Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Pianist Corner rosin

Hi again--I found an old string from 2003 about using rosin to help get a grip on the keys. Someone quickly stepped in to say that the dust could sift down between the keys and gum up the works. I thought that very unlikely, but safety first.

Does anyone here use rosin? Do they have a problem with it? What form do you use? Is there a dust problem?

Another suggested hairspray on your fingers. But how messy!

Why would you want to do that? Are your keys super slippery that you need that? I find that you want to have the ability to move your finger on a key without excess friction, because there are passages where you need to slide your fingers to a different position on the key, and for there to be friction/rubbing there would be very disruptive.

As for it gumming up the works, I'm no technician, but it seems absolutely possible/plausible that it could happen. While I'm not a tech, I have taken apart some of my pianos when the keys don't seem just right and even just normal dust has a way of accumulating and causing issues - I would have to think that adding a sticky substance like rosin into the mix would have the potential to cause some sticking and gumminess over time.

rogerzell, having some familiarity with both rosin and hair spray, under no circumstances would I want either of those to come in contact with the keys on my piano.

What kind of piano do you have? Or rather, what are the key tops made out of? Did you or a tuner recently clean them and maybe that's the cause of new feelings of slipperiness? Or, if you have felt this way for a while, perhaps it's a technique issue?

If it's a key top issue, you might post in PW's piano technician forum here, or it's a technique issue, discuss with a teacher?

Thanks for answers--I'm still inclined to go with rosin--Artur Rubinstein did it, I read that he kept his pockets full. OTOH, I also read he used hairspray.

My keytops are ivory and I guess ebony--1940 steinway. I don't clean them until I can both see and feel the dirt.

This problem is seasonal--winter only really, and now with 70% alcohol handwash, possibly worse. In warmer weather (i.e., higher humidity), my grip is okay--provided that neither the keys or my hands are superclean.

I did post in PW tech forum, and nobody who has responded has any experience with rosin on keys. So all I'm hearing is theory, not hard facts.

It's not a technique issue, tho I'd never claim to have a fantastic technique.

I guess I should have mentioned that my hands have always been dry--I'm a bit surprised at the softness and moisture of other people's hands. And, I can't snap my fingers, they don't grip each other.

Sometimes, in really dry times, my hand skin chaps and cracks.

Rosin can cause dermatitis, especially if your hands are inclined to crack.

A light moisturiser is where I would look first, as dry hands appear to be making things harder for you.

Exactly.

Ah, ok now this is a different issue, dry skin. I'm sorry, I know all the hand-washing and sanitizer gel just makes it worse doesn't it!

Can you sleep with gloves on? If so, some cloth gloves that you can wash, with lotion on before putting the gloves on, would be one thing to try. If you can do some hand-repair overnight, it might make a huge difference.

Finding the right hand lotion can be difficult, but getting something that works for you should make a difference. If you have cracking skin on your hands or specific spots on fingers etc., I recommend A&D oinment (consistency is similar to vaseline but maybe a little lighter.)

You don't want these things on your hands right before you play, but sort of an overall approach to reducing dryness should help.

Good luck!

I used rosin for years as a string player before I ever began piano. Based on that experience, I'd never let the stuff near my piano. Never.

hi and thanks--Shiro, I'm not so troubled that I'm going to wear gloves to sleep.

ClsscLib--so what happens with rosin?

and anyone else--what about chalk? Billiard cues and all--

Try putting double-sided tape on your fingers

Violinists always make sure to clean their violin after every session with a soft dry cloth. Any bits of rosin dust will eat into the varnish after a while, and it makes a sticky mess. I didn't know to clean the bow stick at first and got a sticky buildup. I don't know about the care of real ivory, and what damages it (i.e. rosin).

I play violin and from my experience I would never let that stuff near my piano. It's also very difficult to get off your fingers and the powder is not good to breathe in. If you really want to use rosin, you'll have to make sure to clean off the keys or there will be a lot of buildup.