How does a piano work?

How Does a Piano Work?

The Hammer / keys

         Each key on the piano is connected to a hammer covered with felt inside the piano. When you press down a key, the hammer hits three strings, making them vibrate. That’s how the piano makes sound.

            The keys to the right on the keyboard produce a high sound, and the keys to the left on the keyboard produce a low, deep sound. This is because the strings inside the piano on the right are thin - that’s what makes them high. The strings on the left are thick - that’s what makes them low.

            As long as you keep holding down a key, the sound continues. Once you take your finger off, the sound stops. This is because each key is connected to a damper inside the piano. When you press down a key, the damper is lifted off so that the string is fee to vibrate and create sound. When you lift your finger off of the piano, the damper falls back onto the string to stop the vibration.

The right pedal (damper pedal)

            When you press down the far right pedal (the damper pedal) and strike a key, the sound keeps going even after you let go of the key (until you take your foot from the pedal). The sound is so much richer when you use this pedal because when one string vibrates, nearby strings vibrate as well. That’s a law of physics and very hard to explain.

The left pedal (Una Corda pedal, or the Soft pedal)

            When you press the left pedal down and strike a key, the hammers shift a little to the side, making them hit only two strings (per key). This way, the sound is a little softer.

The middle pedal (Sostenuto pedal)

            In most pianos, this pedal lifts a piece of felt and places it between the hammers and the strings. This makes the sound muted.