The Fascinating World Inside of a Piano

[@AdamNeely]

I finally know how the sostenuto pedal works. I didn't know I needed to know that. But I very much am glad that I did. Amazing video!

[@maestrotheoretically519]

Yes. Adam, I use the Sostenuto pedal a lot in composing for a cool effect but, how could I get the same muted sound on a bass. Jazz out.

[@seiph80]

BASS!

[@MartinBurtonGuitar]

Same! I always wondered how it works, but never had access to a piano with it that I was in a position to "investigate". For some reason people don't take kindly to having their pianos dismantled by an amateur :D

[@sebastian-benedictflore]

lol, nice to see you here Adam

[@OutfitCornwall]

Haha yeah good to know!

[@tanyab7318]

I'm glad there are people who are experts in this detail.

[@AndyChamberlainMusic]

if there weren't we wouldn't have any new pianos haha

[@pruiz8432]

Piano Makers: Am I a joke to you?

[@RickBeato]

Not only a fascinating video but a great soundtrack as well!

[@crafalgar9719]

Hey Rick ! How about you do a video of the same type with bass/guitar maintenance ? Anyways, great content, keep it up !

[@NahreSol]

Thank you Rick!!

[@seiph80]

Loved this! The piano mechanism and action is fascinating!

[@flutechannel]

Couldn't have said it better Rick.

Yeah, especially the vibraphone (?) one.

[@LrdVnm]

Hello Nahre, I'm Rick, a third (and last) year student at the HMC in Amsterdam, studying to be a pianotechnician just like Damon. Seeing this video pop up in my recommended instead of the usual videogame related stuff was a beautiful surprise and I love how in-depth the information went! It's like my whole school career condensed into 30 minutes instead of three years. Often when I open up a piano to tune or regulate, people respond with awe and a "I've never seen the inside of my piano!", which both gives me the happy opportunity to introduce them to the inner workings but also saddens me a little that such a popular instrument still harbours so many secrets from its most loyal fans. So I'd like to extend an honest and heartfelt *thanks* for this video. It has earned you a new subscriber :) All the best!

[@NahreSol]

Timestamps for smartphone viewers -- 00:53 All of the different parts of a piano action 01:43 Basic key mechanism 02:21 The art of voicing 06:33 The bump at the bottom of the keys (single escapement) 07:46 How dampers work 08:46 Parts that wear out faster 10:04 Ideal conditions for pianos (temperature and humidity) 11:13 Ideal locations for pianos (what not to do) 12:44 How to make the touch lighter or heavier 16:20 How to clean your piano 17:37 New pianos 18:38 Adjusting pianos vs. adjusting TO pianos 19:35 How often you should tune pianos 20:10 Smaller vs. larger pianos 21:17 Advantages of playing on a grand piano 22:59 Tips when looking for a used piano 25:07 Pedals 25:59 The sostenuto “middle” pedal 29:28 Final thoughts

[@Jean_Pierre888]

Thank you!

[@Bati_]

Nahre Sol Thank you Nahre! It is very kind of you.

[@arc1105]

🎹🕐📝😎

[@pedterson]

Amazing video! Learned so much! Thank you! And the fact that you timestamped it, shows so much regard for the time of your viewers. So thank you again!

[@phir9255]

I wish more youtubers would make videos with timestamps!

[@greggraham4114]

I am a piano technician, and expected to catch the tuner saying something wrong, and gleefully shouting "Ah-HA!", but instead found that I agreed with everything he said. Very well done!

[@VladK-1]

It's great to hear! I wonder about some more details e.g. about the soundboard and about the grand-vs-upright piano mechanism differences but I guess it would have been x2 longer video in that case.

[@JohnRuggero]

I'm also a concert piano technician. Great video! This guy sounds like me talking Haha. Piano technicians revel in anonymity. If I go to tune for a concert no news is good news. A call from the concert hall is never the artist complementing you on what an amazing job you did. 😁 but with experience you get very good at eliminating issues that will often be noticed by the artist. I find satisfaction in being the unsung part of a concert. A well prepared piano can make or break a performance both for the artist and audience. I love my job and I hope that us aural tuners don't become a thing if the past!

[@RhettShull]

This makes my guitar rig look like a child's toy.

