Yamaha U3 upright piano key problem

Are you talking about mechanical friction or the key surfaces being too smooth?

Well done Francesco, you took the question right out of my mouth!!! I suppose: the keys "dance" a little bit to the left and right? As if the key felts were too loose? This looseness, if that is the case, depends on both the central key felts and the front ones, which both need to be replaced. At the same time, the key pins must be checked to ensure they are not oxidized. This would only cause the new felts to wear out in a short time.

This sensation of looseness could also depend on the mechanical pins being slow, especially those of the hammer repetitions. This can also cause the parts, especially the hammers, not to be solid enough at the moment of impact with the string, ruining, besides everything else, their surface. All of this needs to be verified. A good technician will be able to highlight the problem and solve it.

The proper functioning of the action affects our approach to the instrument and therefore the sound and the development of piano technique. Furthermore, a malfunction can sometimes produce an incorrect movement of the components and a consequent non-uniform deterioration.

Anyway, these are all suppositions. Give us some more explanation.

Ciao Paolo

I think he was referring to the surface of the keytops.

I have noticed that pianists often adopt improper terms, even technical ones, to express a sensation: for example, the term "weight" to indicate "hardness," or "light" to indicate poor grip.

I think that with "friction" he meant to express the grip of the fingers on the keys.

In fact, galalith is quite slippery—unlike natural or synthetic ivory—and often leads to "slipping" during rapid passages. In the past, I found a solution by lightly sanding the keytops, and there was a slight improvement. Furthermore, a less smooth material—though this is just my feeling—ideally allows for greater contact between the finger and the string.

hi, i meant exactly the friction that is missing between the fingers and the key which is too smooth, maybe there is some cream that could help me or some product to apply to the keys?

Thank you

On mine, they tried to "scrape" the surface a bit perpendicularly to the length of the key. I don't know if it is an orthodox technique.

Absolutely nothing should be scraped! Try to degrease and clean the keys, but DO NOT USE ALCOHOL.

Use a small piece of gauze or a cotton swab dampened with water and a bit of dish soap. Go over it again with a swab using only water to remove the light layer of soap. Dry with a dry cloth. When perfectly dry, you will see that the finger grip will be just right.

In reality, there are satin keyboard covers, but they are generally intended for harmoniums. The Yamaha keyboard is very good and it would be a shame to give it up.

Even emotional sweating can cause some problems, as long as it's yours... In this case, having a cotton handkerchief at hand will solve the small problem which, moreover, belongs to many great pianists.

It is true that in the past the choice of ivory solved the problem, but now it has been banned to avoid poaching and the killing of animals.

Some dated pianos still have it.

For example, the magnificent Bluthner grand piano that Marco posted for sale in the new or used piano section has it; it is beautiful and intact. I will take this opportunity to point out that it is still for sale at a very low price. Wonderful, even if some work needs to be done on the mechanics (I have inspected it: new strings and pins, soundboard is healthy, beautiful cabinet, perfect frame, good resonance charge).

thanks for the advice, I will try