How does a Grand Piano work? - Part 1

[@DowellPiano]

As a piano technician, I can say this is an excellent diagram of the piano action. I will use this in the future!

[@JaredOwen]

Awesome! Thanks Thomas

[@DowellPiano]

@Mike Some notes on a piano can share a string, but each one gets its own spot on the bridge. Also, because the tension is so high on piano strings, the small changes made on one string don’t affect the other string at all, except in extreme cases, like when replacing a string.

[@Jake-b6e6i]

@@JaredOwen what is the name of the song in the outro?

[@anammaulanaa3979]

​@@Jake-b6e6i poop sond salavana

[@AJ-sm2dt]

As a piano teacher, I am amazed of the simplicity of this video And my students love this when I show it to them. They totally understand it. Thanks for this video. On a different note, I was always taught that it is a percussion instrument not a string- as the hammer hits the string. It doesn't pluck it. But do correct me if I'm wrong

[@adiabd1]

Underrated channel you have over here

[@majortom4543]

Think it might be for calling it with his name instead of... How stuff works (which i think already exists) but a title like that would draw in more people.

[@thamuzm2684]

this is why the grand piano worth 14 000$ it soo hard to make and cant be made by machines

[@majortom4543]

@@thamuzm2684 To be honest the automobile is harder to make and its made by thousands of robots and some people. Cutting metal parts that are tough is more difficult that cutting wood too.

[@mrcalidonia7582]

@@majortom4543 - This is Ground Control to Major Tom, you've really made the graAaAde, and the papers wants to know who shirts you wEaRrR, now it's time to leave the capsule if you DaReee

[@dnghn.design]

Channel name is important Calling it a personal stuff like a name is against the Channels overall success

[@yanwong523]

Piano: *plays by itself* Audience: Everything is normal.

[@oliviawu7625]

vinheteiro has entered the chat

[@modifire6418]

There are even no audience lmao (But you can still hear clapping sounds) haunted theatre

[@dani.munoz.a23]

Ghost pianos: am i a joke to you

[@cardio8133]

Invisible

[@bykevinzhong]

steinway spirio?

[@wigwagstudios2474]

Pianist: Leaves lid open Dust: I’m about to end this piano’s whole career

[@RainytheNB]

Just get a leaf blower

[@Penguins429]

@@RainytheNB yes

[@diegotr6701]

This is why I love the piano, such a beautiful and graceful instrument with complex mechanisms designed to make a wide variety of soft and loud sounds.

[@MJ-oi5wb]

I LOVE the sound of a piano too. I think that is what led me to the music of Elton John and Billy Joel. When I was a kid I alway felt they should do a concert together and was thrilled when they did. It was awesome!!!

[@SWExplore]

I had no idea of how complex a piano really is. You animations explain all of the workings with extreme precision. Quite simply, you are amazing as I have watched many of your animations...I really enjoy them!! Thank you!

[@alexdiezg]

I knew all of this from before, but I'm glad that there's finally an animated educational video out on KZbin for everyone to see! Great job, Jared! Keep up the good work!

[@emekmek3197]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/qX6qYqGihs5omMk ,

[@jaredjosephsongheng372]

Hey My name is also Jared

[@patb1616]

But there is no explanation as to why the hammer does not simply bounce back up after hitting the string. Neither is there an explanation as to how a rapid repetition is achieved.

[@dxb.nabeel]

I have never seen this much accurate, clear and crisp animation 😮. Very well done

[@joshuanichols4232]

Its crazy how complex the key thing is and that are 80 of them

[@SMac-bq8sk]

88 keys...But yes, crazy complex...and ingenious!

[@Vi-pv3xi]

It is not that complex. Actually it is mechanically simple.

[@wolf4392]

Well, you get what you pay for

[@gaiah1467]

...

[@jeejee4280]

@@connortraynor2408 ....

[@alexportugal1212]

Professional presentation.

[@JaredOwen]

Thanks!

[@kennyotsu4357]

Now I understand why pianos is *so damn expensive*

[@edwardshrestha]

Same

[@sachastadhard]

LANGUAGE, You should get in trouble for saying inappropriate words.

[@TS_Mind_Swept]

Ya, *are so dang expensive (shame)

[@KingTriton1837]

@@sachastadhard you should get in trouble for acting like KZbin pays you to monitor people's posts..

