piano keys only have ivory or plastic veneer , while the underlying core is wood . This means that the keys themselves can also bend and rub against their neighbours . In these cases , you should call your piano technician and they will decide what is the best thing to do . On rare occasions , we need to replace a complete key , but most bends can be sanded back to create adequate clearance .
Neglect
Pianos need maintenance and the basis of piano maintenance is cleaning . Small particles can get inside the piano and damage it , and it can even be something as harmless as dust . If too much dirt or debris builds up , the condition of the piano may deteriorate , which can affect the way the parts interact .
Cleaning regularly also helps reveal small items that may have fallen into the piano . When small objects such as food crumbs or coins are stuck between the keys , there is less room to move them , so they are likely to stick .
We often see that kids accidentally drop all sorts of little things between the keys , but this is a simple enough problem to solve on your own ; You can slide a knife between the keys to find coins , or use a can of compressed air for smaller items if you ’ re worried about damaging the keys . If you ’ re not confident here , it ’ s best to leave the job to the experts .
Tight Center Pins
Most piano owners will be familiar with hammers ; these are the parts that hit the strings to create sound . Hammers are connected to center pins connected to switches via moving mechanical parts . If the center pins are too tight , usually due to moisture , the keys will feel too heavy to play .
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