Strings
Lower notes need longer strings than higher notes, so the bass strings for the low notes on the left-hand side of the keyboard need to be much longer than the treble strings for the high notes on the right-hand side. That's why the case is longer on the left than on the right and why it has that funny curved rim. In fact, the strings on the left are so long that they cross over, on top of the middle and treble strings to save space. To make the sounds louder, there is a large piece of wood mounted underneath them, called the soundboard. When the strings vibrate, the soundboard also vibrates in sympathy, just as a wine glass vibrates when a soprano sings a high note nearby [10]. |
Keys
Every note sounded on a piano is the result of a string, or set of two or three strings, vibrating at a specific frequency determined by the length, diameter, tension and density of the wire. A shorter, lighter string, under more tension, vibrates faster, and produces a higher-pitched sound [9]. The keys on a Piano are a bit like a seesaw but longer at one end than at the other; this is the wooden lever. When you press down on a key, the other end of the lever, which is hidden inside the case, lifts, forcing a small felt-covered hammer to press against the piano string; this makes a musical note. At the same time, behind the hammer along that lever, another mechanical part called a damper is also raised. The hammer and the damper fall back down again when you release the key, but the damper sits on top of the string to stop it vibrating, bringing the note to an end. Pedals:
While the 88 keys on a piano control the musical notes that the pianist can make, the two pedals determine how loud or soft these notes are and the duration of the notes. The pedal on the left is called the soft pedal. Most of the keys on the keyboard hit two or three strings simultaneously when you press them, so you get a richer and louder note. However, if you press the soft pedal down, the hammers that play the notes shift slightly to one side so they contact fewer strings making the note quieter. The pedal on the right is called the sustaining pedal. Pressing it down raises all the dampers up in the air so all the notes last longer. Some Pianos have a third pedal which is placed inbetween the other two pedals called theh sostenuto pedal. When you press this pedal down, it temporarily deactivates the dampers for the notes that you're playing at the time, and makes them last quite a bit longer. However, othher Pianos may have a middle pedal with a different purpose such as a muting function, also known as silent piano. |