Catch the Buzz - What to Do When Your Piano Makes Unwanted Noise  

            There is nothing like a buzzing instrument to drive a pianist crazy.  And it’s a pretty common thing to happen.  Every piano is made up of thousands of parts, so you’re likely to have to deal with it at some time or other. 

            Most pianists’ first impulse is to call their tuner.  It’s true; there are many causes of piano noise that should be dealt with by a competent technician.  But very often the problem is something simple that can easily be addressed at home. 

Try these simple measures first before you pick up the phone.  You might find that it saves you the wait (and the expense) of an extra visit from your tech.

·        Before you even start poking around your instrument, see if the noise is coming from an object on or near your piano.  Metronomes, piano lamps and the like can rattle around when you play.  Even objects across the room, such as vases, windows and picture frames can vibrate with the sound waves and set up a buzz.

·        Next, check for rubbing between cabinet parts, especially if your piano has one of the new polyester finishes.  Polyester is extremely durable, but two polyester-coated parts do sometimes buzz where they touch.  Play the offending notes repeatedly while fussing with the music desk and lid.  In can be simply a matter of finding a “just-so” placement of these parts and leaving them there, or inserting a piece of felt between them.

If you have an older piano you might want to check the lid props and/or music desk for age-hardened or missing rubber or felt pads.

·        Check for foreign objects lodged or trapped in the piano.  Even a very small object, like a paper clip, can set up a horrendous racket.  A foreign object buzz usually sounds on more than one note and can shift to different notes. 

In a grand, the culprit is generally something that has fallen onto the soundboard.  Try thumping the soundboard with your fist – if you get a buzz that way, it’s almost certainly a foreign object.

Candy wrappers, Lego’s and the like can also make their way inside an upright, especially in households with small children.  Open up the top of your piano and fish out the offending object.  (Don’t worry – it’s no worse than lifting the hood of your car, although a little heavier.  Just lift the lid, undo the latch on either side, and lift straight up.  I’m a smallish woman and have no trouble doing it by myself, but there’s no shame in getting someone to help if you’re nervous about it.)

Oh, don’t forget to check the little ledges between the support posts on the back of your upright.  Cats and young kids love to use these to store their treasures.

·        When not caused by a foreign object, buzzing sounds are frequently caused by loose screws and fasteners.  Look carefully inside your piano (if you have an upright you’ll want to open up the bottom panel as well as the top.  This is easy to remove using the metal clip in the middle at the top.)  You’ll see all sorts of screws holding the various parts together.  Go through with a screwdriver and tighten anything that is loose.

Also check your piano’s cabinet hardware for loose parts.  Lid and music desk hinges, locks and lid props can all work loose and rattle or buzz.  (It’s even possible for caster ball bearings in need of greasing to set up an annoying noise – although removing the caster from a several-hundred-pound piano is not a job for the novice.)

            One last note – it’s a really good idea to have an assistant strike the buzzing keys while you search for the source of the noise.  Not only does it make the process go faster, but sometimes it’s hard to know what you’re hearing after a while, and having a second pair of ears can be very helpful.

            And don’t forget – although a large percentage of annoying piano rattles and buzzes can be fixed quickly and easily at home, there are also plenty of noise problems best left to your technician.  So if these measures fail, don’t hesitate to give him or her a call!