The Grand Piano

The Piano

 

Piano Lid
Horizontal Strings
Keyboard Cover
Keyboard
Una Corda Pedal
Sostenuto Pedal
Damper Pedal
Legs
Fallboard

 

The Piano is perhaps the world's most celebrated instrument. The standard acoustic piano boasts a range of sound that encompasses the longest string of a boooming low A to the shortest string of the hightest C, a dynamic range of hushed pianissimo (very soft) to thunderous fortissimo (very loud), and a unique capacity to play any number of notes at the same time.
The piano is a veritable orchestra at our fingertips. Since its invention around 1700 by Bartolomeo Cristofori, the piano has evolved to a magnificent instrument with over 10,000 parts. 

Strings Today;s piano uses high tension steel for the strings. There are three strings for each key, except in the bass (lower) register where there are two strings per key or a single string wrapped in coiled copper. The pitch of a string is determined by it legth and tension. The higher tones have shorter strings, while lower tones may have strings over three feet in length.
 The strings of a grand piano are horizontal, whereas an upright piano utilizes vertical strings to save floor space.

Keys The standard piano keyboard spans 88 keys. The keys mechanism resembles a seasaw, with each key being a lever. As the key is struck, a hinged happer on the other end comes up to strike the strings. At the moment of impact, the key also lifts the damper off the strings, allowing the string to continue to vibrate.
The white keys, formerly made of ivory, are plastic on today's piano. The black keys, formerly of ebony, are usually constructed of stained pear wood. 

Hammers The hammers (located underneath the strings) are covered with felt. The volume of sound is determined by the speed of the hammer striking the string. To play louder, the hammer must strike the string faster. To play softer, the hammer must strike the string slower.

Escapement The most brilliant and revolutionary feature of Cristofori's early piano was the escapement. This escapement action allows the hammer to fall away immediately after striking the string, thus letting the sound ring. Through continued improvement in the modern piano makes rapid repetition of a key possible. 

Soundboard The soundboard is located below the strings (behind the strings on an upright piano). The soundboard amplifies the tone of the vibrating strings through sympathetic vibration. Cracks can develop in the soundboard due to dryness or extreme temperature changes. Humidity control and stable temperatures preserve the health of the soundboard. 

Pedals Pianos have two or three pedals. The damper pedal (the pedal to the right) si used most often. It lifts the dampers off the strings, sustaining the shound until the pedal is released. The damper pedal adds a soulfulness to melodies, a richness to harmonies, and a shimmer to fast passagework.
The una corda or "soft pedal" (left pedal) shifts the keyboard to the right, causing the hammers to strike one less string. In addition to softening the sound, the una corda pedal changes the tone quality to a more muted, veiled sound.
If a piano has a sostenuto pedal, it is the pedal in the middle. the sostenuto pedal sustains the sound of those keys depressed when the pedal goes down. Notes played after this are not sustained. The sostenuto pedal is not essential for playing the piano repertoire.