If you plan on getting a piano for yourself, then one question you will be asking is if you need electricity to power your piano.
The simple answer is No. Recent pianos that you can get right now do not need electricity to power them.
The only time you might need electricity to power your pianos is if you intend to get electric pianos which use a combination of mechanical and electrical parts to generate their sounds.
And most of these electric pianos have all been phased out and have been replaced by digital pianos.
So does a piano need electricity?
Not at all, you can get your piano and start playing it without worrying about electricity.
Should I Buy A Digital Piano or an Acoustic Piano?
Now that we are clear on the fact that you do not necessarily need electricity to power your piano, the next thing to consider is what kind of piano to get.
There are two main types of piano that I will suggest you get – and they are a digital piano or a standard acoustic piano
The major difference between them is the mechanism that produces the sound
The standard acoustic piano produces sound by channeling the power of your fingers pressing the keys into the hammer which then strikes the keys.
The vibrations produced by the strikings are then transmitted to the soundboard which is transfused and amplified.
When these vibrations combine with the resonance of the strings, what happens is that it creates a unique sound which is what you hear when a piano is played.
On the other hand, a digital piano has no strings.
What happens is that each key is a switch that produces a specific sound so to speak.
So there is an electric tone generator which produces the sounds and are then amplified by speakers.
So let’s look at some of the features that distinguishes a digital piano from a standard acoustic piano.
Features
An acoustic piano is a highly sophisticated musical instrument that has been used for a long time in making good music.
It has an appealing pure sound with a spontaneous and rich musical quality which is derived from the resonance and harmonics of the strings.
A digital piano is a lightweight, compact musical instrument that requires no tuning and comes equipped with volume control.
It has the unique ability to simulate the timbres of various musical instruments that closely approximates the expressive qualities of an acoustic piano with in-built recording functionality.
The acoustic piano has a string striking mechanism which is usually referred to as the action that generates a particular vibration which is then transmitted to the soundboard through the frame.
On the other hand, a digital piano has sensors which can detect the movement of keys and digitally recorded sound from the keys which is then recorded and amplified by the speakers.
It also allows you to use acoustic effects such as reverb and delay to enhance the final sound that is being produced.
How is the touch action?
For the acoustic piano, it has it’s string striking mechanism which is composed of over 5000 individual precision parts that convey the subtle nuances of your finger movement.
As for the digital piano, it usually has a variety of mechanisms employed in the pursuit of reproduction of a grand piano touch response.
One thing to note is that the keyboard touch response also varies according to the manufacturer of the piano
What is the tone like?
When playing an acoustic piano, the timbre and sound quality, which makes up the tone of the piano vary according to how the piano is played.
This is usually due to the sometimes complex effect of resonance in the strings when they are not directly struck.
This offers you the pianist a lot of expressive potential.
But for the digital piano what you notice is that it has a consistent timbre and volume for all pianists where keys are played with the same strength.
What is the expressive power?
Talking about expressive power, we are referring to the ability to sustain sounds for a very long time.
The acoustic pianos cna sustain notes over a very long time, from the notes beginning to sound to when it eventually fades off.
Depending on the strength or softness of the touch, you can have mellow to brilliant touch which affords a rich expressive potential.
Whereas for digital pianos, using extensive, detailed recordings of sounds of acoustic pianos and technology that smooths the transition between timbres produced in response to firm or gentle touch, approaches the expressive capabilities of an acoustic piano.
How Durable are they?
Both the acoustic piano and the digital piano are very durable and can be used for a long time.
The acoustic piano can be used for a long time and only needs the old and worn out parts to be replaced ancd changed while the digital piano depends on standards for the expected lifetime of electronic components.
With the above mentioned points, it is a matter of choice on which piano to get.
There is no better option.
It simply depends on what kind of music you want to get from your piano and how comfortable you are using either the acoustic piano or the digital piano.
Things to Consider Before Buying a Piano
Like all things electronics and with so many options to choose from, you should be aware of certain things that will guide you in making a buying decision for your piano.
Here are 5 of my personal choices that you need to be aware of.
1. You really need to get an 88 Note Keyboard
Yes I know – anything less might be cheaper and you might just be tempted to go something cheaper, but please hear me when I say this.
You REALLY should get an 88 Notes keyboard.
This is because when you start playing the styles that most people out there teach, you will be playing higher or lower on your piano than most beginners.
As a result, for that small extra increase in price, the extra notes are well worth it.
At the very minimum, don’t buy a keyboard with less than five full octaves. Take my word on that
2. Make sure the Keys have standard width.
The next thing you want to do is to ensure that the width of your piano are standard.
