Behind every note you play, there is a complex interplay of wood, metal, and felt. But how exactly do these materials contribute to the sound and playing feel? In this article, we will examine the piano from the outside in.
We begin with the basics – the cabinet – and then delve deeper into the heart of strings and frame. Next, we’ll see how the action mechanism affects your playing experience and how the pedals truly bring your music to life. Discover how the combination of centuries-old craftsmanship and modern innovation helps you become a better musician.
The Foundation: The Cabinet as Resonating Base
The cabinet is often the first thing you see – black high gloss, classic walnut, sleek modern. But that ‘furniture look’ is more than aesthetics. The cabinet literally forms the foundation of everything you hear and feel when you play.
Most pianos are made from hardwoods such as oak, ash, or walnut. Why? Because thick, solid wood is not only strong, but also resonates perfectly. This is especially crucial for low tones. Thicker and denser wood ensures richer bass tones – think of those deep, warm chords that cut through to your core.
But traditional wood has one disadvantage: it reacts to the weather. Moisture, heat, cold – everything leaves its mark. Modern piano makers have come up with something clever for that. Layered wood consists of several thin layers glued crosswise to each other. As a result, the wood deforms much less and the piano remains more stably tuned. Impregnated wood prevents moisture absorption, which prevents warping and cracking.
For you as a player, this means no surprises while playing. Your piano stays in tune for weeks longer, and those warm bass notes you fell in love with remain exactly the same. In classical music, warm bass notes are crucial – without a well-built cabinet, a Beethoven chord suddenly sounds like a toy.
The Powerhouse: Frame and Strings
Inside the piano are about 220 strings forming the beating heart of the instrument. But these strings are under enormous tension – sometimes more than 20 tons. To withstand that force, the frame is made of cast iron. Modern pianos often use vacuum-cast metal frames, which are stronger and more stable than traditionally cast frames.
The strings themselves tell a story of precision. The high strings are made of high-quality steel for a bright, crystal-clear tone. The bass strings have copper windings that add depth and warmth. Modern pianos often use Röslau strings – the Rolls-Royce of piano strings. These German strings are known for their pure, long-lasting sound and their ability to remain stable for years.
Why is this important for your lessons? Without a sturdy frame, you won’t get a stable tuning. And that is crucial if you want to learn to play without frustration. When each note sounds pure, week after week, you automatically develop a better ear. You learn to hear nuances that would otherwise escape you.
The Playing Experience: Keyboard, Hammers and Mechanism
Every note you play starts with one simple action: a finger on a key. But under that key, all sorts of things happen – a small mechanical symphony that transforms your intention into beautiful sound.
The white keys are now made of synthetic material – smooth, durable, and ethically responsible (ivory keys are definitively a thing of the past). Black keys are often made of ebony or hard synthetic material, specially chosen for grip and control. You feel this difference instantly: your fingers glide effortlessly over the white keys, but find exactly the right grip on the black ones.
The hammers are where the real magic happens. A wooden core surrounded by pressed felt – this determines if you sound as soft as a whisper or as powerful as a thunderclap. The density and quality of the felt not only determine the volume but also the tone color. Softer felt gives warmer tones, harder felt provides more clarity.
Here is where it gets really exciting. Innovative mechanism manufacturers like Wessell, Nickel & Gross use carbon fiber for crucial mechanism parts. Carbon is light, strong, and stable – providing a more consistent and stable playing feel. Imagine playing a delicate passage by Chopin. With carbon parts, each key responds exactly the same, lesson after lesson, year after year. No surprises, just pure control.
For you, this means you master techniques faster. When the instrument responds predictably, you can focus on making music instead of fighting the mechanism.
The Soul of the Music: Pedals and Their Role
Pedals may look insignificant – three metal bars under the piano – but without them, you miss the soul of the music. They are usually made of brass or rusted steel, with a carefully balanced resistance feel.
The right pedal, the sustain pedal, is your most important expression tool. When you press it down, felt dampers lift and allow all the strings to resonate freely. This makes your playing smooth and emotionally rich. You can let notes overlap, make chords sing, and let melodies float above the accompaniment.
The left pedal, the soft pedal (una corda), shifts the entire mechanism in grand pianos so that hammers hit only one or two strings instead of three. In upright pianos, it brings the hammers closer to the strings. The result: an intimate, muted sound perfect for sensitive passages.
The middle pedal has different functions depending on the type of piano. In some pianos, it’s a sostenuto pedal that allows only certain notes to ring out. In others, it’s a silent pedal that places a felt strip between hammers and strings for quiet practice.
The quality of these pedals makes an enormous difference. Good pedals respond gradually – you can half-press them for subtle effects. Poor pedals are on/off switches that limit your expressive possibilities.
In emotional pieces, the pedals are your secret weapon. A Debussy nocturne without the pedal sounds flat and lifeless. With the right pedal technique, it becomes a soundscape full of depth and mystery.
Tradition Meets Innovation: The Complete Picture
Now you understand why a piano is more than the sum of its parts. Every material – from the hardwood of the cabinet to the carbon in the mechanism – works together to create something magical.
Modern piano building combines the best of both worlds. Traditional materials like solid wood and cast iron provide that warm, rich sound that has captivated pianists for centuries. Modern innovations such as layered wood, carbon mechanisms, and precision strings ensure stability, durability, and reliability.
The result is an instrument that touches the soul and is also practical to use. A piano that stays in tune for weeks, where each key responds in the same way, where the pedals allow for subtle expression, and where the sound motivates you to play every day.
For you as a student, this means you make progress faster. When the instrument cooperates instead of working against you, you can focus on what really matters: making music. You develop a better ear because you hear pure, stable tones. You learn better technique because the instrument responds predictably. And you enjoy it longer because every session holds a promise instead of a frustration.
Conclusion: A Masterpiece of Craftsmanship
A piano is not a simple piece of furniture. It is a symphony of nature and technology – where traditional wood, modern layered materials, carbon, metal, and felt work together to create something magical. Something that can last for generations, remains stable in tune, and inspires you anew every day.
When you understand what is under the hood, you not only appreciate the craftsmanship more – you also play better. You know how to use the pedals for expression, why some pianos feel better than others, and how to get the best out of your instrument.
Ready to begin? Book a free introductory meeting of 15 minutes to discuss your goals and find out how I can help you with piano lessons in The Hague.
Let yourself be inspired. Stop by, try it for yourself, and discover what is possible when you learn to play on the right instrument – an instrument that combines the best of tradition and innovation.
Who am I?
I am Luca Ridolfo and I founded Studio MusicalMente in 2018. I have been driven by music since childhood. But I was not a Musical Prodigy. I took great pleasure in making music and had a drive to learn more about it. My music teachers always supported and encouraged me to continue.
Indeed, I continued to such an extent that I completed a music education at the Royal Conservatoire in The Hague. And even now, I never stop learning.
I firmly believe that everyone can improve their musicality and that this should not only be reserved for children. Therefore, I decided to open a music school for adults in The Hague.
I believe that learning creative hobbies with experienced role models is one of the best ways to develop new skills and learn more about yourself.