The Piano Key-Mechanism Part 1
The piano, while similar in some of its features too many other kinds of musical instruments, differs materially in several important points from all other kinds. It resembles the Violin, Harp, Guitar, Zither, Dulcimer, &c.,-in its being Stringed. It resembles the Drum, Triangle, Cymbals, Tambourine, Dulcimer, &c., in its being dependent on percussion for the production of its tone; and it resembles the Organ, Clarinet, Concertina, in its being Keyed.
But it differs from all of these instruments in the following important points. Firstly, in its being dependent on the player’s method of finger-push on the key for its quality of tone. Secondly, in its being dependent on rapidity of finger-push for its quantity of tone: and thirdly, in its being dependent on keys for the means of producing percussion. The actual agents of percussion, namely, the hammers, being reachable only through the medium of the keys.
It is probably from a want of appreciation of this last fact, that the piano has come to be considered rather as a keyed instrument than as a stringed one.
The distinctive feature of the piano is, then, the system of its key-mechanism.
Key.
Tags: guitar, Hammer, hammers, instrument, key-mechanism, keys, Music, pianist, piano playing, piano touch, study of the piano
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