[@avjake]

Not so sure about that. The hammers on a guitar have taken millions of years of evolution. : - )

[@rainepenny7900]

That’s because guitars are toys :D (jk)

[@78tag]

Rhett - obviously Djesse penny has never dealt with a pedal steel guitar. :)

[@francoisvillon1300]

It is a child's toy indeed.

[@NN-sp9tu]

@@francoisvillon1300 You're a complete moron

[@pianist9]

The best ever video about piano mechanism!

[@NahreSol]

Thank you!!

[@ariebirb]

My family has a really big grand piano that exposed its insides when open. I remember when I was a kid spending hours when not playing staring at the inside and watching the hammers bounce, counting the strings. I completely forgot until I saw your video and I got thrown back. I was a quiet kid with not many friends, but I vividly remember this. I remember it.

[@agento86]

A very informative and for me, a nostalgic video. As a youngster in the late 70's, my mother was a music teacher at a high school, taught piano and violin at a local piano store, and was responsible for the home schooling of piano lessons for my siblings and myself. We had an old rustic baby grand Wurlitzer in our home studio. From time to time she would tune the piano and pull the keyboard out. I remember being completely mesmerized by all the moving parts. The topic of temperature and humidity regulation is really applicable to all stringed instruments. I grew up in a large Victorian house in Washington and our home studio had two walls that were all windows. I remember the piano, an orchestral pedal harp, and various other stringed instruments in there. It was the only room in the house in which the hardwood floors were completely covered in carpet. During the colder months and in winter, those two windowed walls were covered with blankets to help regulate the temperature and offset condensation. We, my siblings and I, were often scolded for leaving the doors open in the studio. Gahhh!!! Too much nostalgia! Time to call mom and dad and check in. :D

[@jcwpiano]

This video may just be the best video on KZbin at this moment with regards to the intricate insides of pianos...great job putting this together!

[@NahreSol]

Thank you!!!

[@mykolas3587]

This video is gold for piano community. Thank You Nahre Sol for such a wise use of a platform, and Damon Groves for a very down-to-earth overview on piano and maintenance. P. S. It's hygrometer :)

[@irar4332]

This was so informative! I've been playing the piano for more than 1/2 a century and never knew most of this. Thanks for posting.

[@vincentneale2620]

I am a pianist who became a Piano Tuner / Technician worked for over 40 years in the trade- Every pianist should have knowledge of the instrument they play.

[@zain4019]

vincent neale That’s so cool! It sounds like a very interesting job:)

[@Space_Potat]

Only 12 minutes in I realised, that it feels SO NICE to watch these two talk. Very interesting, but I mean the whole energy, for the lack of a better term of the two is so good

[@RobinYerah]

Nahre! This is such an amazing video! Loved the way this was edited and the calming background music. Learned so much in just half an hour. Time literally flew by watching this! Thank you so much for this. 🙏🏾 Damon is also such a lovely and likeable man explaining everything with care. 😊

[@NahreSol]

Thank you so much!! I really appreciate it 🙏🙏🙏

[@olgalanaki]

Treat pianos with respect!! ❤ Very interesting video! Thank you! 🙏

[@TLMuse]

I'm not a pianist (guitarist), but this is fascinating anyway! Thanks for this, Nahre. -Tom

[@NahreSol]

Thank you for watching!! 🙏

[@seiph80]

Now THIS is interesting!

[@zdbarnett]

This is a magnificent video. Like you, I've been playing piano for 20+ years and have never taken much time to think about EXACTLY how the mechanisms work and what parts affect tone. Thank you so much!

[@cx6235]

Can't stop admiring how physics and music blend together to form something so beautiful. I am also always amazed by your great work and the effort you put into it. Happy new year! Thanks for such a nice video :)

[@HaiTran-bp5cv]

Two persons both are extremely knowledgeable and humble at the same time. Thanks for the educational video

[@TheGuyKirby]

Thanks Nahre - excellent video. Great to understand how everything works in a grand piano in detail, absolutely fascinating and I like the calm and knowledgeable way that Damon explained everything.

[@Bati_]

Finally! I was waiting for that moment! New upload from you! Thanks Nahre!!! It’s an incredible insight into the piano, thanks for providing this video! Greetings from Turkey and big love and respect! The new subtitles are amazing and footnotes are very useful as well, as always you provide top-notch quality content! 😊 PS. The background music is fantastic, absurd and video-game like :)

[@NahreSol]

Thank you so much!! And happy new year to you!!

