a technician and give them a good idea of ​​where to start and what a repair might involve.

1. Stuck or sticky keys

One of the most obvious problems to identify is sticky or stuck keys — it doesn't take an expert to spot when keys aren't bouncing back into shape. But just because it's easy to identify doesn't mean it's easy to fix.

Sometimes the key only requires a slight wiggle for everything to return to its original state. Even so, it is imperative that you consult a professional to investigate the root of the problem. Even if it does get back into shape, a stuck key could be a symptom of a more serious problem.

Some possible culprits of sticky buttons are:

• Physical blockages:One of the reasons for keeping food or other crumbly substances off your keyboard is that it only takes a small obstacle for the keys to stick.
• Moisture Issues:For a wooden instrument, it's not surprising that moisture can damage a piano. It's important that you not only keep beverages off your instrument, but that you do sokeep the climateto avoid temperature or humidity fluctuations. Once you expose the keyboard to moisture, the keys or front rail can become puffy, which can cause alignment and spacing issues.
• Tight key sockets:Piano keys rely on two different pins—a balance pin and a guide pin—to ensure the key rocks on its pivot and stays properly aligned. The pins rest in a felt-padded part of the pen. If these felt bushings are too tight, either because they are new or because they have swollen from moisture, the pins will not move freely and the key will bind or move slowly.
• A distorted key certificate:It's also possible that the key strip has become warped. This causes friction between the key and the slip, preventing it from returning to its natural position.

2. Damaged or dirty keys

A well cared for piano can bring as much aesthetic beauty as musical joy. Unfortunately, with time and improper maintenance, keys can become more of an eyesore than a pride.

After years of playing, the oils from human hands can trap dirt that stains the keys. Also, lack of light can cause some ivory keys to yellow. Some basic maintenance can slow discoloration - keep keys covered when not in use, but make sure ivory keys get at least a little light to keep them whitest. After playing, use a soft, dry cloth to remove dirt or oil from your hands.

This process underscores the importance of discussing your general piano maintenance with your piano technician. While using alcohol swabs or soapy water may seem intuitive, it can quickly become a problem. Improperly cleaning your keys can be just as bad - or worse - than not cleaning them at all.

When owners hear "cleaning," one of the most common solutions is to reach for soapy water. Unfortunately, moisture can damage your instrument. Too much moisture can cause the keys to swell or warp, turning a minor cosmetic issue into an issue with overall functionality.

Another popular idea is to use household cleaners or rubbing alcohol to scrub away stains. This is perhaps the worst option sinceAlcohol and many solvents will dry out the keys. In these cases, the ivory or plastic casing that surrounds the wooden key can chip or break.

If your keys are discolored beyond a simple wipe, be sure to consult an expert for recommendations on the best treatment for your piano.

3. Rattling or buzzing

A well cared for piano can bring as much aesthetic beauty as musical joy. Unfortunately, with time and improper maintenance, keys can become more of an eyesore than a pride.

After years of playing, the oils from human hands can trap dirt that stains the keys. Also, lack of light can cause some ivory keys to yellow. Some basic maintenance can slow discoloration - keep keys covered when not in use, but make sure ivory keys get at least a little light to keep them whitest. After playing, use a soft, dry cloth to remove dirt or oil from your hands.

This process underscores the importance of discussing your general piano maintenance with your piano technician. While using alcohol swabs or soapy water may seem intuitive, it can quickly become a problem. Improperly cleaning your keys can be just as bad - or worse - than not cleaning them at all.

When owners hear "cleaning," one of the most common solutions is to reach for soapy water. Unfortunately, moisture can damage your instrument. Too much moisture can cause the keys to swell or warp, turning a minor cosmetic issue into an issue with overall functionality.

Another popular idea is to use household cleaners or rubbing alcohol to scrub away stains. This is perhaps the worst option sinceAlcohol and many solvents will dry out the keys. In these cases, the ivory or plastic casing that surrounds the wooden key can chip or break.

If your keys are discolored beyond a simple wipe, be sure to consult an expert for recommendations on the best treatment for your piano.

4. Out of tune

As with all instruments, intonation is critical to the operation of a piano. Unlike most instrumentstune a pianorequires more than a few turns of a tuning pin or minor valve adjustment. The good news is that if you've maintained and serviced your piano regularly, it shouldn't go out of tune nearly as often as a guitar or trumpet.

