Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Pianist Corner Slipping off Black Keys

New piano 3 months, MH AA

Getting used to any new piano just seems like it is a matter of adjustment.

From the time I got MH AA, I noticed that the keys were slippery. Nice in most aspects and this is not a complaint, but I sometimes slip OFF the black keys.

Do you, on yours? (whatever it may be?)

While shopping, the feel of the keys was important. Some keys had crisp edges that I didn't like; old Ivorys, I did like; some had thin black keys and others thick. I thought/think it is a matter of adjustment.

The MH black keys installed are not shiny, and you can see the wood grain of the ebony.

The new rosewood keys with ebony tops that I ordered, seem thinner, shinier, and it makes me nervous about replacing the nice ebony keys that I am getting use to.

Any comments about YOUR black keys?

And slippage?

LL

I prefer back keys with a shiny finish and wide enough (white keys as well) to almost fill the space between the keys. Keys with alot of lateral wiggle due to wide spaces between drive me crazy. I also prefer Yamaha and Kawaii keyboards due to the black keys being slightly longer in relationship to the white keys, which allows playing higher on the action without sacrificing leverage. I also like to keep a keyboard freshly Pledged.

As an interesting side note, when they used to use Ivory to make keyboards, from elephant tusks, it used to take up to 6 elephants to make an ivory keyboard. I'm surprised that those big brutes could do such delicate work.

I have a new Mason BB and had some problem in the beginning with my fingers slipping on the black keys. I had a Mason Monticello A before the BB and I think the difficulty I first experienced with the BB was really due to it having a lighter action than the A(which can make it feel like your fingers are slipping until you adjust to it).

Is your Mason AA ebony? If it is I am not sure that the black keys with rosewood tops would look right with that color piano although there is obviously some personal prefernece in this matter. As far as the width of the black keys with rosewood tops go, I'm sure you could get the specs from Mason Hamlin or the dealer. I'd be very surprised if the width was any different from the plain ebony keys.

Thank you both for your imput. And I am looking forward to other experiences.

virtuosic1 - I don't anticipate wiggle. And I don't remember any problem with these keys on the MH BB at the factory tour in 05. But I was so naive then, and was so impressed with the sight/sound, and only played one piece on it.

It has been my dream piano!

pianoloverus - I love the AA action.

"I am not sure that the black keys with rosewood tops would look right with that color piano although there is obviously some personal prefernece in this matter"

Totally.

So I also have a rosewood fallboard to match the rosewood keys! The top would be satin ebony
to match the piano; and once opened, VOILA! the rosewood/ebony keys matching the inside of the fallboard.

Something like seeing an ebony piano with the beautiful inside rim of rosewood.

"I'd be very surprised if the width was any different from the plain ebony keys."

I have no doubt the width is different. Otherwise I would not be so concerned.

The whole room will be detailed around ebony and rosewood/mahoghany/cherry!

Tech coming Monday to help me relate before these new keys get installed.

LL

I removed the fallboard from my piano at home, and do the same to any piano I'm going to play for an extended time at a studio, if it comes off quickly. It makes playing pieces where there are multi-octave leaps using lateral elbow rotation, like the Liszt Campanella playable at unheard of tempos without imparting any tension whatsoever to the hand because the octave can be played with the fingers and hand relaxed and naturally outstretched without having to be curled to miss the fallboard.

This seems like a very beautiful idea.

How did you get the inside of the fallboard to get a rosewood finish? Did the dealer do this for you or did hire someone else?

It seems like your piano may end up looking something like Wzit's(?)Sauter Delta which is very beautiful(although I think his black keys are ebony).

If you can post pictures of your fallboard and keys when they are installed it would be greatly appreciated.

Lily Lady,

I had that trouble with my Vogel until I got used to it as well. The black keys seem to be thinner than those on any other piano I had. I found I have to curl my fingers a bit more when playing on the black keys. Beethoven's Op. 78 Piano Sonata is fun (not) trying to play because I feel like my fingers are going to fall off the edge at any moment!

John

Get rid of the fallboard and you won't have to curl your fingers to avoid it, thereby removing hand tension and affording you the opportunity to play further back on the black keys.

I prefer the glossy black keys, but I also try to play when my hands are not sweaty, so I won't stick to the keys.

I can't stand a piano with thin keys, I can play on it, but it seems more difficult. I think its because I have larger hands. Thus, I really like the width on my Yamaha. But from what I've seen, the width is almost universal between all the decent (and newer) pianos.

I never thought of it before, but now I know why my Kawai GS50 has keys a bit longer than usual. I don't have to worry about hitting the fall board.

My friend has an old piano with ivory keys, and says she simply cannot play on any other piano, as she is used to the fact that her fingers grip the ivory better than any of the synthetics. Gaby tu