This is a very common occurrence, and there are several reasons why it takes place. We ran through how you can prevent them, and most importantly, how they can be solved. You’ll be able to play your piano smoother than ever afterwards.
How Do You Fix Stuck Piano Keys?
With everything covered, we’ll finally answer what you’re here for.
1. Food & Crumbs
To get rid of anything stuck between the crevices, you can get a small knife and scoop it out. You’d easily get crumbs and other debris out this way. Once done, pressing against the key(s) would tell you if the issue has been resolved.
If you’re not a fan of sharp objects, get hold of a can of compressed air. You can blow whatever is lodged outside.
2. Objects Underneath the Keys
You need to open the device to remove anything stuck underneath the ivories. Using a screwdriver, remove the lid, music shelf, fallboard, and fall strip. Name the screws as you remove them, as it’ll be hard to place them back otherwise. To see if anything has gotten underneath the keys, lift them slightly by holding the back and raising their front. By shaking them gently, whatever is stuck would be dispelled.
3. Swelling of Wood
Find the key that is giving you trouble. You’ll then have to press the one adjacent to it. With a small screwdriver, separate the two. This would create a space for the enlarged ivory.
If it’s your key slip that has gotten swollen, gripping it and pulling it forward might do the trick.
4. Rusty Pins
Regularly cleaning the pins would prevent them from rusting. However, they may get so corroded/tight that you might need to purchase new ones.
How Do Piano Keys Get Stuck?
Pianos can last for many many years.
There are many reasons why a piano key can get stuck. Let’s take a look at them.
Food & Crumbs
The most common way they get stuck is when crumbs get lodged between the keys if you had a snack while playing the piano. We’ve all done it. It’s especially bad if your piano has ultra-thin gaps, though, as it would be hard to get the crumbs out. Children also tend to put things between the crevices.
Objects Underneath the Keys
Not only can objects get stuck between the keys, but underneath them, as well. This can result in a very uncomfortable time playing the instrument as there would be so much resistance that the keys wouldn’t be pressed. In terms of what can get underneath, it can be anything. A lot of the time, it’s dust balls.
If you have children, the chances of you finding things lodged underneath are high. Similar to the above point, coins and a range of other things may be found.
Swelling of Wood
Hopefully, you know what a key-slip is; it is the panel of wood between your keys. If you live in an area with high humidity, the panel may get swollen. But this isn’t the only way it could cause the keys to get stuck. You may accidentally press against the slip, and it will push against the ivories.
As you can imagine, the more humid the area you live in is, the more the slip would swell. It worsens if there is high temperatures as well.
Speaking of wood swelling, the panels aren’t the only part of the piano that’s made from the material. Although they’re called ivories, they are made from wood too. When it gets humid, it can expand. They are widely made from felt. It is very susceptible to moisture and temperature. To know if a key is swollen, try pressing it along with the adjacent keys. Differences in resistance would tell you what you need to know.
Rail Pins
Pianos are intricate and are made of many parts. You’re familiar with key-slips. However, rail pins exist as well. They are placed underneath the ivories, glued to the wooden frame. As they are nails, it’s no surprise that they can rust over time. However, this can prevent the keys from moving up-and-down freely.
Regularly cleaning would prevent this condition. You’re advised to lubricate them too. You can do this with some oil, and apply it to the pins. Test how smooth the piano is to play after each lubrication, adding more oil to the nails if needed.
If your piano is very old, the corrosion on the pins may be very bad. We’ll tell you what you need to do in the latter part of our article.
Tight Pins
It’s not just rail pins, there are several other nails in the instruments that can get become tight at times. This is especially true for those connected to the jack and hammer flange. The nails on them are called the center pins. When a key is pressed, the depressed movement activates the sticker and whippen. You don’t need to know what they are, but know that they work the jack flange, which in turn works the hammer flange. This causes a string to be moved, causing the intended note to be played.
When they get rusty, it not only results in the key being hard to play, but you will experience slow response from the flanges. When playing music that requires fast movements, this is the worst possible thing that could happen.
How Do You Prevent Piano Keys from Getting Stuck?
Having run through the below points, there are several things you can do to prevent them. As they say, prevention is better than cure. We’ll be discussing what they are before running through how you can remedy the issues.
Piano Covers
All piano owners should have covers. They are large cloths that can be placed around the instrument, protecting it from dust. You can find them made from a multitude of materials. They not only protect your piano but also makes the room look attractive, as they come in all kinds of designs. What’s great about them is that they prevent moisture and humidity from affecting its insides. This is especially true if the cover you purchased was made from thick fabric.
Not only do they prevent the wood in your piano from swelling, but they prevent dust from settling in it too. If you remember, we mentioned that dust could get accumulated under your keys. Keeping the keyboard locked underneath also prevents children and animals from soiling the keys and dropping fur. Coins, paperclips, and other objects lodged inside are a major cause of keys getting stuck.
Keep Kids Away
Probably the easiest way to prevent your ivories from getting stuck is by keeping kids away. Although piano covers can help, children may find a way to take them off. If you own an expensive piano, this is something you should consider.
Keep Food Away
You can be proactive and limit the number of snacks you have by the piano, as well. By stopping yourself from eating while playing, you’ll reduce the chances of crumbs getting lodged in between keys. This will also keep the keyboard clean. Food leaves oil on your fingers, which would then get onto the keys. As the ivories get stickier, this could attract ants, causing some serious trouble.
A Dehumidifier
To make sure moisture is never an issue, you can purchase a dehumidifier. It would protect the space, and prevent the wood in your piano from being affected. Unfortunately, they are costly. This is probably the costliest preventive measure on our list.
Final Thoughts
As a piano player, you know how important speed is. Some of the toughest pieces requires that you make multiple hand movements, with different intensities. This is hard to do if your keys are stuck. Unfortunately, this is a common problem, and at some point, something might get stuck between them. Most of the time, this would be food. It could also be dust balls and a range of other materials.
To get rid of them, a compressed air can would do the trick. It can get rid of anything. Other than this, the area where your piano has been placed matters as well. It could be very humid, making the wood swell. Prevention is better than cure, so move it somewhere else or purchase a dehumidifier.
All in all, if you follow these points, you can take care of anything that might affect your piano keys.