Are my piano keys ivory or plastic?

Look for an ultraviolet torch. Hold it above the piano keys. If you notice the keys reflect either bright white or violet-blue colours, the keys are made of ivory. Artificial material like resins or plastics will show a completely different reaction.

thepiano.sg - How To Tell If Your Piano Keys Are Made Of Ivory | ThePiano.SG

Can I get a key made with the serial number?

As long as you can prove ownership of your vehicle a car key can be made with the Vehicle Identification Number aka VIN number. Once a key code is...

Last updated Jul 29, 2018

How do you replace a mechanical key cap?

Let's get started! Step 1: Get a Keycap Puller (Or A DIY One) Plastic vs Wire Keycap Puller. ... Step 2: Insert Keycap Puller Onto Keycap. The next...

Last updated Oct 14, 2022

Promotion

There's an an old African proverb, “The elephant dies, but his tusks remain.”

Elephants are magnificent animals, but there was a time when they were exploited for their tusks, and always falling prey to the audacious tactics of men. Do you know elephant ivory was widely used to make piano keys many years ago?

This was because of its value and aesthetic quality, and its ability to absorb the fingers' perspiration. Compared to plastic keys, ivory piano keys can even help to reduce the chances of the pianist’s fingers slipping while playing. However, since the 1950s, laws have been put in place to protect elephants. Thankfully, the use of ivory has decreased significantly since then, and piano manufacturers began to use plastic for piano keys. If you have an old piano, and you're suspecting if its piano keys are made of ivory, here are a few ways to find out!

1. Get down to basics – learn by observing

If your piano keys are made of ivory, they will turn yellow as time goes by. You can also roughly tell the age of the ivory by its colour shade. The darker it is, the older it is. The colour also tends to vary slightly, such as creamy white to yellow-tan or yellow brown. Plastic keys, by contrast, tend to show extreme colour variations.

2. Using the needle

This is one very reliable test that has been used for the longest time. However, avoid this test if you are not agreeable to having your piano key damaged lightly! Look for a noodle with a very fine and sharp point. Place it over a flame so that it glows red hot, and then press it against the piano key. Be sure to use a spot that is least visible, in case of damage. If this manages to melt a tiny hole or make a slight dent in the key, it is definitely made of plastic. Ivory is tough, strong and very heat-resistant. Unlike plastic, it does not melt.

3. Using ultraviolet light

What chords are in blues in C major?

Essentially, the blues is a specific progression that uses the C7, F7, and G7 chords. (For the sake of brevity, I'll only look at playing blues in...

Last updated Jun 10, 2018

Who is the most pitch perfect singer?

13 Famous Singers And Musicians And With Perfect Pitch Yo-Yo Ma. Bing Crosby. Glenn Gould. Ella Fitzgerald. Charlie Puth. Lorin Maazel. Yanni....

Last updated Jan 21, 2019

Join almost HALF A MILLION Happy Students Worldwide

Promotion

4. Using a magnifying glass

Ivory piano keys were always made with three separate pieces of ivory. Two of the pieces form the top layer that the fingers hit when playing the piano. The last piece is used to make the front edge. Examine the top surface with a magnifying glass. Look for the very fine line that shows the place where two pieces were joined together.

5. Another magnifying glass test

Examine the keys closer still. Ivory keys contain natural patterns called Schreger Lines. These are patterns that exist on the ivory, not unlike fingerprints that exist on human thumbs. Schreger Lines appear as cross-hatch or diamond patterns. If no such pattern exists, the key is made of plastic or another artificial material. To examine the Schreger Lines further, measure the angles where they intersect. Mammoth ivory show angles less than 90 degrees. Elephant ivories, on the other hand, feature angles more than 115 degrees.

6. Using a professional

Lastly, you can bring a sample of your piano keys to a ivory professional. An antiques dealer who specialises in ivory is also a good option. He might use some or all of the above tests, plus his own judgement and experience, to determine if the key is made of ivory!

thepiano.sg - How To Tell If Your Piano Keys Are Made Of Ivory | ThePiano.SG

What is the oldest instrument still used today?

Neanderthal Flute Archaeologists have found a pre-historic instrument carved from cave bear bones, and it can still be played today. The...

Last updated Jul 17, 2020

Is the P125 better than P-45?

In summary, this Yamaha P45 review is dealing with two pianos that look very similar, have many features that the same, but the P125 for not a...

Last updated Aug 29, 2018

Promotion

Did Chopin go mad?

New study argues that composer suffered from a type of epilepsy. In 1848, Polish composer and piano virtuoso Frédéric Chopin was performing at a...

Last updated Oct 21, 2021

Promotion

What were Eddie Van Halen's last words?

Eddie Van Halen's final words to Valerie Bertinelli and their son, Wolfgang, were “I love you.” In her new memoir, “Enough Already: Learning to...

Last updated Dec 24, 2022