While age and use will inevitably lead to eventual tuning, your efforts to maintain consistent humidity and temperature can go a long way in helping your piano stay in tune longer. One of the most common reasons for premature detuning is swelling or shrinking of the pin block due to environmental changes. Not only can this shift the tuning pegs slightly, it also leaves the tuning pegs generally slack, meaning they won't hold intonation even after adjustments.

The dangers of loose pins causing ongoing tuning problems once again underscores the importance of having your piano regularly inspected and serviced by a technician. Neglecting or attempting to repair the piano yourself can result in costly and complicated future repairs.

First of all, many players do not realize that they are touching the strings or tuning pegs with their bare handsthe metal will oxidize quickly.Once this has started, rust can quickly form and the strength of the string will be affected. The likelihood of breaking a string or needing new tuning pegs at this point increases dramatically.

The oils from your hands are just the beginning of these dangers. Without the right tools or knowing the correct torque, you run the risk of damaging the pins themselves, which could then require new pins or even pin block repair.

5. A note or group of notes that doesn't sound right

Another problem that's easy to spot but difficult to diagnose is when keys don't sound a note. This is almost always a string or mallet problem, but diagnosing this problem can be difficult as it can also be caused by other problems, which is why a professional piano technician is so important. In addition, the repairs involve work on the metal mechanisms inside, which can pose additional problems.

If your notes don't make a sound, your technician is likely looking for the following:

• Cracked or Misaligned Hammer Heads:It seems obvious, but if the mechanism that strikes the string is either broken or the string is missing, there will be no sound. Depending on the condition of the mechanism, the technician will replace or realign the hammer.

• Broken or snapped strings:If the string is about to break or has already broken, the hammer may not be making firm contact and the string may not vibrate properly, resulting in a lack of tone.

• voting issues:Another possibility is that the string is badly out of tune. In this case, the hammer hits, but the string doesn't have enough tension to make a sound. If this is the case, especially with only one note, it could mean the tuning peg has come loose and needs repair.

7. Sustain pedal not working

At the other end of the spectrum, you'll sometimes find that your notes retain no resonance when you take your fingers off the keys, even when you've pressed the sustain pedal firmly to the floor.

Luckily, the problem is generally easy to find, as it almost always involves the sustain pedal itself or the attached lever, meaning it may need an adjustment in pedal action or a realignment of the lever that controls the dampers. In rare cases, the lever itself will cause the assembly to be misaligned. In any case, your tech should be able to give you a better sense of what adjustments to make by looking at your sustain pedal.

8. Piano sounds muffled

Another unfortunate piano problem is the poor intonation of the instrument. It's not that the notes aren't playing or are out of tune - they just don't have the clarity and harmonic tones that give a piano its distinctive sound. If you plan to tune your piano, it will also need to be tuned to a high standard prior to tuning adjustments.

If the voice is muffled in this case, you probably have one of two problems:

• Hammer displacement:The density and resilience of the hammer head will play a significant roleaffect how your instrument sounds.In the case of a muffled sound, you need denser substitutes to deliver a sharper sound. In other situations, the heads can be too tight and cause a harshness in tone, in which case they can be softened rather than replaced.

• Action Alignment:The mechanism is the entire striking mechanism. If the striking mechanism is not aligned properly, the hammers will not make direct contact and your piano will have a weak or muffled tone.

As always, it is important to have an experienced technician examine the piano and make the correct adjustments. A trained ear can bring vibrancy and color back to your old piano, but a beginner can easily spoil the action further.

LET BRADFIELD PIANO BE YOUR PIANO REPAIR AND MAINTENANCE TECHNICIAN

It's hard to believe that so many components come together to create a unified sound. Due to their complex and spirited nature, upright pianos require a great deal of knowledge both to own and to take proper care of.

Withappropriate maintenance and repair, Your piano can bring a lifetime of joy and beauty. Avoiding situations that cause problems in the first place is an essential part of protecting against future problems. While age and wear and tear ultimately degrade your instrument, neglect, improper conditions and avoidable accidents mean your piano will need servicing sooner than expected.

The two pillars of piano repair are tackling any problems before they become more serious and having qualified technicians make any adjustments. It's easy to put off smaller, less obvious problems, but mechanical or wear-related problems get worse over time - often causing bigger problems later. In the meantime, trying to fix the problems yourself can damage the instrument as much as it makes it better.

Establish a relationship with our qualified technicianscan be a valuable decision to preserve your investment in your piano. Once it becomes clear that your instrument needs servicing, find the advice and skills you need.Contact us todayto find out more about our services or to schedule a maintenance visit.