Every proud piano owner will naturally be highly familiar with its ins and outs after dedicating years to becoming well-versed at playing the instrument. With that said, this knowledge doesn’t generally go beyond knowing proper maintenance, and there is a lot more involved in gleaning its overall condition.
And while a high-quality piano can work flawlessly for years, the fact remains that they are no less susceptible to deteriorating over time. For this reason, learning to identify when yours needs servicing is a critical part of keeping it in top-performing condition. Hence, to ensure that your piano remains optimal in all aspects, keep an eye out for the following signs that it needs repair.
1. Soft keys or lack of rebound
Piano keys in good condition have that rebound feel or ‘bounce’ that players quickly get accustomed to. This is crucial to your playing experience as the rebound exhibits the piano’s responsiveness and capacity to be played at its full potential. So, when you’re jamming to beginner-friendly tunes on the piano or mastering intermediate classical songs, do be sure to keep an eye out for the (or lack of) rebound.
2. No tension on the pedals
The three main pedals on a piano each serve a specific and important purpose; to make notes quieter, longer, or improve their sound. Like the strings, the pedals gradually lose tension from use up until they can no longer be pressed properly. Without tension, these pedals cannot produce the right sound and thus prevent proper playing.
3. The hammers sound tinny
General upkeep is crucial to a piano’s high-quality and full-bodied sound. Besides the strings, a piano’s hammers also need special care as frequent playing of the piano can wear out their padding and thus produce tinny or metallic sounds. These tones are not only unpleasant but also make it impossible to play well. As such, try to listen to these tinny sounds during your sessions to get your trusted maintenance technician on the job as soon as possible.
4. Difficulty playing
If you are having difficulty playing your piano, such as not being able to play certain notes or chords, it could indicate that the piano needs servicing. This could be caused by a variety of factors such as the piano being out-of-tune, sticking keys or other issues with the piano mechanics.
5. Quickly goes out of tune
One of the most common telltale signs that a piano needs repair is that it always seems to go out of tune quickly. As you may already know, this is due to the piano strings stretching from use to the point that their sounds no longer harmonise. Regular piano tuning (ideally every six months) can largely mitigate this issue and ensure consistent sound quality.
Conclusion
By being on the lookout for the common signs above, you can better understand whether your instrument is experiencing problems and when to call a technician before they develop into bigger issues.
As a reputable and trusted piano dealer in Singapore, Mun Kai Piano possesses unmatched expertise in all things piano, which we’ve accumulated since our incorporation in 1953. From piano rental and sales of a wide variety of used quality pianos to piano tuning and servicing, you can rely on us to be the one-stop shop for all your piano needs. Visit our piano showroom at Ang Mo Kio and experience our quality pianos for yourself!
