How Pianos Work

Knowing how pianos work may come in handy if, in case, anything goes wrong with your piano... it will help you to determine what needs to be fixed.

It will also help you to examine a used Piano, if at all you have to do it for somebody.

So go ahead, press a key and check how the various parts inside a piano move. Lift the lid and see how piano works!

Generally speaking, any Piano will have the following main components which work together to produce a sound.

Strings
Each key on a piano has one, two or three strings which are made of metals. The sound in a Piano is produced by a mechanism in which hammers strike these strings.

Keys that produce lower sounds i.e. keys in the lower octaves have fewer strings and the strings are longer and thicker. The keys on the higher octaves, that produce higher sounds, have more strings and those strings are shorter and thinner.

Cast-Iron frame
This frame holds all the strings together and provides the required tension in all the strings.

These frames are very strong, especially in the case of grand pianos, since the strings are parallel to the ground.

These strong frames also ensure that the strings stay in tune for a longer period of time.

Dampers
Their function is to stop the strings from vibrating.

Dampers are usually made of wood and the part of the damper that rests on the strings is covered with felt. In the normal position, dampers rests on the strings but when you press a key, the damper for that key lifts off allowing the strings to vibrate and produce sound.

When you release the key the damper again sits on the strings and stops the stings from vibrating.

Hammers
Every key on a Piano is connected to a hammer and that is what strikes the strings when you press a key. The strings in turn vibrate to produce a sound. The hammers are usually made of wood.

Action
This is actually not one component and it refers to the feel of the mechanism that sets of inside a piano when you press a key.

It consists of all the moving parts that work together to produce a sound. The heavier the action, the heavier the keys and the more force you need to apply to press the keys.

Soundboard
This is one of the most important parts of a Piano.

The soundboard is a large piece of wood that amplifies the sound produced. On a grand piano, it is the piece of wood that sits at the bottom of the piano and on an upright piano it is at the back of the piano.

Damage to the soundboard will adversely affect the sound produced and can be very expensive to fix.

Knowing how piano works may not be necessary but it has its own benefits. I hope the description above gives you a clear picture of how piano works!

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