A piano is a stringed instrument in which keys are pressed to cause hammers to strike strings, which transmit vibrations to the soundboard, amplifying the sound. Each key has an action to control the hammer, and pedals control the tone and sustain. These elements interact to create the piano’s distinctive tone.
The piano, which we often call a keyboard instrument, is technically a stringed instrument played with keys. When the hammer connected to the keys strikes the strings, the strings vibrate, and the sound generated by this vibration is amplified on the soundboard to produce a sound with a characteristic timbre. Let’s take a look at what goes into making a piano’s characteristic sound using a grand piano as an example.
First, let’s take a look at the “actions” that play a key role in the piano. There are three main types of actions, one for each key. First, the action acts as a lever that allows the hammer on the action to strike the strings with a force greater than the force of the key press. Second, the action causes the damper on that string to move away from the string when you press the key, and then reattaches the damper to the string when you release the key. This allows the string that was started to vibrate by the hammer to continue to vibrate while the key is pressed, and when the key is released, the damper reattaches to the string so that it doesn’t resonate when other strings vibrate. Third, as soon as the hammer strikes the string, the action moves the hammer away from the string. The reason the action works this way is that if the hammer doesn’t come off immediately after striking the string, or if the hammer moves freely after striking the string due to its recoil, the string will not be able to vibrate freely due to the hammer’s interference.
One action corresponds to one key, but the strings do not. A single key is made to correspond to multiple strings tuned to the same pitch. In the low register, a single hammer corresponds to one or two strings of the same pitch, and in the mid register, to two or three, allowing the hammer to strike multiple strings at once. As a result, multiple strings of the same pitch vibrate, producing a louder sound. The vibrations are transmitted to the acoustic plate through a bridge that connects the strings to the acoustic plate. The acoustic plate receives the vibrations of the strings and amplifies the sound by increasing its contact with the air. The sound plate has dampers attached to it to ensure that the sound spreads evenly across the sound plate, and the shape of the sound plate can change the piano’s characteristic tone.
The piano’s pedals also play a role in the tone by performing specific actions while the pedal is depressed. Of the three pedals on the piano, the one on the right is called the ‘damper pedal’. When you press this pedal, it causes the dampers on all the strings to drop in unison. If you press the damper pedal and press a key, the vibration of the strings will resonate with the other strings that are not pressed, and this will continue to happen to some extent even after you release the key. Therefore, the damper pedal causes the played note to resonate continuously, enriching the sound and smoothing the transition between notes. The pedal on the left is called the “soft pedal,” which, when pressed, moves the hammer slightly to one side, reducing the number of strings struck by the hammer on that key, from three to two, and from two to one. This allows you to reduce the volume. The middle pedal is called the “sostenuto pedal,” and when you press it down, only the dampers on the strings that the hammer strikes are released from the strings. This can change the tone.
The piano is an instrument that lends itself to many different playing styles and musical genres, and its structure and workings are very sophisticated. Piano players need to understand and utilize the function of each key and pedal to create different tones and expressions. In particular, the fine control of the action plays an important role in maximizing the player’s touch and expressiveness. For example, if a player wants to make the piano sound softer and sweeter, they can gently press the keys and use the soft pedal to reduce the volume. Conversely, if they want a stronger, more powerful sound, they can press the keys harder and use the damper pedal to sustain the note and add resonance.
The quality of the piano’s strings and soundboard also has a big impact on the overall sound quality of the piano. High-end pianos are made with high-quality materials and sophisticated workmanship, which is important for the tone and durability of the piano. Piano makers are constantly striving to create the best sound possible through research and experimentation. This is one of the reasons why pianos are so popular across a wide range of musical genres, from classical music to jazz, pop, and rock.
Maintenance is also important, and regular tuning and cleaning will keep your piano in tip-top shape. The strings and action of a piano wear out over time, and this can affect its sound quality and performance. Therefore, it’s important to have them checked regularly by a professional and replace any necessary parts. If you take good care of your piano, you’ll be able to play it for a long time and keep it sounding beautiful.
As you can see, the piano is a complex and beautiful instrument, and understanding its structure and how it works will give you a deeper playing experience. Understanding how each component interacts with the others to create the piano’s many different tones will help you become more expressive as a player. The piano is a work of art in its own right, and its sounds take on new life at the fingertips of the player.
