Overview
Baldwin SF 10 Concert Grand
Steinway Upright
Pianos, whether they are grand pianos, baby grand pianos or upright pianos, are played by means of a keyboard. They are one of the most popular instruments in the world,and are widely used in classical music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music, concertos with symphony orchestras, jazz and rock concerts and accompaniment for a variety of artists. The piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal. Although not portable and often expensive, the grand piano’s versatility has made it one of the world’s most familiar and popular musical instruments.
The Mechanics – AKA Nuts and Bolts.
Grand Piano Hammers
Grand Piano Dampers
Striking a key causes a felt-covered hammer to strike steel strings. The hammer must strike the string, but not remain in contact with it because this would dampen the sound. The hammer must return to its rest position without bouncing violently, and it must be possible to repeat a note rapidly. The hammers rebound, allowing the strings to continue vibrating at their resonant frequency until the key is released, when a damper stops the string’s vibration.
The Sound Board
Soundboard, Frame and Dampers
The vibrations of the strings are transmitted through a bridge to the sound board that transmits the acoustic energy to the air. The sound would otherwise be no louder than that directly produced by the effect of the hammers on the strings. The sound board acts as a resonator or amplifier, and is usually made from spruce in better class pianos, and plywood in the economy models
Getting Heavy
All modern pianos, be they grand pianos, baby grand pianos, or upright pianos use a strong iron frame. Also called the “plate”, the iron frame sits on top the soundboard, and serves as the primary bulwark against the force of string tension. The structural integrity of the iron frame allows the use of thicker, tenser, and more numerous strings. In a modern grand the total string tension can exceed 20 tons.
The Broken String Drama
Wertheim Concert Grand
I owned a huge Wertheim concert grand piano measuring nine feet two inches while in my early twenties, and had the very scary experience of practicing with the lid in the raised position one evening when one of the two bottom “E” strings snapped. It was like a shotgun blast, and fortunately it let go at the end nearest the keyboard – it took a chip out of the piano case, but worse still, it removed a patch of plaster from the wall about six inches diameter. Often wonder if I would have survived if the opposite end had snapped.
Range and Keys
Bosendorfer Keyboard
The majority of modern pianos have 36 black keys and 52 white keys for a total of 88 keys (seven octaves plus a minor third ). Many older pianos only have 85 keys (seven octaves ), while some manufacturers extend the range further in one or both directions. Some Digital / Electronic pianos in the past had a shortened range of five to six octaves, which was very restrictive, but in recent times, just about every one is the full eighty eight notes range – thank goodness !
Extra Keys
Some Bösendorfer pianos have a full eight octave range. The extra keys are added primarily for increased resonance from the associated strings; that is, they vibrate sympathetically with other strings whenever the damper pedal is depressed and thus give a fuller tone. More recently, the Australian Stuart and Sons company has also manufactured extended-range pianos, with the first 102 key piano. On their instruments, the frequency range extends from C to F, which is the widest practical range for the acoustic piano.
- Stuart & Sons Grand Huon Pine
To learn piano, the most important think is hard work and determination. Learn how to play piano without reading notes. Live one-on-one jamming sessions give you the tools to develop your playing skill quickly. Get answers to musical questions or get help with something that you want to play. Schedule a single piano lesson or a block of five.
Hi Harry
At best, my musical ability extends to playing the CD but I do appreciate the technical design and engineering which has created this magnificant instrument.
Your description of the piano and its operation is fascinating.
Thanks
Terry
G’day Terry,
Glad you liked it. Wait for Part Two and Part Three. I think my love of the nuts and bolts part of pianos may be connected to my seaplane or Turbo Volvos addictions.
I never realized the tension the strings on a piano have. Learning about the nuts and bolts of the grand piano is very interesting and whoever thought of the mechanics of the piano in the first place is one very smart person. I will keep my eye out for part two.
Hello Jackie,
There sure is some strain on the frame with all those strings. I just about jumped out of my skin when that bottom E string broke. The bass strings have a steel core and a copper winding spun around the core to get the good sound. Bottom string was about 3 mm diameter !!!
Cheers
Harry
Hi Harry
The Wertheim sounds dangerous, can imagine what a shock that would have been. The pianos that I am familiar with are the uprights. The mechanics of the piano is very interesting.
I can’t imagine what would have happened if it had broken at the opposite end – strangulation or decapitation perhaps. It had the most magnificent bass end of just about every piano I’ve played. Part two soon.
All of these are classic pianos but one thing that strike in my mind is that all piano have same sound of strings
Do you really think they all sound the same ? I must disagree very strongly as I think each make / model of a grand piano has a very distinctive sound and very distinctive overtones. Also one must consider the acoustics of the room where the piano is being played. Try playing a Yamaha G1 grand and then going to play the full size Concert Grand – they are like chalk and cheese. Thanks for your thoughts.