The Piano Action

The action has quite a job to do. It has to throw the hammer up towards the string when the key is depressed, but the hammer must retreat immediately after striking the string, and not try to go further than the string. If it does, it will sit against the string, and damp out the sound.

When the hammer bounces off of the string, it cannot rebound back up towards the string, or again, it may damp out the sound.

The hammer must move faster than the key, so that it is at rest, and ready to hit the string again, if the note is repeated.

The hammer has to travel a small distance after the key is struck, but stil give the player good control of the piano's dynamics.

And...the action has to perform all of this in a fraction of a second!

The Grand Piano Action

What Happens When You Press A Key

The key front goes down, the key back goes up, pushing on the capstan, which pushes the wippen, which pushes the jack, which pushes on the hammer knuckle (circle under the hammer shank).

When the hammer is half way to the string, the back of the key begins to lift the damper lever.

When the hammer is almost at the string, the jack toe hits the letoff button (regulating screw), and the jack slips out from under the knuckle, freeing the hammer to continue on its own inertia.

The hammer hits the string, and rebounds. The knuckle lands on the repitition lever, pushing down the repitition lever.

The hammer tail catches on the back check, and remains there until the key is released.

The Upright Piano Action

The Spinet Piano Action

Most of the other action parts are the same as in the upright action.

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