[@eezypredator3585]

@Sacha Stadhard STFU nobody cares its the internet get over it

[@midhun-007]

This is exactly what I am expecting from a "how it works" video! ❤️❤️

[@지지용식]

Very nice video, I can only imagine the amount of research you did, these aren't simple instruments! One thing that might interest you for the video of the pedals is that there is a new experimental fourth pedal that is called harmonic pedal, might be worth taking a look at it.

[@renatare8506]

¹

[@joshualevine9488]

Jared, these videos are really the two best I have EVER seen explaining the piano. I can’t praise your work highly enough!

[@cjheaford]

I am a 30+ registered piano technician professionally, and this video is spot on. Well done! (Where were you 30 years ago when I was just learning??)

[@vepified]

KZbin wasn’t out yet lol

[@streamlin]

@@vepified he meant what were you doing 30 years ago.

[@chulimyoo4604]

​@@vepified are you like trying to be stupid on purpose

[@phos9580]

thanks tom and jerry already thought me this tho

[@issackaiser]

Phosnerd I’m actually surprised the show I love actually done their homework on this. More reason to love them.

[@TheKing-nu3hf]

WTH me too LOL

[@miggycortez3415]

???

[@bikercat4138]

They should have taught you english.

[@vackl4754]

what

[@winterheat]

3:15 I think the Jack hits what is called a Knuckle? (the round, red thingy)... and that's how the "let off" (also called escapement) works. That is, the Jack pushes the Knuckle so that the hammer hits the string, but the Jack immediately moves sideway so that the hammer goes back down, allowing the string to freely vibrate without the hammer touch it. And if the piano player releases the piano key a little bit, the Jack now goes back down and is below the Knuckle once again, and if the piano player now presses the piano key down again, then the Jack pushes the Knuckle up again and make the hammer hit the string once again. So, it allows the piano player to repeat the same note fast... without releasing the piano key all the way before making another hit of the string. It is said that many or most upright piano cannot have this feature of fast repeated note.

[@SteelBerserkChannel]

Very nice video, I can only imagine the amount of research you did, these aren't simple instruments! One thing that might interest you for the video of the pedals is that there is a new experimental fourth pedal that is called harmonic pedal, might be worth taking a look at it.

[@ekn5483]

I've been playing the piano for eight years. We used to have a classical piano in our house. It was about 100 years old. My piano was so broken and it sounded terrible. We put that piano in my mother's friend's house. I have a yamaha digital piano right now. But the grand piano is one of the things I want most in my life. I've played at a concert a couple of times before, actually... And it was a beautiful feeling...

[@patriciabristow-johnson5951]

as a pianist with perfect pitch I thoroughly appreciate the fact that for the opening and closing animations (where the keys were shown moving), the correct notes were actually being played on the piano

[@gladiator951]

So is a piano just a giant guitar?

[@JaredOwen]

Similar yes :)

[@legomagnum9662]

Yes. A giant guitar struck by keys and not fingers

[@majortom4543]

pianos are more similar to a harp, actually there is a piano type called harpsichord

[@legomagnum9662]

@@majortom4543 the harpsichord an instrument from the keyboard family not a type of piano

[@legomagnum9662]

@@majortom4543 if anything, a piano is a type of harpsichord because the harpsichord was ivented first

[@SangahNoona]

Wow wow wow!!! You are amazing!!! Thanks for sharing this video!! I can show this to my students to explain how piano works! I’m a pianist but also a pilot. Can you do how the airplane works? Single engine (propeller) airplane would be fun!

[@JaredOwen]

Thank you so much Sangah! I'm glad you like the video. I'll look into doing an airplane, it'll be a lot of work but I that would be cool!

[@SangahNoona]

@@JaredOwen Awesome Jared!!!

[@napoleonsukk7770]

Mad respect for you because you actually put the right notes on the piano

[@carloattanasio2527]

Can you please show us stupid creatures how does a printer work? Btw great videos!

[@JaredOwen]

Thanks for the suggestion! I will add a printer my idea list

[@zain4019]

Carlo Attanasio *curious creatures :)

[@brumbysdalby27]

Printers psh you think they work

[@_.luminosity._]

@Orion D. Hunter no they don't

[@randomamericansoldier8586]

Carlo Attanasio great idea

[@nadhilaaz]

Amazing animation work, mate! Not only it is very detailed but it's also explained very well. Keep up the great work.

