1. Pressing the Piano Key: When you press a piano key, it initiates a chain of events that results in sound production. The key is connected to a lever called a wippen.
2. Key Lever and Hammer Action: Pressing the key causes the wippen to move, activating a hammer. The hammer is covered with soft felt on its striking surface.
3. Hammer Strikes Strings: The hammer swiftly moves upward and strikes one or more strings associated with the specific note being played. Each key corresponds to a specific string or group of strings.
4. Vibrating Strings: The impact of the hammer causes the string(s) to vibrate vigorously at their fundamental frequencies and various harmonic overtones.
5. Soundboard Amplification: The vibrating strings transmit their sound energy to a large, flat wooden surface known as the soundboard. The soundboard is located inside the piano, below the strings.
6. Soundboard Resonance: The vibrations from the strings set the soundboard into sympathetic vibrations, amplifying the sound and enriching it with resonance. The size, shape, and materials used for the soundboard influence the overall quality of the piano's tone.
7. Vibrational Transmission: The soundboard efficiently transmits the vibrations as sound waves into the surrounding air. These sound waves reach the listener's ears.
8. Sustaining the Sound: The piano's damper system controls the duration of the sound produced. When you release the key, the damper corresponding to the note falls on the string, stopping its vibrations. This concludes the note's sustain.
9. Additional Features: Some pianos have additional mechanisms like the sostenuto and una corda pedals that provide extra control over the dampers or shift the hammers slightly to alter the tone and sustain characteristics.
The interplay between the mechanics of the piano and the acoustical properties of the strings and soundboard is responsible for producing the beautiful, rich, and nuanced sounds that make the piano such a versatile and beloved musical instrument.