Hammer that Voice

 

We think of a person’s voice, and how it is impacted by how one breathes, how the vocal cords work, how the sound resonates in head’s cavities, and how the mouth and tongue work. It’s complicated!  And each voice is unique.

What about the voice of the piano? Yes, it has one, and it is unique. But is the tuning and the piano’s hammers that determine that voice.

A piano tuner adjusts the string’s tension so that the tone sociated with each key is evened out.

The piano’s tune is obviously impacted in how the player hits the keys—the strength and the speed—and how those keys physically connect with the piano hammers; each mechanical piece and its connections impact how the hammer moves. Moreover, as the hammers wear down, the voice can change.

Less obvious is the hammer’s felt coverings. The felt can vary significantly in terms of its surface area, its density, its hardness, and its quality.

AND, just as the head’s “cavities” impact a person’s voice, the piano’s own soundboard and cavity also impact how the sound resonates: producing a unique voice.

 Similarly to a person’s voice being described as lyric or dramatic, bright or deep, so to the voice of a piano can be described. A piano’s voice my be warm and mellow, which means the piano is well-balanced. A bright piano voice has a higher voice, which can seem lively and clear—or shrill. A dark piano voice is bass-heavy, and may be rich—or booming. A rich piano voice typically has enhanced treble and bass tones. Concert pianos often have a big, powerful voice, largely due to their size.

Now imagine matching a person’s voice and a piano’s voice. Yes, indeed, complicated and unique.