[@JaredOwen]

Thank you!

[@tarasharasymiv]

Fascinating! I also watched your Part 2 video and equally fascinating! It would be great if you could add an explanation of how the repetition lever works.

[@vigokovacic3488]

Been playing piano for 10 years and still counting and I had no idea about all the detail within the hammer mechanisms! Thanks for clearing it up!

[@savvastdietitian]

wow! so much work for this video!

[@antonman1234]

Oreo kanali

[@akshajfamily6631]

You deserve a billion subscribers you are such a educational channel

[@JaredOwen]

Thanks so much!

[@vincentmorault1696]

Very nicely done, Bravo !!! just a small downside: it lacks the extremely important spring between the wippen and the repetition lever This spring gently raises the repeater lever when the key is released and therefore the hammer rises slightly, allowing the Jack to reposition itself under the hammer roller. this is what is called (wrongly!) the double escapement, and it allows the note to be replayed while the key is not yet fully raised It is a wonderful, French invention of the 19th century, which the upright piano does not benefit from !! I have put it as a link on my website of piano tuner , thanks !!

[@borealfox]

This animation was amazing, man. I'm so happy to being able to access this quality of content because I learned how to speak your language.

[@JaredOwen]

This is a great suggestion

[@ΌνομαΕπώνυμο-υ7γ]

This video was so helpful, thank you mate! Keep up the good work! :D

[@guilherme6818]

Thanks!

[@Cynthia-Landers]

Jared Owen. What a very fine teacher and animator you are. Thank you for your service to humanity!!

[@loganenglish3537]

Wow! you learn something new every day!

[@permilaroshani8024]

Great animation , I've always been a fan of yours. You also explain in a great way , so keep up the good work

[@KLINGY94]

I just discovered your channel and I'm in shock at the incredible amount of work you do for these videos, instantly subscribed

[@irfanrizqinurrahman22]

BEST ANIMATION CHANNEL EVER and so do the explanation too, omg you are a kind person thanks for sharing the Information for curious creatures like me about how this world works

[@barnabaslee2333]

Thanks for teaching me something New! And AWSOME VIDEO!!

[@GetBetterThough]

Great animation and break down, always wanted to know all these little pieces and especially how they function if needed to be replaced.

[@GWhizard]

Jared, Your videos are video's best! Thanks!

[@pianowhizz]

Minor correction: some current models of European-designed grand piano have more than 88 keys (Bösendorfer Imperial - 97 keys, Rubenstein R-371 - 97 keys, Stuart & Sons Beleura - 108 keys).

[@anan-wg4xd]

4:00 just made my day.

[@nkyiem]

What song is that

[@kedargurjar7373]

Such a vivid, optimum and to the point presentation. Just loved it.

[@pelosmarquez8157]

It is awesome!

[@creeperfusiongaming2670]

He had the perfect opportunity to Rick roll us all XD

[@Sydzahir]

0:34 ghost piano no audience but clapping no musician but piano is playing 😂😂

[@jaypatankar4391]

Ikr

[@rowenarb]

Wow! Fantastic animations and great explanations! I will definitely be showing this to my piano students!

[@phaenius]

Why is the stroking mechanism so complex? Why not the key lever striking the chord and just that?

[@MidtownSkyport]

So you can play a long note by holding the key down. Holding down the key moves the damper from the string, but you'll also notice the hammer strikes then moves away from the string no matter how long the key is held. Otherwise the hammer would remain touching the string and this would damp the note.

[@realname2404]

WOW! Everything was so much more intricate and interesting when it was completely mechanical!

[@editname6868]

It is

[@SepelaThons]

Beautiful presentation! Remember me when you’re famous! I have absolutely no doubt you will become successful! :D

[@jobanaevelyn8824]

Thank you! This was so informative. I just got my first acoustic piano and I’m learning how it works. I really appreciated the terminology and demonstrations.

[@keewinek]

did they animate the piano correctly?

[@musicalswarit]

Yup

[@cortster12]

What are marvel of engineering the grand piano is. Genius design.

[@milan72]

So great man...

