Symptoms
- A click or tap when a key goes down or comes back up
- A knock heard from the pedals or under the keyboard
- Clicking that is louder on soft playing
- Several keys in one area clicking at once
Likely causes
Worn or compressed felts
Felt pads under the keys, on the key frame and in the action compress over decades, leaving wood-on-wood contact that clicks.
Loose action screws
Flange screws holding hammers and other parts loosen as wood shrinks, letting parts wobble and tap.
Dry or worn key bushings
The cloth bushings guiding each key wear out or loosen, so keys knock sideways against their pins.
Pedal mechanism
Dry pivots, worn felt on the pedal levers or a missing pad under the trapwork can click with every pedal press.
What you can safely check yourself
- 1Pinpoint the source: press each key slowly and listen whether the click is on the way down or up, and whether it is in the keys or the pedals.
- 2Gently wiggle a clicking key side to side; noticeable play suggests worn key bushings.
- 3Press the pedals without playing; if they click on their own, the noise is in the pedal system.
- 4Check and tighten loose screws on the fallboard, key slip and front panels.
What not to do
- Don't spray WD-40 or oil into the action or keyboard; it attracts dirt and ruins felts and wood.
- Don't tighten screws inside the action yourself; overtightening can split parts or change the regulation.
- Don't put paper or cardboard under keys to stop a click.
Quick fixes vs. call a pro
You can usually handle it
- Loose screws on panels and fallboard
- Identifying which keys or pedal click
- Checking for loose items under the keyboard
Call a technician
- Clicks inside the action or under the keys
- Wobbly keys with worn bushings
- Replacing compressed felts
- Squeaks and clicks in the pedal trapwork
What a technician will do
A technician tightens action flange screws, replaces worn key bushings and felt punchings, and lubricates pedal pivots with the right products. Tightening and spot repairs often fit into a regular visit; replacing felts across the keyboard is part of a regulation and can take several hours.
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
In homes with strong air-conditioning or winter heating, wood shrinks and screws loosen faster, so clicks often appear after a dry season.