Sometimes the buzz or rattle is not really coming from the piano itself. I recently had a rattling sound that I thought was coming from my piano when I played a bass note. It turned out that it was actually coming from the fluorescent light fixture above the piano. Also, my piano tech told me about a piano that had a buzz and nobody could figure out what was causing it. The piano tech slid a probe through one of the holes in the plate and along the sound board. Just by luck he found a coin that the owner's young son had dropped into the piano.
I have had buzzing from across the room that was hard to detect. I find it is best to use two people when trying to identify that type of noise. I also had a older Seth Thomas metronome that I had to stop using as the face plate was buzzing all of the time even when not in use.
So glad you are enjoying my videos. I am sorry that I am not able to upload as many as we make the transition to our recording studio in Tennessee. I will continue to upload videos as I can , and hope to have the move completed by late June. We will at that time start showing not only the making of the studio, but uploading videos including new material that I am now writing and will continue to write.
Wacky what can cause a buzz. Maybe depends on what we are defining as a buzzing sound. Ive been having a string buzz on D2 on my samick grand for a while that two tuners couldnt fix. I am going to do your tests and see if i cant find the culprit.
I haven't got anyone else available to help me try all of these things at the moment, although I definitely have to have a go. Any thoughts on what the range of the buzz might suggest? I had two high pitches a semitone apart that have been both buzzing for a while. A damper screw fell out the other day, so I took the action out to replace it. I ran the hoover inside as well, as I'd be wondering if the sound was coming from something around that area. Since I replaced it, the buzz has spread further though. It's now covering notes in the range of a tritone or so. Does this point towards any particular possibilities to check in this area? It's so strong on one of the new notes that I'm sure I can't simply have missed it before. Would some kind of debris cause a buzz over such a big range? It's quite a new piano (a kawai gx3) so I'd hope that any structural faults are unlikely.
Love your videos, Jamie. They really helped in the purchase of my 5'10" Boston. Just had its first tuning, and when it was finished, there was a certain B-flat in the bass that caused a buzz when played very loud. The tuner (very skilled, works for Chicago Symphony Orchestra) discovered that the hammer wasn't hitting the string perfectly square. (She fixed it.) Have you heard of that?
I have an upright piano and I seem to be having the same issue but mine is just a B. It’s refurbished and they told me everything was replaced but I don’t know the buzzing sound is annoying I’m hoping when my first tuning comes around they’ll be able to fix it.
No, I have a brand new Kohler and Campbell, model KIG59. We are concerned we have bought a bad quality instrument, and have a clicking sound on many of the notes. The action is c also quite heavy, resulting in missed notes when trying to play softly
Hi James, I just wanted to thank you for the video, I recently found a buzz in my Kimball - Bosendorfer grand and it is related to the bass strings, I checked the bridge but it's actually a string which has become loosened. Thanks a lot!
Hello, love your videos! I do I have a question in regards to the buzz on my my Steinway s series, lower bass last 5 notes, I did one of the 8 Method you Suggest and find that going under the piano by pushing the rib it did stop the buzzing, so now what I'm I looking at as for as repairing it??? Is is it repairable?
My sister tells me that she has a crack in the sound board of her small upright piano. Her teacher/tuner told her that, since she doesn't play much anymore, she shouldn't worry about it. I'm not sure if there is a buzz or not. Is there a simple fix, like injecting the crack with a glue that has good cohesive, as well as adhesive, properties? Or would that mess up the resonant (is that the right word?) properties of the sound board?
If it is not buzzing I think it will be fine. If it is buzzing your sister might be better off just looking for another used upright unless she has a special attachment to the piano.
Always good videos. So much to learn. Thank you!
Great review.. i went to a piano store yesterday, and i played a baldwin 5”6 Grand. i really like it and im thinking of buying one in the future.. 😀
Sometimes the buzz or rattle is not really coming from the piano itself. I recently had a rattling sound that I thought was coming from my piano when I played a bass note. It turned out that it was actually coming from the fluorescent light fixture above the piano. Also, my piano tech told me about a piano that had a buzz and nobody could figure out what was causing it. The piano tech slid a probe through one of the holes in the plate and along the sound board. Just by luck he found a coin that the owner's young son had dropped into the piano.