[@tmotus84]

My daughter and I were talking about how the pianos work, and came across this. This was perfect! Thanks for sharing

[@JaredOwen]

Your welcome! Thanks for stopping by

[@doclee8755]

Actually, the piano is a persuasion instrument. I believe you called it a “stringed instrument”, so maybe you were simply meaning that…it’s stringed (wired). I’m sure you must know, the research you do into the models you make is quite impressive. Your animations are absolutely the most incredible. It’s now why I study Blender. Thanks!

[@foadrightnow5725]

Don't you mean percussion, not persuasion? Or am I mistaken?

[@HelloIAmNextToYou]

Thanks for this video! I only knew the basis of how the piano works but you explained it so quickly and goodly.

[@bebeezle581]

“Disassembling a Grand Piano in Front of the Audience”

[@Craig-ib7gk]

Addition: The part where the shank meets the jack is called the knuckle. As the jack pushes the knuckle the shank (the long arm leading to the actual head) is raised, thus lifting the hammer. Fun fact. the hammer is actually "thrown" into the string. Jared briefly mentioned this, but it is important. If you press the key very slowly the knuckle will never leave the jack before the highest point is reached (called the "let-off", more on that later). Pressed in this way, the hammer will approach, but never actually touch the string, before falling back on the down side of the let-off. You'll further notice the let-off will occur -before- the key press bottoms out on the board. During a normal key press, the hammer only reaches the string to the point of contact momentarily because the velocity of the press punches the knuckle with sufficient force to throw the hammer all the way to the string. The hammer can then return to rest, still raised by the repetition lever, but resting off the string. The let-off position is very important. A properly regulated piano will have the entire key line regulated to have the let-off in the the same position across all keys. Artist preferences notwithstanding (they can be a finicky lot), the let-off is normally about 1/16th in. off the string. The "cylinder" Jared mentioned near the back is called the let-off button, and that is the point where the let-off is adjusted per-string. A nearly universal technique for adjusting the let-off involves a magnetic strip of precisely the requisite let-off depth that is placed on the underside of the strings where the hammer line makes contact. The strings are metal; the strip will stick to them. The let-off button is then adjusted to the point where the hammer just-touches the strip. Once the strip is removed, the let-off is now-set to that depth (and you can move on to the other 87 keys; oh' joy). Finally, as part of regular maintenance you may wonder how often regulation has to be done. Depends on the piano, how often it is played, how often is is -moved-, etc. Things loosen up, get kind of janky, etc. I have my grand tuned twice a year, and regulated every 4-5 years. Still amazes me how awesome-sauce it feels the first time I play after both have just been completed. (of course, there's a lot of other things done during regulation, hammer shaping, sled-waxing, etc.).

[@Nhatanh0475]

I know a little bit about Grand Piano when watching Tom and Jerry :v

[@lindaullrich7249]

These are great educational videos. I had no idea there were so many different mechanisms involved in playing single notes!

[@Trifoon]

A piano is a precussion instrument. Either that or my life’s a lie

[@guilherme6818]

What is a precussion instrument?

[@CasamTheAnimator]

You can also put a grand piano sound in a DAW, you first put in a sample, and then set the piano roll to that sample, and put down the notes.

[@Mark-mo7rv]

In the 3d animation, the ghost is good at playing a piano

[@kingcargson4406]

Next you should do the engineering nightmare that was fitting the action into an upright.

[@fintan3563]

Jared, I love your animations! How could anyone give you a thumbs down? Anyway, good job!

[@Alfistagtv013]

Brilliant explanation. So cool. Thank you very much for sharing it.

[@JaredOwen]

Thank you!

[@JSUTrumpet]

Just a little more info. The piano is actually a percussion instrument. Also, action he was speaking of. He is showing a double action piano. Because the jack releases to allow the keys to be pressed repeatedly faster.

[@Antenna300-gr5pk]

Awesome video! It's so interesting how it all works. Maybe a future video suggestion would be how a pipe organ works?

[@JaredOwen]

Thank you so much! I will add it to my list of ideas for future videos.

[@skybreaker8711]

i love that theres clapping but no audiance, this is a great explanation it helps alot

[@XuanLinhVu]

great animation and narration and music, wonder why this still haven't come up to the top of my 'how a piano works' search, yet

[@JaredOwen]

Thank you Xuan! I'm hoping to get it higher up in the search rankings...just need more views

[@demef758]

What a great piece of animation, Jared! Very instructive! I've often said that if I could do it all over again, I'd learn to play the piano. It's the most versatile instrument on the planet. There is no style of music that you can NOT play on it. You can't say that about any other instrument.

