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Question: Flute players, key sticking problem!.!?
the key pads on my flute often make a sticking sound when i press them, especially once I've finished playing and cleaned it out!.My flute's pretty close to 2 years old!. What could cause this and can something be done to stop it!? Www@QuestionHome@Com


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
This slight sticking sound is often caused by surface dirt mixing with moisture - either humidity in the air, or internal moisture!. Those pads need to be CLEAN, and this is very touchy subject!. Do *not* ever put any kind of powder on them - other woodwinds can survive this, but not the mechanism or the delicate pads of the flute!. They are covered in a double layer of cow intestine - it is called *fish skin*, but it is made of intestine, not fish!. It wears and tears easily!. You can *blot* the pads by putting a piece of very thin absorbent paper - cigarette rolling papers, no glue, are among the best, or papers from home permanents, or even the papers that come inside fancy invitations to protect the raised ink - and blot the key!. Move the paper, do it again!. Do *not* ever drag the paper out of a closed key - you will rip the pad skin!.

If this does not help, then take your flute to a shop!. They have special chemicals that they can use, which might help!.

How do you PREVENT this!? Always play with a clean mouth!. Brush your teeth after eating, before playing!. Swish out with a LOT of water - even the sugars and other things from toothpaste are not good for your pads!. If you cannot swish and spit (school!?)) then wish and swallow - sound gross, but what the heck - we drink water all day, and swallow whatever washed off our teeth anyway - get over it!.

Take care of your flute, and you will sound SO much better when you play!. Good luck!Www@QuestionHome@Com

The pads are forming to your flute, and they are wet!. Dry them out and then see if the same thing occurs!. It probably will, but not nearly to the extent that they do when they are wet!.

It's not anything to be worried about, until you start having problems with the playing of the horn!. Then you will have to replace the pads!. This is a normal maintenance item, and nothing to worry yourself with!.
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i play the flute and everytime that happends to me i just take it to a music store to get it checked out!.Www@QuestionHome@Com