The Most Common Problems with Pianos

A perfect sounding piano is beautiful music to your ears, but a piano that isn’t working properly can make your playing sound completely sub-par and is very frustrating. Most of the common problems with pianos are easily remedied. The key is being able to identify the problem and having the solutions at hand.

Here are some of the most common problems with pianos, and how to fix them.

Sticky Keys

This is one of the most common and frustrating problems with pianos. You’re in the middle of mastering a beautiful piece of music but one of the keys is sticky. It may only work sometimes, or only if you push it hard enough. Thankfully, this is almost always simple to fix. Get it fixed sooner rather than later or you might find yourself with a broken hammer which may be a more expensive fix.

Damaged Ivory Keys

Ivory key tops are beautiful, but they do become chipped or damaged after many years of use. Ivory key tops are becoming less common so if many of the keys are damaged, it’s most likely easier to have all the keys replaced with new key tops.

Dirty Keys

If your piano isn’t regularly maintained or cleaned, you may end up with dirty or yellowed keys. Even the sharps can lose colour or form dirt and grime between the keys. Some yellowing of keys can be repaired, but it’s important to consult a professional who has experience in specific cleaning methods according to the material of your key tops.

Unpleasant Sounds

When you’re playing your piano, you would hope the sounds coming from it would be pleasant, so it can come as a surprise when a rattling or strange sounds come from your piano when you play. Figuring out where the strange sound is coming from is the trickiest part. Once the problem has been diagnosed, it is usually easily repairable.

Some reasons for unpleasant sounds include:

• Loose screws
• A foreign object has fallen into the piano (this could be anything from a pen or pencil, mouse droppings or built up dust)
• Broken wire
• Worn felt on pedal
• Not enough practice!

Out of Tune Piano

If your piano is suddenly out of tune, don’t despair. It’s not actually how much you play a piano that changes its tune, but rather changes in temperature and humidity. If you haven’t tuned your piano regularly, simply start by organising it to be tuned at least twice a year to keep functioning at its best.

Let Us Help You Keep Your Piano Maintained

At Pianoforte, we provide a maintenance and repair service to ensure that your piano stays at its best, always giving you the most ideal sound every time you sit down. We can also help find the perfect piano for you. Visit a showroom in Sydney or contact us today to find out more.