[@ilikehcomikgame]

2:36 parents when they see low grades:

[@jolenetaylor689]

Jared, this is so well done!!!

[@ayanshaikh4993]

You deserve a lot of money for such brilliant animation

[@Funmom.reviews]

What an excellent, easy to follow video! My kids asked how pianos work and this us what we clicked on. They loved it. Jared, your name sounded familiar--then I saw your picture at the end and was like wait. I know that guy!! Haha, we loved your work and will now go check out your channel!

[@italomax76]

Bonjour bonsoir Jared, je découvre votre chaine en faisant une recherche de tutoriels sur Blender et voici que je tombe sur votre chaine très instructive et très enrichissante. C'est rare de voir des personnes aussi investis dans des documentaires en 3D. Le fonctionnement des touches sur le piano est très bien expliqué et j'en ai appris encore ce soir. Du coup, je me suis abonné à votre chaine et j'espère en apprendre encore. Bonne continuation à vous et au plaisir de vous suivre.

[@JaredOwen]

Merci pour vos vœux et pour votre inscription !

[@CRAFT7445]

I always thought the "hammer" rested on the strings for a moment, causing the vibrations; not striking and releasing. It makes so much more sense now.

[@kenji-nagaosurbakti9242]

Wow...Great job. I can not imagine how hard you worked for making it.

[@cpt.white96]

Jared this is awesome! Very comprehensive look on a grand piano. I just found your channel because I am researching some material to teach to young students at a small art school. Do you mind if I share some of your videos with my class?

[@Bambihunter1971]

I would love to see you revisit this subject and go into more depth. On your newer videos you dive deeper. For instance, though you explained the the wippen, I can now see it in my head, but still can't quite break it down as much to what individual parts do within it. I see this is an earlier video than the half-dozen I just watched (and then subscribed). Your newer videos put that show "how it's made" to shame. Regardless, whether you do dive deeper into this, keep up the great work.

[@AjitV]

Why isn't this a top channel ? ... such wonderful animations.

[@JaredOwen]

Thank you! Feel free to share with your friends

[@hecalledaik]

Very educating video, Underrated channel who deserved more attention

[@Googelplex101]

The explanations are great and the animation even greater! Well done.

[@JaredOwen]

Thanks Michael

[@dibaldgyfm9933]

Well done! Thanks! Still, leaves a question about why the repetition-lever is there. You could repeat without it, but not without releasing the key completely, so that the damper will fall all the way down and dampen the string. There is even a spring on the repetition lever which helps so that the hammer does not fall all the way back to resting position.

[@kiat5912]

We’ll done! Great for showing kids (and adults who never knew) how a piano works. Thank you!

[@kevinfrancais27]

As a piano player I'm honestly impressed by everything that is happening when we press just one key

[@ektorz]

Great video, great job on explaining each part and great animation!

[@ARBB1]

Brilliant work. I know how hard it is to animate these, and you made it seem effortless.

[@tomaserincasablancalarocqu5086]

What is the song at 4:00?

[@franboy1357]

"Darktown Strutters Ball" by E's Jammy Jams

[@peterouseph1110]

Very good presentation 👏👏👏👏

[@boscomoons7742]

This amazingly educative. Thanks a lot, you gave me what I really wanted!

[@TheEndingOfGold]

the fact that people are able to build these is insane

[@amiranouji7708]

Short, clear and instructive. Thank you

[@ShadowebEB]

Your video are so good quality that you've earnt a new subscriber! Great job man!

[@xxwhwolfxx7071]

A piano can be considered string or percussion. I think percussion sounds more correct because there are hammers that hit strings inside the piano. So instead of fingers we press the keys that hit the strings to generate sound.

[@ShaileshDagar]

Some really quality content here, Jared!

[@Etrehumain123]

This is very well made. It's missing few things, but you talked very well about the most important. Nice job !

[@mohnjayer]

One of the best channels on this whole godforsaken website. Thanks for all the great info.

[@JaredOwen]

Thank you!

[@johnhorseman5699]

Excellent video, so clearly explained and great graphics. Thank you!

[@mightychaikajonsak4897]

The person who first made the piano must have been an engineer maniac to even begin constructing this.