[@Bati_]

Nahre Sol Happy new year to you as well, you’re welcome 💛

[@erichwill]

Absolute brilliant video. Thanks for taking the time to show us!

[@TimothyGondola]

I grew up as a classically-trained pianist but never really learned the intricacies of a piano like this. Thank you so much for taking your time to make this video, super useful, I don't know where else I'd learn this knowledge!

[@thierryruquier9416]

I am not a pianist, but I found this video really amazing. Thank you for showing all those details and giving us an insight to the "hidden side" of a piano. Greetings from a french fan.

[@louistremblay8187]

I rarely leave comments on any social media. But this was instructive and fascinating. Damon clearly knows and loves his craft. Bravo!

[@kwzat]

One of those videos that quietly and gently makes me feel smarter, better, wealthier, happier. Amazing. Thank you!

[@usvalve]

This is a first-class video - beautifully made, intelligent and comprehensive. I found it both interesting and enlightening, and now understand how that middle pedal works. You've even given us timestamps and info on the recording equipment. Thanks, Nahre!

[@OnlyARide]

Damon is so knowledgable and presented all the information thoughtfully and eloquently! And with such a silky, pleasant voice!!! I want to watch this video all over again just to keep listening to him talk!

[@peterkohout7901]

This is what competence and excellence look like. Fascinating video. Humbling in the sense that most of the mechanics were worked out hundreds of years ago. No wonder pianos are so expesive.

[@malcelinho]

0:53 one of the few times I had to slow down a video lol

[@travenator16]

This is so great! Thank you so much for this, it's incredible to think about how much genius engineering and thought went into the development of this instrument. So glad i found this channel!

[@NahreSol]

Thank you!!

[@davidbedard7195]

How lovely to listen to you two interacting and to watch Damon consider each of your questions with such care before beginning to answer. And the wealth of information he provides . . . . thank you!

[@genpro65]

I actually enjoyed the soundtrack as much as the interview. Thank you…

[@GrantJackson70USD]

I find your videos calming. Thank you.

[@RYK05130]

Love this video!!!!! This is so educational and eye-opening. Probably the best piano anatomy and mechanics video I have seen. Your interaction with Damon makes the video very enjoyable to watch, in addition to great, amazing and useful content. THANK YOU!! Good luck in your music career.

[@isaiahway]

First So often we take piano for granted and don’t even think about how much genius engineering goes into this instrument. Awesome video!!!

[@seiph80]

So? Copying everyone else on KZbin. Put something positive! Leave good feedback!

[@isaiahway]

seiph80 I did

[@NahreSol]

Thank you!!!

[@arc1105]

Fantastic Nahre Sol. Brilliantly explained Damon Groves. I've never seen the inner workings of a piano before. Thanks for the colored circles. Love these documentaries Nahre Sol. Learned a lot. Piano knowledge is musical power. Can't what to hear what you'll create now that you've seen the middle pedals mysteries. Happy days Nahre Sol, as you enjoy your adventures. 🙏

[@NahreSol]

Thank you so much 🙏 and Happy New Year to you!!

[@Darkosa1234]

Simply the best video about how piano works in detail. Thank you!

[@邱才颙-l2c]

This is so good！I mean so many people now play piano without knowing the fact that a piano itself is an amazing and complex machine. It is also important for a piano player to understand their instrument. And I can feel a kind of respect in his taking~这真是太可爱啦

[@alienfac32]

Thank u. i dont play piano. i just know how they work now. And thank you Damon Groves for the great explanations.

[@richardbloemenkamp8532]

Nahre and Damon, you made an excellent video presentation! There is a lot of very clear, detailed and well-explained technical information in this video.

[@rickwalburn30]

I want to thank you for this channel. I am a professional pianist and unfortunately my job keeps me from using acoustic pianos due to my constant traveling. I think that becoming a truly great musician is not about playing notes, understanding chords, theory or simply any one thing. Your channel has been a source of motivation to broaden my understanding of all aspects of being a musician. You are truly inspirational. Thank you for doing taking us on this trip with you. You are making musicians better by guiding us to the small details that we may never have seen otherwise. HUGE FAN!

