Parts in an Upright Piano

The vertical or upright piano differs from the grand piano in that, because the strings are in the vertical orientation, the hammers which strike the strings must also be in a vertical orientation. This means the hammers cannot easily rely on gravity to fall back and reset as those in a grand piano are better able to do. This is quite an important differenc between the two piano designs. There are upwards of 10,000 of parts in a vertical or upright piano with four main systems each of which have many important parts. The design of piano over the centuries has evolved into an efficient percussion instrument. Materials in the manufacture of the piano continue to change with plastics becoming more common though the better piano manufacturers continue to choose wood over plastic as the primary material. Frames are nearly always cast iron with very early pianos using heavy wooden oak posts, beams and panels to achieve strength. Tuning planks or pin blocks are usually made from maple. Ash and walnut wood, ivory, brass, high carbon steel, wool felt and aluminium are other very common materials found in piano manufacture.

The Piano Sound Resonating System is divided into two parts:

1. The strings and their support structure which include the iron frame, the pin block and the wooden back posts. These parts further include the tuning pins, the pressure bars or agraffes, the hitch pins, the back beam and soundboard base. The strings carry a tension of about 90kg each making a collective
   tension on the piano iron frame about 20 tonnes.
2. The soundboard and its associated structure which includes the ribs, and the bridge. These components further include the bridge pins and sounding buttons. The soundboard is most often made of spruce wood which has high sound transference qualities of 5,500 metres per second. Spruce has a low specific gravity – is strong but light. The wood selected for the soundboard will have a close, straight grain with no knots.

The Piano Pedal Control System has the two or three pedals, pedal brackets, pedal rods, levers,
springs and pedal props.

The Piano Striking System is composed of two main components:

1. The first being the keyboard; comprised of the keyframe, 88 black and white keys and their associated parts – Capstan wire, capstan button, key pins, bushing cloth, back rail cloth, cloth and paper punchings.
2. The second main component of the piano striking system is the action. This is comprised of the centre rail, 88 hammers and butt assemblies, 88 wippen assemblies, 65-70 dampers and hammer rail all of which further include the hammer shanks, butts, hammer felt, springs, damper leers, damper wires, spoons, jacks, backchecks, regulating buttons damper rods and damper springs. Many of these parts and assemblies contain types of hinging mechanisms with pins and screws, brackets and springs.

The Cabinet is made up of the top board, bottom board, keyslip, lower front board, casters, sidearms, legs, bottom sill, upper front board, fall board, music rack, keybed, and toe blocks.

As you can see, there are many parts inside a piano that move around. Hence to get a piano serviced regularly for it to sound its very best is also important.