Influence of String Stiffness on Piano Tone

TL;DR

This paper investigates how the stiffness of piano strings affects the resulting tone by developing a semi-analytical model of string vibration.

Contribution

It introduces a new semi-analytical model for piano string vibrations that incorporates string stiffness, enhancing understanding of tone production.

Findings

Model accurately predicts effects of string stiffness on tone

Provides insights into piano tone modulation

Enhances theoretical understanding of string vibration dynamics

Abstract

Piano tones vary according to how pianist touches the keys. Many possible factors contribute to the relations between piano touch and tone. Focusing on the stiffness of string, we establish a model for vibration of a real piano string and derive a semi-analytical solution to the vibration equation.