[@stevezivin3283]

Thank you Nahre and Damon! I've been playing for decades and I only "sort of" knew how piano mechanism worked before watching. Great questions asked and answered with great clarity. It is weird, but perhaps understandable, that so many of us pianists don't really know how our instruments really work beyond a superficial level----It's definitely complex, but important and useful knowledge to have.

[@gmstabloid]

Awesome... Now I can talk to my daughter and help her appreciate the work put into building one of these. Thank you both!

[@rabendranath]

This video was quite amazing, I'm impressed at the techincian's total command of the instrument, the graphics are always helpful and spot-on and I found the soundtrack quite immersive and stimulating. This is Nahre firing on all cylinders ;) Great job!!

[@lexsmith8689]

this was so far the most vigorous and detailed description I´ve ever been given.. Masterful work Sir..

[@Dr.Anomaly]

As per usual I feel drastically informed after watching this.

[@ramarinsa]

Why would anyone thumbs down this video? It is so helpful and I love the way you made it!

[@YourMakingMeNervous]

I think your video making style is excellent! The questions come up right as you naturally ask them, and the dynamic captioning as the information comes along is so easy to follow along with. I have a learning disability so I can't explain how much I appreciate that.

[@pegah9413]

Wow, I was mindblown throughout the whole thing. I had seen inside of piano before and was happy to know how the sound is made when I press the key, but for some reason I was treating the rest of the mechanism as "fancy stuff" that I can really skip on. Thanks for sharing this, I am humbled by my lack of knowledge!

[@scottnoyes7516]

Thank you sooooooooooooooo much. I learned a lot and enjoyed the video. After watching it once, I am ready to watch it again. What a team! Please keep going.

[@flutechannel]

Music Instrument appreciation at its finest.

[@NahreSol]

Thank you!!

[@flutechannel]

No problem, I can appreciate the doc form and the time it takes. Worth the wait! Hope you had a great holiday and new year. Now onward with 2019! @@NahreSol

[@StephenHsiang]

This is really inspiring, and self-reflecting that being an amateur player for over 25 years I have never questioned or wondered how this device works. Some of the levering and sound amplitude relations really help you to think more about your playing in term of dynamics.

[@JuanCarlosRodriguezCerdan]

good Video dear Nahre, thx for sharing!!

[@aknopf8173]

I like how gently he touches the mechanical parts of the piano. Just like the way he talks :)

[@aadhityaanu]

Such complex links and mechanisms. As an engineering student who plays the piano(well, keyboard) this was such an eye opener for me. I am a mechanical engineering student and learn all sorts of links and mechanisms about various machine equipments and i think there should atleast be an elective for musical instruments haha

[@Eleanna4fun]

Incredible video. I have been playing for a while, but I never put much thought into how it actually works. Only what I could see from opening the cover. I will keep coming back to this, there's so much to learn from Mr. Groves. And thank you Nahre for making all of this possible!

[@MHMecklin]

22:41 physics. What he said in the first half about the power coming from pushing the energy into the strings, (physics)... it’s easy to break something solid against something solid. But it’s much more difficult to break a solid object (a bad hammer) against something elastic. This is because elastic things (in this case the strings) absorb and channel the energy and redirects it in the direction from which it came. And in some cases it’s actually easier to break a solid object with something elastic like a whip. (Assuming the elastic object can withstand the amount of energy). Rebounds/elastic things (rubber bands; etc) actually have a stronger impulse than when hitting a solid object. This is because when the elastic object absorbs the energy it usually sends it back with even more energy in the same direction the energy originally came from. This is because of Newton’s third law. A good example of this is breaking/bending a stick. When the stick breaks (from being dried out) the energy is released. But if the stick is still wet and ripe, it will bend. When someone walks past a branch and then it whips you in the face, they have put energy into the branch on top of the energy already stored by pushing it aside (usually forward). As it whips back, it gains momentum and speed. Because the tip of the branch is further out from the trunk/base, it has to move faster to keep up with the base of the branch near the trunk causing it to gain momentum. Sense the base of the branch is connect to the trunk of the tree, it doesn’t have to move as much. As a result, the branch backlashed with more energy. (I’m not sure how well I explained that but hopefully it made sense). Basically, elastic things have more backlash than solid things because elastic things can absorb more energy. That’s why worn hard hammers bounce back rather than putting emergent into the strings. Or something like that. There’s an old saying “if you don’t bend you break”. Now a days people don’t usually say stuff like this often or don’t pay mention attention to old sayings like this but this saying obviously came from physics. It’s a concept of physics that can and is at times applied to life. Newton’s third law of motion is another concept not isolated to physics as well as the idea of perfect elasticity in terms of transferring of energy. What I mean, by perfect elasticity is that energy can be transferred through a change of events. It doesn’t matter if it’s positive (happy, joyful, etc) emotions/energy or negative (depression, bitterness, etc) emotions/energy. Basically, if you have a bad day and yell at someone, later that day the person you yell at has potential to yell at someone else, and the chain keeps going. As adults, we know better but honestly it’s more about how much negative energy can we withstand/absorb before we feel the need to release it. (Sorry this last part is a little off topic but it was a good chance to make a few points).