What this means is that with a standard width key, you can sit down on any piano anywhere and have fun playing without any adjustment issues.
If your keys are standard size, you will have no problems sitting down at any piano and playing a tune.
So you want to make sure you avoid all “toy” like looking pianos or keyboards with very narrow keys
A standard piano key is usually about 23mm to 25mm in size which will make for good playing on the piano.
3. Make sure the keys have some form of Weighted action.
Another thing you want to note out there before you buy a keyboard is the way it feels when you physically press down a key.
Basically you want the key press to feel the same way on your piano even though there are no hammers or strings inside it.
A digital piano or keyboard will typically either have weighted action or not. Without weighted action, the keys on the keyboard will feel more like an organ.
Try to find a digital piano or keyboard with weighted action keys. It’s easy to move to an organ when you’re used to weighted action keys. Not so much in reverse
4. Ensure you are paying for only what you need.
One thing I notice from people buying pianos is that they tend to go for pianos with all the bells and whistles
And the one question I usually ask them is “What are you going to use that for?”
In my experience, most of these extra bells and whistles will most likely go unused and will only just add to the cost of the keyboard
I can tell you for a fact that you will play your piano on a particular setting 95% of the time.
The other 5% will have you using 4 – 5 other common tunes and that is it.
So avoid going for the flashy and swag looking pianos and just stick to something that you absolutely need and will serve you for a long time.
5. Make sure it has pedals
And finally, you want to make sure that the piano you are getting has pedals with it.
And this is where most people are confused and keep asking “What do I need pedals for?”
At a minimum, you need a sustain pedal
This is because a pedal allows you to play modern styles and tunes on your piano.
Now if you really want to stick to playing old school styles without adapting, then be my guest and get a piano without any pedals
But if you want to step your game up and come hang with the cool kids, then ensure you have a pedal when buying your next piano.
Conclusion.
If you are thinking of getting a piano and you wonder, if you need electricity then you do not.
Most modern pianos and keyboards do not need electricity for them to be played on.
As long as you are going for digital pianos as mentioned in this article then you are fine and you have nothing to worry about.
Contrary to what most people believe, a piano string is not as fragile as the word string implies.
These are steel wires that are stronger than you might think.
Hence, they don’t break as easily.
Defective wires snap quickly.
Even if they somehow escape the manufacturing process and the sellers, they give up within less than a decade, around approximately five years or so.
It depends on where the defect lies.
If it’s somewhere around the “pressure points,” it will snap sooner.
In contrast, piano wires that are perfect and free of defects when manufactured can work fine for decades and decades.
You will probably witness one string breaking in 10 or 50 years.
How Can You Prevent Piano Strings From Breaking?
In a nutshell, avoiding everything in the above list of causes can help prevent piano strings from breaking.
Avoid touching the wires with your bare hands. Always wear gloves when you’re cleaning or touching the piano wires.
Install dehumidifiers to ensure minimal to no moisture around the piano.
Keep the instrument away from open windows and exposure to the outside environment.
Make sure the piano sits somewhere with no exposure to sunlight or temperature fluctuations.
What Should You Do If A Piano String Breaks?
The first thing you should do when a piano string breaks is to wear gloves.
Do not touch the wires with your bare hands as it might be sharp and can cut you.
If you don’t have any knowledge or experience in this domain, don’t try to fix the string yourself and contact a professional for help.
However, if you can do it yourself, here is a way to do so:
First things first, put on your gloves.
Identify the broken piano string (it won’t be that hard! ) and remove it. Cut it down to its V-bar.
Measure the length and width of the broken string and cut a new one accordingly. Give it a few extra inches to be safe.
Utilize a dummy pin to help the new wire wrap around and form a coil.
Feed the wire from one end under the V-bar, on the left tuning pin’s side, using a stringing crank.
Then, take the other end after the wire to feed it through the tuning pin’s hole. Create two coils around the tuning pin and make sure it’s tight.
Now remove the wire from the dummy pin and insert it inside the pinhole you had removed. Now, wrap up the wire around the V-pin and the hitch pin.
Tighten the new string, and that’s it!
How Much Would It Cost To Replace A Piano String?
Replacing piano strings can be expensive; the average cost of replacing one wire is around 20 or $30.
Getting the entire piano fixed costs around $900 to $1300.
If your piano is old and you know that the rest of the strings will come apart soon, too, the best idea is to get all the wires replaced at a single cost.
The services included restringing the wires that need to be restrung and replacing tuning pins that need replacement.
Bass strings cost even more than that.
Plus, these costs depend on the material, size, length, and brand of the piano strings.
For example, grand piano strings are somewhat more expensive compared to upright piano strings.
Conclusion
Piano strings don’t break every day, but it’s not a rare sight either.
