Symptoms
- A buzz or rattle on certain notes or in one area of the keyboard
- The noise changes or stops when you press on a panel or the lid
- A metallic sizzle that lingers after the note is released
- Buzzing that appears in winter and disappears in summer
Likely causes
Objects on or in the piano
Picture frames, metronomes, vases, and coins or pencils that fell inside are the most common cause. They vibrate at certain pitches.
Loose case parts
Lid hinges, music desk, fallboard, bottom board, castors and screws can loosen and rattle.
Damaged bass string windings
The copper winding on a bass string can loosen and produce a dull buzz on a single note.
Soundboard or bridge problems
A rib that has come unglued from the soundboard, a crack, or a loose bridge pin can buzz, often more in dry weather.
Room resonance
Windows, light fittings and furniture in the room can resonate with certain notes and sound like the piano.
What you can safely check yourself
- 1Remove everything from the top of the piano and play the buzzing notes again.
- 2Have someone play the note while you press gently on the lid, front panels and music desk; if the buzz stops, that part is loose.
- 3Tighten visible screws on hinges, the music desk and panels with a correctly sized screwdriver, without overtightening.
- 4On an upright, remove the top front panel and use a flashlight to look for coins, pens or toys lying on the strings or action; lift them out by hand.
- 5Walk around the room while the note plays to rule out windows, lamps and shelves.
What not to do
- Don't push tools or magnets between the strings to fish out objects; you can damage dampers and hammers.
- Don't loosen or twist strings or tuning pins to stop a buzz.
- Don't spray lubricant into the piano to stop a rattle.
Quick fixes vs. call a pro
You can usually handle it
- Items on top of the piano
- Loose screws on panels and hinges
- Objects visible on top of the action
- Room items resonating
Call a technician
- Buzz on one bass note that stays after checks
- Objects that fell deep under the strings or action
- Suspected soundboard crack or loose rib
- Buzz that comes and goes with the seasons
What a technician will do
A technician isolates the source note by note, removes fallen objects from inside the action, and can twist or replace a dead bass string, reseat bridge pins or reglue a loose soundboard rib. Simple cases are found and solved during a regular visit; rib or bridge repairs take longer and are often done alongside a tuning.
A piano holds about 18–20 tonnes of string tension. If a fix means opening the action, turning tuning pins or working near the strings, leave it to a technician.
In Israel
Buzzes that appear in winter in heated or air-conditioned rooms, especially in dry Jerusalem apartments, often point to a soundboard that has shrunk; they may fade as humidity returns but should still be checked.