| The magical tones which emanate from the depths of | | | | such as wood, paper, cloth, felt buckskin, brass, plastic |
| a grand piano are as much the result of much labor as | | | | and steel. These parts need to have the near-precision |
| they are of love. And just a bit of old world | | | | of a Swiss clock to translate the action of the keys |
| craftsmanship. Here we take an in-depth look at what | | | | into the proper sounds and feel pianists require. |
| goes into making a piano sound the way it does. | | | | Outside all the sophisticated workings is the beautifully |
| The strongest part of the piano is a heavy duty iron | | | | finished wooden case, the rim to which all the innards |
| casting called the harp, plate, or frame. This piece is | | | | are attached. Constructed in two parts, inner and outer |
| designed to deal with the enormous stress of the | | | | halves are combined into one assembly to provide the |
| strings which can have a combined tension of up to | | | | strongest foundation possible for the best sound. |
| 36,000 pounds. These strings need to have their | | | | Various types of wood can be used, ranging from |
| vibrations amplified, as in the case with the body of a | | | | beech to spruce to maple. |
| guitar, and this task is performed by the soundboard. | | | | Quality pianos usually have three pedals, although |
| Usually made from Sitka spruce wooden boards glued | | | | some have only two, which are used to effect specific |
| together around a large mold, the soundboard needs a | | | | operations like muting the sound of the piano, or |
| special feature in its shape to maintain tension, so it is | | | | sustaining the tones. Connected by a host of linkages |
| formed with an upward 'bow', which also gives it a | | | | and levers known as the 'trapwork', these parts are |
| sound which is more "alive". | | | | also considered a part of the 'action'. |
| There would be no sound without strings, which | | | | Last, but not least, are parts known as the pinblock, |
| number over 200 and are grouped in threes for the | | | | bridge, and, of course, the keys. All the tuning is |
| upper notes, sets of two for the middle tones, and are | | | | performed by adjusting the tension of the strings |
| left single for bass notes. This design compensates for | | | | where they attach to the pinblock's pins. The function |
| the relative weekness of the higher notes and the | | | | of the bridge is to separate the individual strings and to |
| bolder sound of the lower tones, to even out the | | | | transmit the sound of the strings to the soundboard, as |
| sound. Strings of the high notes (treble) are | | | | well as determining the free length of the strings' |
| constructed fully of steel while bass notes have a | | | | vibrating length. |
| steel core and a copper winding. | | | | All the various parts of the piano combine to create |
| The hammers which strike the strings are actuated by | | | | the wonderful sound we have come to recognize and |
| linkages known as the 'action', which relay the | | | | admire, but without the artisans touch we would be |
| movement of the keys through scores of materials | | | | without. |