[@bennemann]

"This is because when the elastic object absorbs the energy it usually sends it back with even more energy in the same direction the energy originally came from." No. Energy cannot be created from nothing. Unless a chemical reaction occurs, the elastic object can only send back a maximum of the same amount of energy it received (usually less due to energy losses from sound and friction). What happens with the branch is that the person who's pushing it is doing so relatively slowly, so you have a slow and steady accumulation of potential kinetic energy in the branch sometimes over several seconds. When the branch is released, all that energy is released in a much shorter time span, meaning it has to be higher (e.g., the person put in 100 J of energy per second over 5 seconds, and the branch releases 500 J in 1 second. The end amount of energy is the same). "As adults, we know better but honestly it’s more about how much negative energy can we withstand/absorb before we feel the need to release it." Are you honestly treating "energy" in the psychological sense as if it were the same as energy in the physics sense? REALLY?

[@MHMecklin]

bennemann you’re right. Conservation of energy. (Plus laws of thermodynamics dynamics. And if we’re assuming the energy wasn’t lost to friction and heat, Newton’s 3rd law would apply.) But that wasn’t the point. It’s called a metaphor. When I wrote this admittedly I was a little rusty in physics. Not so much right now since I’m in a physics class but still, that wasn’t the point. And whether you believe it or not, negative energy is contagious. Positive energy can be too, but this is all relative to the type of person the energy comes into contact with. Thus meaning for some people it’s harder to be happy if the situation does match up with thoughts inside their head. Of course this is not necessarily true for everyone. A good common example of positive energy is taking a friend out to drink when they’re down. (I don’t drink but its not hard to tell that this happens). Obviously, we set examples as adults. It’s not something we choose but something we grow into. Thus adults we have a responsibility to know these things and the help balance things out if possible and or necessary. To much good stuff is bad stuff. It’s about balance. Musicians are tend to be pretty aware of this. It’s important to not be too hard on yourself sense you’ll just end discouraging yourself to the point of not want to play but you also need to be aware of what you need to work on and be focused. It’s like being strict while also being kind at the same time. This part is psychological but the original concept was more sociological. Among other things.

[@carolinestevenson5696]

Loved this video, especially the middle pedal description and close up. Very easy fellow to listen to. Great

[@silvercruiser]

Oh my goodness a whole 30 minutes Fascinating stuff! Behind-the-tech stuff is always cool, but I didn't think I'd ever need on on an instrument til now

[@junonoswald3607]

real huge thank you to you and Damon for this video. At first, i thought it would be just on surface, but quickly it went deeper. This knowledge is usualy a secret from piano technician. I learnt a lot I must say it as well for the other video you did, like "how to compose like...Satie" I suscribed directly to your channel and i m so happy i did.

[@instrumentenfreak]

I'm so glad I found your channel! There is so much put into this videos ... I love it!

[@alanbarends158]

This is a very informative post, Nahre. Thanks for posting & thanks for sharing your expertise in a very clear understandable language, Damon

[@drewwalker101]

This is a great piano maintenance overview. Informative, not too serious, and most importantly concise.

[@eclipto9806]

I've watched a few videos on this topic over the years but none where the explanation is done so well. Also, you asked great questions that I have asked in regards to my own piano and its sound. Maybe there is hope for it yet.

