How to Repair a Sticking Key on My Flute
A sticking key is one of the most common frustrations for flute players of all levels. It can make your flute feel slow, unresponsive, and unpredictable — especially on keys that need to lift quickly, like G#, D# or the trill keys. At Woodwind London, we repair sticking flute keys every day, and the good news is: many causes are simple to fix, while others need a technician’s expertise.
Here’s how to diagnose and repair a sticking flute key safely.
1. First: identify where the sticking happens
Press each key individually and watch how it lifts. If one feels slow or tacky, note which pad is involved — this helps identify whether the issue is moisture, dirt, or mechanical misalignment.
2. Remove moisture using cigarette paper (never tissue!)
Moisture buildup on the pad is the No.1 cause of sticking keys.
How to fix it:
Place a piece of clean cigarette paper under the pad.
Gently close the key (do not press hard).
Slide the paper out.
This safely absorbs moisture without tearing fibres into the pad, which tissues can do.
3. Clean sugar or residue from the pad
If you’ve recently eaten, used lip balm, or played after drinking something sweet, residue can make pads sticky.
Use cigarette paper dusted with a tiny amount of talc (common technician trick).
Never use liquids or alcohol — they damage pads.
4. If a key is sluggish, the mechanism may need adjustment
A sticking key doesn’t always mean a sticky pad. Sometimes:
A spring has weakened
A rod is dry or slightly misaligned
A pivot screw has tightened
These require a technician to adjust.
5. When to visit Woodwind London
If the sticking returns daily, or the mechanism feels slow, bring your flute to our Muswell Hill workshop. We offer quick pad checks, spring adjustments, mechanism cleaning, and full servicing for student and professional flutes.
