![]() ![]() You can try to press the felt down by simply moving the key gently back and forth while the key is raised, at rest, and depressed. Piano technicians use specialized tools to do this. To fix friction from where the bushings meet the pins, you need to compress the felt. This problem will be more noticeable when pressing the sustain pedal while playing the key. If the hammers are slow or sluggish returning to their original positions there may be an issue with the key bushings. The hammers should quickly bounce back to their positions when you let go of the keys. Open the top of the piano and observe the action while playing the keys. Either of these problems will cause friction and result in sticky keys. Moisture can affect the felt on the bushings and cause it to swell, or the pins may become corroded. The holes fit over the rail pins, which hold the key in place and keep it from wobbling. The keysticks are held into place by what is known as key bushings, which are holes lined with felt. Problem: Damaged Key Bushings and Rail Pins You need to use the right kind of glue and apply the patch to both sides of the keystick to ensure it remains balanced. But the weighting and balance of a key are very important. If there is a small crack, it is possible to patch it with glue and a thin piece of wood. How To Fix It:īroken or warped keysticks probably need to be replaced. You may also be able to remove the fallboard (the part that covers the back of the keys) and visually inspect the keystick for cracks or damage. ![]() If the keystick goes down in the front when you depress the key but doesn’t raise in the back, this could point to a broken or cracked keystick. ![]() There is also the possibility of a broken or cracked keystick. The keysticks themselves can become warped or swollen, causing them to rub against each other. You might also like: How to Remove Ivory from Piano Keys.If your keyslip is warped or the felt is damaged, it may need replacing. Replace the keyslip, making sure the shim is low enough to be hidden. Affix the shim below the keys wherever it’s causing the most friction. You can create a shim from some thin cardboard or thick, folded paper. Remove the keyslip from the piano (it’s probably held on by a few screws underneath, although some pianos will require you to remove the end blocks first). You can also try to pull the keyslip toward you slightly and then test the key to see if that fixes the problem. You should be able to see a small gap between the keyslip and the keys. Observe the keyslip to see if it’s pushing on the front of the keys. Sometimes the keyslip gets pushed in toward the keys just enough to rub and cause friction. The keyslip runs along the front of the piano, and they are susceptible to swelling and warping due to humidity. You might also like: How to Sanitize Piano Keys.You may need to remove the keyslip, fallboard, and retaining board to gain access to the area underneath the keys to remove debris that is stuck or has fallen into the piano. ![]() Use caution not to scratch or damage the keys. If there is debris stuck between the piano keys, you may be able to use a butter knife or a small, flat screwdriver to remove it. Do two adjacent keys get stuck in the down position together? This could mean there is debris stuck between them. Is it just one key that is stuck, or several? Depress the keys surrounding the dead key at the same time. Coins, paperclips, crumbs, and practically anything small enough to fit between the keys can cause a stuck key. Grand pianos can collect things inside of the piano itself. Many things can get trapped between or underneath the piano keys. Problem: Debris Stuck Between or Underneath Keys Let’s look at some common issues that cause a piano key to stick, how to diagnose them, and how you may be able to fix a sticky piano key yourself. Others may require a professional technician. Some of these issues you may be able to fix yourself. There may also be debris or a damaged component causing the problem. Well, the most likely cause of a sticky key is moisture and humidity, which can cause the natural materials inside your piano to swell or corrode. In this case, what really is the culprit of a sticky piano key? Why does the key get stuck in the first place? So, before we can get to the solution, we first have to determine what is causing the problem. Problem: Damaged Key Bushings and Rail Pins.Problem: Debris Stuck Between or Underneath Keys. ![]()
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