Maintenance

Black Keys

The following is Chopin's Black Key Etude

The right hand plays only black keys

You can tell from this Chopin Etude that black keys are very important. They must be leveled properly with the correct amount of key dip (the amount the key is depressed). Black keys need to have their height set as accurately as the white keys. It is more difficult to do a quick glance and tell if the black keys are level. You can set a good quality straight edge across them and get an idea; try not to depress them. Also be careful not to scratch them. Technicians use a special wood straight edge that has a slight arc so that the keys will be a little higher in the middle than at the ends (1/16th or so). This is done since the middle keys are generally played more and the height tends to sink quicker. Keys sink because the material that they rest on at the balance rail compresses. They can also sink due to felt damage from moths, mice, rats or bugs. Sometimes you find a grand that has the height too low so that when the black keys are depressed they go all the way down to the level of the white keys. When they go below the level of the white keys they are called "buried". In either of those two cases the keys are much more difficult to play since the white keys are in the way. That condition is caused because the key height is too low, the key dip (the amount the key goes down) is too great or both. Sometimes black key tops that are wood need to be replaced if they are badly worn.

Black keys are somewhat more prone to key bushing damage than white keys since they stick up above the whites. Hard uncontrolled playing puts extra side force on those keys which wears out the key bushings. When keys get loose laterally, some control during playing is lost and they can feel uneven since some will be more worn than others. Keys can be rebushed, but their life can be prolonged with sensible playing. Good classical pianists play a lot of notes obviously, but they play in a controlled manner.

Preventative Maintenance

1. Don't place the piano under an out-vent or have one behind the piano.

2. Sunlight can cause premature checking of a lacquer finish and harm other finishes as well. Such heat is not good for the glue joints and sunlight on a soundboard is very big no no.

3. If you see indications of rodents near a piano, ask me to install some type of poison control inside the piano. Mice like to make nests under the keys and they use your piano's felts to do so.

4. If you must store a piano, it is absolutely necessary to have storage that is climate controlled. Some piano movers also have proper storage available.

5. It is best to keep your piano from getting very low in pitch. It is hard on the soundboard to have to pull all the strings back up to tension numerous times in a piano's life.

This photo shows a bridge with its 3 strings per unison. When the piano is tuned, the wire is pulled in the direction of the arrow. Side bearing is created as the strings pass across the bridge pins. This side pressure along with some down pressure acts to clamp the strings to the bridge to some extent even though the wires will move across the bridge pins when the piano is tuned. As the strings are pulled over the bridges under tensions of at least 170 lbs per string, the bridges tend to rotate forward (at least temporarily). Eventually though the bridges can roll forward permanently due to the soundboard giving up so to speak. Wood can only take so much. When this happens, the downbearing or down pressure at the front of the bridge will be reduced. My experience is that there is less likely hood of buzzing and zingy type sounds when there is good positive downbearing at the front to the bridge. I should say that there is some difference of opinion among piano technicians on this subject and it can get rather technical. The best plan in any case is to have regular tunings that keep the piano from drifting lower and lower.

6. I have installed many humidity control systems in verticals and grands. They are a great investment and you could think of them as property insurance. Properly installed they can extend the life of a piano. They can keep your piano better in tune and functioning at a higher level.

TRUE, FALSE, Etc.

1. A piano should always be placed on an inside wall. False This was true with older drafty type homes that had little or no insulation in the walls. Today most of us live in a better setting and therefore I don't see that it is a concern.

2. When a piano is moved, it should always be tuned. Moving may affect the tuning especially if it is in a cold or hot environment during the move and/or with extremes in humidity. The actual act of moving a piano may not affect the tuning that much. It depends partly on the piano's construction.

3. A piano should be kept closed at all times except when being played. False in my opinion. I person might especially like to leave a grand lid open after a technician has cleaned off the soundboard and plate area for example. The soundboard looks so much nicer without a layer of dust on it. If the piano has a humidity control system installed, the system will be more effective if the lid is closed most of the time. The keys get less dusty and are protected from flying objects when the fallboard is closed. It is a debatable matter as to whether closing off the keys will help slow down the yellowing process. If there is humidity control in a vertical piano or in a grand with a rod under the keybed, then I would say that it would be of benefit to keep the fallboard closed.

4. New pianos need fewer tunings than older pianos. False New pianos need more tunings because the strings are stretching and other aspects of the piano are settling.

5. It is best to buy a very inexpensive piano for kids that are just beginning. If they don't stay with it and practice, buying a really good piano would be a financial mistake. False My opinion on that is that buying a piano that is in bad condition in terms of regulation, the amount of wear to the felts, the evenness of the touch and overall sound makes it very difficult for a student to do well. If the sound is good and the action feels right and is even, this gives the beginner a fighting chance. Also if you get a good price on a good used piano, you can easily resell it in case the lessons don't take and recoup your investment. It would be best if you hire a technician to look at a piano first before the purchase. Please avoid pianos that have been in a garage type situation without any climate control for a few months or longer. They will most likely have damage to their action felts which will affect function and tone as well as other problems.

6. Be sure to have your housekeeper apply a lot of furniture polish to the piano to protect it. False Many furniture polishes are not right for pianos. You don't need a heavy oily finish even on lacquer finishes. That causes dirt to cling and generally has a displeasing look. Also you should not use any conventional furniture polishes on the newer type finishes such as polyester or polyurethane. Most piano technicians sell the appropriate type polishes that will help reduce static which attracts dust and not leave your piano with an oily look. You can get by without polishes at all in many cases. There are special cloths available that do a good job. I like the micro-fiber type cloths which I sell. I also sell Cory Polishes.

Looks like I need to add a few "Trues".

Got Pencils!

If you find yourself short of pencils or pens, they could be just behind the fallboard of your Grand Piano.

On some pianos it is feasible for the customer to remove the fallboard with some instruction.

Pencils, etc. can actually cause a note to malfunction by getting jammed against a key or whippen.

In that case the culprit should be removed soon.

It is best to not force a key that is not functioning properly.