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Grand Mechanism
Upright Mechanism
In an upright piano, the strings are positioned vertically on the frame whereas the strings on a grand piano are horizontal. The hammers in an upright piano are pushed forward to strike the strings, with springs to return them to their rest position once the note has been played. This mechanism enables a reasonably quick repetition, of up to 7 times per... Continue reading
Upright and grand pianos normally have three pedals which serve various purposes:
The left pedal on an upright piano is known as the half-blow or soft pedal. It moves the hammers closer to the strings so that they hit them with less velocity – allowing the player to produce a sound which is a little quieter and softer.
On a grand piano the left pedal is known as... Continue reading
Physics dictates that the quality of sound produced is largely influenced by the length of the string. A longer string produces larger vibrations which not only make the sound louder, but also richer. The sound is then transmitted through the bridges and into the soundboard, which in turn acts like a loudspeaker to amplify the sound. Therefore, the longer the string and the larger the soundboard, the better the quality... Continue reading
The fortepiano was invented by Bartolomeo Cristofori around the turn of the 18th century and has since evolved into what we know today as a grand piano. This expressive instrument offers a wide dynamic range, rich resonance, diverse tonality, and a responsive touch, enabling the pianist to accurately reproduce the precise expressive intentions of the composer in their performance.
Owing to critical differences in the action mechanism and overall size... Continue reading