how to close a piano?

[david456103]

I can't seem to find a way to close my piano without making my hands hurt temporarily. Does any one have any tips on how to easily close a piano lid?

[Bob]

Use the knobs?

[j_menz]

Take your hands off the keys before putting the lid down?

[david456103]

@Bob: what knobs? i never saw any knobs on my piano

[quantum]

Are we talking about closing a heavy lid on a grand?

[david456103]

@quantum: yeah, a pretty heavy lid, but on a baby grand

[Bob]

By holding the bottom part of the lid?

Or don't.  Just cover the keys with a cloth if it's easier.

[j_menz]

OK, I see - the main lid, not the keyboard lid. Makes sense.

Hold lid open with one hand, close the strut with the other, then use both hands to lower the lid.

If it's a major problem still, there are soft close systems for the main lid you could look into.

[quantum]

One can also lift the lid up with two hands and let the stick drop down into its resting place.  I've seen this done before with concert grands.  The stick usually has rubber pads on it so it won't slap down hard onto the plate. 

You could also let your knees do most of the work instead of your arms: bending at the knees and keeping a straight back.  Similar to lifting heavy objects off the floor. 

[Bob]

Ah, I understand now.

Kudos on lifting the lid in the first place.  That sounds like a job.


Just leave the lid down.  That will make it easier.  You're probably wearing yourself out lifting the lid up in the first place.  Plus, that's a lot of wear and tear on the piano hinges.  Finally, she'll probably appreciate not having to struggle to hang on when the lid is up.



Or tell her she needs to lose some weight if she's going to be up there.  Lid or lid down, that's at least 100+ pounds I would think.  And if you lifting that much before you play, it's going to screw up your arm/hand/finger muscles just before playing.  Not good. 

If she's stubborn and insist, try coating the top of the lid with some slick Pledge.  *Bob wonders if it's possible to Teflon coat the top of a piano lid.*    *Or a long stick.  If there were enough rests in the piece, you could poke her with a stick during the rests and try to shove her off the piano lid.*

[Bob]

More seriously...  Get a little scale.  Stand on that, check your weight.  Then lift the lid, check your weight. 

How much weight is this lid? 


If it's possible, don't use your fingers.  Palm anything.  Use the forearms to hold the lid maybe. 

[nanabush]

Some people are horrible.  I'm at a recording school now taking a diploma, and they bring in a grand piano for half of each semester (for recording... haha)...

Anyways, the way some people try closing that thing!!!!  They grab the part of the lid on hinges (that closes over the front once you've brought lid down), and expect they can just muscle it down... no... it swings around, and the lid comes crashing down.

A girl at university crushed her pinky finger (she was a VERY small girl), after she had snuck into one of the halls after hours to practice without permission (we aren't allowed for two reasons: damaging equipment, personal injury), so she tries to bring down the lid on a full grand, and obviously it collapses on her hand... so ya, she had a purple pinky for 2 weeks, and this was near recital time...

[richard black]

Why are you opening the lid anyway? Only worth doing in a concert hall. Best favour you can do to any grand is to take out the desk, close the lid (ALL of it) and put the desk back on top (maybe with a cloth in between to avoid scratching). Keeps dust and (most) insects out.

[cabbynum]

Why are you opening the lid anyway? Only worth doing in a concert hall. Best favour you can do to any grand is to take out the desk, close the lid (ALL of it) and put the desk back on top (maybe with a cloth in between to avoid scratching). Keeps dust and (most) insects out.

You hear a lot more and are better able to control and change things when the lid is open and the music rest out