The Anatomy of a Piano

To the untrained eye, figuring out all the parts of a piano can be quite intimidating.

Breaking it down piece by piece will help you understand more about how it works.

Keys

Each key corresponds to a single steel string, and no two strings are alike which is why each key produces a different sound.

A standard piano has 52 white keys and 36 black keys.

HammersThis vibration is what ultimately produces the rich sound of the piano.

Each time a key is pressed, a little hammer hits a steel string

causing it to vibrate.

Strings

Regardless, the strings are necessary for creating sounds, or musical notes.

It is debatable whether a piano should be classified as a string instrument or a percussion instrument since the strings

are struck rather than plucked.

The soundboard helps to accentuate the acoustics of the

strings to the surrounding air, resulting in better sound quality.

After being struck with a hammer, the strings

vibrate against a ribbed surface called a

soundboard.

Usually when you hit a note, the sound is stopped as soon as you let go of the key.

But pressing one of the pedals at the base of the piano allows the sound to

continue even after letting go of the key.

The other pedal softens the sound of the piano, making it ideal for practice time.

For more information or questions about your own instrument,

call B & N Piano at

610-485-4758

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