Grand Pianos - How They Work

As a child, did you ever wonder how your pianodirectly under the strings. It is the soundboard that
works? When you were supposed to be practicingamplifies the sound of the vibrating strings.
scales were you really counting the never-ending keys.In a grand piano, the hammers strike the strings from
Or did you disobey your mother and poke your headthe underside and retract almost immediately so as not
under the hood and pluck at the strings like a guitar? Ifto stop the vibration. There is a corresponding hammer
so, you probably have a crude understanding of how awith every key. Each hammer is made of wood and is
piano works. But here is a more complete guide tocovered with thick and tightly compacted felt. The
how your piano works.hammers increase in size from treble to bass. After
From the outside you can see 88 keys (52 white andmuch use, the felt on the hammers becomes too
36 black), three pedals, and a large and beautifullycompacted which creates a harsh sound. An
finished frame on legs. That may seem complexexperienced technician should be able to loosen up the
enough, but if you were to lift the hood you would befelt.
amazed to see more than 10,000 parts. It requires all ofAs a child you probably noticed the felt dampeners
these parts to make the beautiful sounds that pianosand perhaps you experimented by sticking a piece of
are known for.paper between them and the strings to produce a
A piano is actually a large string instrument and like allmuted sound. Like the hammers, each note has a
string instruments sound is made by strings vibrating atdampener. The dampener is responsible for stopping
a specific frequency. When you press a key down onthe vibration and thus the sound. As long as a key is
the outside a hammer strikes a string or a set ofpressed down, the dampener is held up, but as soon
strings arranged to vibrate at exactly the same speed.as you lift your finger off the key, the dampener falls
The treble notes found towards the right hand of theon the string and absorbs the vibration.
key board are made by the vibrating of sets of threeTo avoid the effect of the dampeners, use the right
strings whereas the bass notes found on the left sidefoot pedal. When pressed, the right foot pedal lifts all
are made by sets of two strings.the dampeners away from all the strings at once
On some piano models the lowest notes have onlyallowing harmonious strings to vibrate at the same
one thick string. When these sets of strings do nottime. This gives a continuous sound.
vibrate at exactly the same speed, they will produceThe left pedal is used to make a more quiet sound. It
different pitches and your piano will sound out of tune.does this by shifting all the hammers slightly to the right.
As the notes progress from treble to bass (right toThis allows the hammers to strike fewer strings in the
left) the lengths and diameters of the strings increase.set as well as strike the strings with the softer side of
The highest notes have very thin short strings, and thethe hammer's felt. The middle pedal lifts only the bass
lowest notes have very thick and long strings. Thedampeners and is not often used.
strings are made of steel and are very strong. TheThis is just a brief overview of how your piano works.
bass strings are made thicker by wrapping copperThis knowledge should give you a better appreciation
wire around the steel core. In some cases the lowestfor your piano and hopefully you will now treat this
bass strings are a 1/4 inch thick.amazing instrument with the care and respect it
All of the strings are stretched over a bridge whichdeserves.
conducts the sound to the large soundboard which lies