Whether the cause is natural aging or a manufacturing defect, it is normal for these metal wires to break.
Indeed, there are specific ways you can prevent it, and as mentioned above.
Even still, if your piano string breaks, don’t panic.
Ask for professional help.
Or, if you are confident enough, do it yourself using the process mentioned above.
It’s not as complicated as it may seem.
Just ensure that you know exactly what you’re doing and you have protective gloves on.
Piano wires can be sharp.
They might poke you or cut you badly if you’re not careful.
If you know anything about pianos or wood, you will understand that higher temperatures are not an alloy to the instrument or the material.
Heat can affect the wood as well as its finish.
Thus, it can ruin the finish of your instrument and negatively affect the sound quality as well.
Can You Store A Piano In A Cold Garage?
A cold garage is not an ideal place to store your piano.
Since you cannot control or maintain the temperatures, it can negatively impact the wood and damage the outlook and the soundboard.
As a result, the pitch and sound quality will also change, and not always in the best way.
How Can You Store A Piano In A Garage?
Now that we’ve talked about the criteria for storing a piano in a garage, let’s discuss how you can do it successfully.
Climate-Controlled Storage
As mentioned earlier, hot and cold temperatures are not an ally of wood and your piano in general.
So, the first thing you need to do is maintain room temperatures.
This concept is “climate-controlled storage.”
Ideally, if you want to store your piano in your garage, the temperature range should be from mid 70 degrees Fahrenheit in the summers to upper 60 degrees Fahrenheit during the winters.
The safe zone, however, is 38 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit.
As long as your piano sits in this temperature range, it is not prone to damage.
Dehumidifiers
Just like temperature, the humidity around the piano is also an essential factor to consider.
If it’s humid where you live, invest in a dehumidifier.
It helps reduce the moisture in the surrounding and lowers the chances of damage to your wood.
Once you control the temperature and the humidity around your instrument, you can successfully store your piano in a garage.
Cleaning And Wrapping The Piano
Another essential aspect to take care of is how to leave your piano sitting in the garage.
Ideally, it should be clean and adequately wrapped.
Make sure there is no dust or grime anywhere.
Pay particular attention to the keys’ cleanliness and wipe them with a little bit of action oil for more comfort and fluidity.
Next, take care of the fallboard, the lid, and basically all of the piano case.
Once you’re done cleaning, it’s time to wrap up the instrument.
You can use shrink wrap and blankets for this. Invest in heavy-duty, durable, padded blankets.
They make sure your piano’s wooden frame doesn’t contact the wall directly.
Apply the shrink wrap first, and then add the blanket player.
If you plan to store the piano for a more extended period, you should remove the wrap once you’ve put it in the garage.
The reason for this is that, in the long run, the plastic might attach permanently to the wood.
Then, it can cause problems when you finally take it out of the storage.
So, wrap it up nicely and strap it into place.
This part is optional, and you don’t have to do it unless you plan on moving the piano a lot.
Flooring
The floor is a necessary but underrated aspect when you’re thinking about storing a piano.
Concrete, cement, and tile floor can hold moisture.
As a result, the strings can rust, and the wood can go bad.
The ideal way to combat this problem is by placing a carpet or a rug under your piano.
Conclusion
Storing a piano in a garage isn’t ideal, and there are many reasons you shouldn’t do it.
Fluctuating temperatures, humidity, and lack of an appropriate environment are a few of the major ones.
However, if there’s absolutely no other place to store your instrument, there are a few things you can do to make it possible.
Controlling temperatures, humidity, and sunlight exposure around the piano can prevent damage and guarantee a successful storage project.
A damper’s job is to stop the strings from vibrating.
When you lift a finger off a key, the corresponding damper falls on the wire.
The soft felt on the damper absorbs all the string’s vibrations, and the sound slowly fades away.
However, not all strings have a damper.
The highest ones usually don’t need it because their vibrational energy releases very quickly.
Hence, the sound stops in a short time on its own.
Pedals
The right pedal lifts all dampers together and allows you to sustain a bunch of notes.
In such a case, sounds continue even after you’ve released all the keys.
Plus, this mechanism stimulates vibration in the strings that you haven’t struck and allows them to become harmonic with those that you did.
Overall, the resultant sounds are richer and fuller.
The left pedal produces softer tones as it shifts all hammers and keys towards the right.
As a result, these hammers only strike a few strings, and since their contact area doesn’t reach the wires fully, they produce softer sounds.
Metal pedals sustain notes.
Whatever note you were playing when you pressed the pedal, it holds and sustains it.
On modern pianos, this middle pedal lifts the bass dampers.
