5 ms·

Pianos used to have a pedal that causes the hammer strike only one string. The pedal is still there and still called Una Corda but usually doesn't do real singl

Pianos used to have a pedal that causes the hammer strike only one string. The pedal is still there and still called Una Corda but usually doesn't do real single string activation anymore. This is also not the same as a Una Corda piano that has only one string per note because in a regular piano sympathetic string resonance is a significant contributor to the sound.

deleted 8y ago
[deleted]
matt-attack 8y ago
Yep, my piano does just that. The entire keyboard (and hammer assembly) slides over slightly when the press the pedal.
- saghm 8y ago
  From playing around with pianos, I've seen that there's a pedal that moves the keys over, and I never knew what it was for. Thanks for explaining!
cvoss 8y ago
Both kinds of pedal are typical, but it depends on the type of piano. For uprights, the una corda pedal moves the hammers closer to the strings so they don't accelerate for as long on their way in. But on a grand, the una corda pedal indeed still shifts the entire mechanism to the right so that the hammers truly hit una corda each.
sandworm101 8y ago
>> string resonance is a significant contributor to the sound. String resonance and the case. Removing the case from a piano is like a make a drum out of a hoop and a skin. The case modulates the sound. It softens the rough edges and projects sound in particular directions. Removing it doesn't make the sound better. The case also ensures that all the piano innards are in a homogeneous environment. Without a case, individual strings will be in different temperature regions. Wooden parts will be in different moistures. Felt and leather bits will age inconstantly. A piano living without a case is like storing a strat violin on a shelf: artistically interesting but not done by anyone who actually appreciates the instrument.

5 ms·

Pianos used to have a pedal that causes the hammer strike only one string. The pedal is still there and still called Una Corda but usually doesn't do real singl

by weinzierl 8y ago

deleted 8y ago
[deleted]
matt-attack 8y ago
Yep, my piano does just that. The entire keyboard (and hammer assembly) slides over slightly when the press the pedal.
- saghm 8y ago
  From playing around with pianos, I've seen that there's a pedal that moves the keys over, and I never knew what it was for. Thanks for explaining!
cvoss 8y ago
Both kinds of pedal are typical, but it depends on the type of piano. For uprights, the una corda pedal moves the hammers closer to the strings so they don't accelerate for as long on their way in. But on a grand, the una corda pedal indeed still shifts the entire mechanism to the right so that the hammers truly hit una corda each.
sandworm101 8y ago
>> string resonance is a significant contributor to the sound. String resonance and the case. Removing the case from a piano is like a make a drum out of a hoop and a skin. The case modulates the sound. It softens the rough edges and projects sound in particular directions. Removing it doesn't make the sound better. The case also ensures that all the piano innards are in a homogeneous environment. Without a case, individual strings will be in different temperature regions. Wooden parts will be in different moistures. Felt and leather bits will age inconstantly. A piano living without a case is like storing a strat violin on a shelf: artistically interesting but not done by anyone who actually appreciates the instrument.