Abstract
The piano action mechanism transforms key motion into hammer swing, which creates sound by striking the strings. The mechanical design of the key action influences keyboard responsiveness, heaviness or lightness, which are critical playability parameters that can “make or break” an instrument for a pianist. From the rigid lever mechanism of 14th-century clavichords, key action mechanisms developed into the modern piano action, with dozens of bodies and compliant elements. This paper presents a brief history of this evolution, with an analysis of the most important designs from a technical perspective.
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Russo, M., Robles-Linares, J.A. (2021). A Brief History of Piano Mechanics. In: Niola, V., Gasparetto, A. (eds) Advances in Italian Mechanism Science. IFToMM ITALY 2020. Mechanisms and Machine Science, vol 91. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-55807-9_2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-55807-9_2
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