In vertical pianos, middle pedals activate muting effects by pushing a cloth between the strings and their hammers.
Frame
A stable frame withstands the strings’ tension.
Most commonly, these frames are wooden.
How Does A Piano Change Pitch?
Now that you understand how a piano makes high and low-pitched sounds, you’ll find it much easier to learn how it changes the pitch.
String Tension
Since the strings are the primary elements of the piano responsible for generating a pitch, they majorly impact it.
When the lines stretch and change their tension, become old, or they’re very moist, they immediately change the pitch they produce.
New pianos have tense strings that stretch and settle with time.
As discussed above, taut strings produce a higher pitch, and the opposite is true for a looser wire.
So, when the strings lose their tension as they age, the pitch automatically changes.
The Soundboard And Humidity
Another significant way a piano changes its pitch is when the soundboard is too humid or too dry.
A piano’s soundboard is its main acoustic structure, and it’s entirely wooden.
If you know about wood, you would know that it quickly reacts to moisture.
As the humidity increases, the wood swells, and its shape changes.
The resultant effect is that the strings stretch out, and the soundboard becomes more crowned.
Since the lines become tenser, the pitch becomes higher.
Similarly, when the climate is dry, the soundboard’s wood flattens, and the strings’ tension lowers.
As a result, the pitch drops, and that’s how a piano changes its pitch.
Pitch Changing Devices
A piano can also change its pitch with the help of s pitch-changing device.
All you must do is put the output of your piano through the machine.
There are multiple different kinds of technology available for this.
Some devices allow you to make small changes to the pitch, while others can dramatically change the piano’s sound output.
You can choose one, depending on your personal preferences and requirements.
How Can You Reverse This Pitch Change?
If you want to prevent the unwanted, natural change in the piano’s pitch, tuning is a way to do that.
Tuning refers to maintaining the tension in the strings and, hence, maintaining the pitch of your piano.
You could do it yourself, but it’s always best to get it done by a professional.
Just make sure that you tune your piano at least once a year as the season changes.
As we discussed above, the changing climate can have a significant impact on your piano’s sound.
Thus, if you want to maintain the pitch or reverse the change, tuning is your best friend!
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How far from standard pitch must a piano be before a pitch raise is necessary?
Determining when a pitch raise or lowering is necessary depends on 3 important factors.
And these are – the accuracy of the final tuning, the size of the piano and the quality of the piano.
So realistically, a pitch difference of a few percent can be accommodated during tuning.
But when the piano’s pitch is noticeably different from that of other standard pitched instruments, then a [itch correction procedure is needed before tuning.
In my opinion, I will say anything from 5 percent of standard pitch should be corrected.
2.
Conclusion
So, in a nutshell, a piano changes its pitch due to natural reasons or artificial ones.
As the strings settle into the piano, they lose their tension, and the pitch changes.
Secondly, when the humidity increases, the wooden soundboard swells, stretches the strings and indirectly affects the pitch.
And if you want to change the piano’s pitch deliberately, you can do it using a pitch changing device.
All in all, if you wish to prevent the natural changes, make sure you tune your piano as any other stringed instrument!
Playing the piano for an extended period of time can cause trigger fingers in musicians.
This is because when playing the piano, your finger movement is facilitated by spaghetti like tendons that extend from your muscles in your forearm all the way down to the various attachment points along the front and back of your fingers.
Now as they pass along the route, they are guided by a tough fibrous material called retinaculums.
The sole aim of the retinaculums is to guide your tendons to their insertion points and also acts as a retaining band and fulcrum that keeps the tendons in close proximity to the bones of your hands.
Now when you overuse the tendons in your hands with activities such as playing the piano for a very long time, the sheath may become inflamed and the contents will then thicken
What happens is that it compresses the tendons as it passes through the sheath
As a result of this compression and constriction,the tendons begin to swell and this swelling tends to occur just before it passes through the sheath and the retinaculum.
In extreme cases, this might involve the flexor tendons of the hand.
This inflamed and enlarged flexor tendon will have difficulty passing through the swollen sheath and also passing through the retinaculum.
Symptoms – What does Trigger Finger Look Like?
Photo by Any Lane on Pexels.com
Now that we have established that playing the piano for a long period of time causes trigger finger, what are some of the symptoms you experience
For someone who has trigger finger, you will notice that one or more of your fingers will be caught up or bent when you try to straighten them out.
It usually get stuck in a flexed position midway and might cause some pain when trying to straighten it out.
So what happens is that the person may then try to straighten it out physically with the other hand.
This is a painful procedure that might cause you to cry and you also hear an audible snapping sound when done.
This snapping is caused by the thickened tendon squeezing through the tunnel of swollen material.