I have had buzzing from across the room that was hard to detect. I find it is best to use two people when trying to identify that type of noise. I also had a older Seth Thomas metronome that I had to stop using as the face plate was buzzing all of the time even when not in use.
Thanks for your video!
Hi James, always good information. Thanks so much.
Carol
So glad you are enjoying my videos. I am sorry that I am not able to upload as many as we make the transition to our recording studio in Tennessee. I will continue to upload videos as I can , and hope to have the move completed by late June. We will at that time start showing not only the making of the studio, but uploading videos including new material that I am now writing and will continue to write.
Thank you for posting. I’m going mad trying to find a vibration or buzzing starting after middle C at G and then stopping at an octave higher at A.
Wacky what can cause a buzz. Maybe depends on what we are defining as a buzzing sound. Ive been having a string buzz on D2 on my samick grand for a while that two tuners couldnt fix. I am going to do your tests and see if i cant find the culprit.
I haven't got anyone else available to help me try all of these things at the moment, although I definitely have to have a go.
Any thoughts on what the range of the buzz might suggest? I had two high pitches a semitone apart that have been both buzzing for a while. A damper screw fell out the other day, so I took the action out to replace it. I ran the hoover inside as well, as I'd be wondering if the sound was coming from something around that area. Since I replaced it, the buzz has spread further though. It's now covering notes in the range of a tritone or so. Does this point towards any particular possibilities to check in this area? It's so strong on one of the new notes that I'm sure I can't simply have missed it before. Would some kind of debris cause a buzz over such a big range?
It's quite a new piano (a kawai gx3) so I'd hope that any structural faults are unlikely.
Love your videos, Jamie. They really helped in the purchase of my 5'10" Boston. Just had its first tuning, and when it was finished, there was a certain B-flat in the bass that caused a buzz when played very loud. The tuner (very skilled, works for Chicago Symphony Orchestra) discovered that the hammer wasn't hitting the string perfectly square. (She fixed it.) Have you heard of that?
I have not heard of that one, but I have seen a damper wire hitting a string an causing a buzz.
I have an upright piano and I seem to be having the same issue but mine is just a B. It’s refurbished and they told me everything was replaced but I don’t know the buzzing sound is annoying I’m hoping when my first tuning comes around they’ll be able to fix it.
Great video! I learned a lot. Thank you. I'd be very interested to see a video on piano key clicking noises
Renata, do you own a older Steinway?
No, I have a brand new Kohler and Campbell, model KIG59. We are concerned we have bought a bad quality instrument, and have a clicking sound on many of the notes. The action is c also quite heavy, resulting in missed notes when trying to play softly
Hi James, I just wanted to thank you for the video, I recently found a buzz in my Kimball - Bosendorfer grand and it is related to the bass strings, I checked the bridge but it's actually a string which has become loosened. Thanks a lot!
Glad to hear it was something simple. Most buzzes are really a simple fix, it's just that we always have to look for the other things as well.
ThePianoforever Thank you James!
Hello, love your videos! I do I have a question in regards to the buzz on my my Steinway s series, lower bass last 5 notes,
I did one of the 8 Method you Suggest and find that going under the piano by pushing the rib it did stop the buzzing, so now what I'm I looking at as for as repairing it??? Is is it repairable?
My sister tells me that she has a crack in the sound board of her small upright piano. Her teacher/tuner told her that, since she doesn't play much anymore, she shouldn't worry about it. I'm not sure if there is a buzz or not. Is there a simple fix, like injecting the crack with a glue that has good cohesive, as well as adhesive, properties? Or would that mess up the resonant (is that the right word?) properties of the sound board?
If it is not buzzing I think it will be fine. If it is buzzing your sister might be better off just looking for another used upright unless she has a special attachment to the piano.
I have buzz on the E4 key, and it appears that it is being cause by the hammer double hitting the string...
So annoying
Harpsichords have all of these problems as well.
I can’t go under my piano..