[@fixedpointfunky]

So psyched that you are getting into this -- I took a piano tech class at university and it really changed me as a composer. Can we look forward to some videos on tuning systems next?

[@passage2enBleu]

Nothing beats the real deal like this. Acoustic is it. I have a 109 year old C Bechstein and she is perfect in her little imperfections. It's a daily communion, and since I do my own maintenance and tuning, it's an intimate relationship :)

[@andrecirillo]

Amazing. Very instructive, 30 minutes of pure and relevant information.

[@andreamundt]

Good to see you again !! I will now watch this video for the second time in a row -

[@SayaStevan]

Nahre Sol Noona, i love your piano videos, also, i like to thank for sharing your knowledge to us.. love from your fan from Indonesia ,😆

[@Aurelian76]

Absolutely amazing. Thank you both for this. Cheers from Toronto.

[@VladK-1]

Thank you for a great interview! This is exactly what I was recently thinking about to learn! KZbin surprised me once again as I didn't search for it and it just appeared in my recommendations. Sostenuto mechanism certainly blows my mind!

[@cognishn]

By far the coolest the episode yet. Thorough and well put together!

[@NahreSol]

Thank you!!

[@guitaricet]

Never expected to watch a 30 minute how piano works video. But I did and it was amazing 🤩

[@dwilliams4142]

So awesome!!! Thanks for sharing!!

[@skane3109]

You bring us to places few venture. This is a beautiful and unique gift to your listeners. Thank you Nahre Sol 🎹

[@HollywoodF1]

15:00 another effect of adding weight to a key is the added inertia of the key. When you strike a key hard, you have more mass to accelerate. The key hits you back harder.

[@naufalpurnamahadi9933]

adding headlines on every single content on your video makes this more understandable! thanks

[@margaretstewart3255]

I love mechanics of all kinds and this was a fascinating and instructive and inspiring video compounding my amazement of what a piano IS ... I will never again question why a piano costs whatever it costs. Just thanks, Narhe. I will watch this again and tell my friends about it, too.

[@skane3109]

You bring us to places few venture. This is a beautiful and unique gift of yours. Thank you Nahre Sol 🎹

[@thomaslau9631]

This is the best video about the anatomy & physiology of upright and grand piano. Thanks for the part that differentiates heavy versus light actions. Good explanation.

[@islingr111]

That was a great video. I really loved that relaxing style!

[@gavinmcgraw]

I've been thinking about making a video like this to address the most common questions i get from my clients. But you and Damon may have saved me some work!

[@Pretzels722]

30 minute nahre sol video... YYYYEEEEEEEEEE BBBOOOOYYEEEEEEEEEEEE

[@amcsdmi]

This video is so chill and informative at the same time. Thanks!

[@viggosimonsen]

Good overview of the piano mechanics. Helps a lot with that cross-section model.

[@David-R.]

What a GREAT educational video for pianists!! This is by far THE ABSOLUTE BEST video on how a piano works!! I only watched 8 minutes so far and I'm amazed!! Thank you. great Idea for a KZbin video as well.

[@braydenk.8348]

This is so cool, Nahre. Thanks for putting so much thought into this video.

[@tubacious]

Thank you Nahre - been waiting for this new video. Great information

[@leonnape4157]

Rating this one of the top 3 channels on youtube - feel free to challenge me, I'm not listening. Solder, iron and the Mary Poppins word-thing are all excusable words (hygrometer? meh - sure). Most importantly - thanks to Nahre for lifting the veil on this most wonderful instrument - so many questions I had for many years got addressed. Always presented with charm, humility and video production brilliance only matched by her smile.

[@JohnMcCulloch75]

I could listen to this chap for hours on end

[@mario_actually]

Amazing amazing video. So interesting and in such nice chill atmosphere. Great job Damon!

[@naynaynay324]

To avoid extremes is a general rule of life. Thanks for the upload.

[@mwflanagan1]

Very informative and thorough. Thanks, Nahre and Damon.

[@sebastiancoiscou2633]

I think we will need these soundtracks Especially there. 7:50 so beautyful

[@kennyfrien-i]

This was a great refresher on this subject for me. As usual, you knocked it out of the park on the whole presentation, turning a potentially boring topic into a fun watch. Thanks Nahre (and Damon)!

[@NahreSol]

Thank you so much!!