How Many Strings On A Piano?

Answer 1

It varies from piano to piano, depending on the scale design.

As you are probably aware, there are 88 notes on a piano. However, the lowest notes have 1 string, the the other bass notes have two strings, and the treble notes have three strings per note. Where the breaks occur is different for different models. For instance -- on a Steinway Model D concert grand, with the 20-note bass, the first 8 notes are singletons, the next 5 are doubles, and the last 7 are tri-chords, for a total of 39 strings in the bass (up to E2). The other 68 notes are tri chords as well -- another 204 strings, for a total of 243 strings.

Smaller pianos will have a 26-note bass, with no trichords until the break, so the number of strings will be different.

Hope this helps!

Answer 2

It depends on the piano. The bass notes have one string, the mid-range (tenor) notes have two, and the other notes have three. There will be 230 - 250 strings on any given piano, but given manufacturing differences, there's not a single answer to the question.

Answer 3

It does not appear that our learned group here on YA are the only ones that are "confused" or with "crossed" definitions. Out of several "academic" sources that I checked, none agree exactly on the proper placement of the piano, to wit: "Although the piano has strings, it is not classed as a string instrument because its tone is not produced by bowing" 'The Technique of Orchestration', Kent Kennan. "The piano may be described briefly as a stringed instrument, the strings being struck by hammers" 'Harvard Dictionary of Music' "...although the piano is clearly a percussion instrument,...it will NOT be considered as within the percussion section." (It is placed in a Keyboard chapter). 'Orchestration', Walter Piston The "Handbook of Percussion Instruments" only lists the piano as a percussion instrument when the strings are being struck with various beaters "ala John Cage", etc. And yet another source calls the piano a "percussive string instrument." Perhaps placing it under the Keyboard category makes the most sense. It is obvious that at least part of the confusion is caused by its unique qualities of performance. Musician, composer, teacher.

Answer 4

I don't know exactly ...

But there are 88 keys. The lower keys tend to have 1 strong per key, the next batch has 2 strings, and the mid-range on up has three strings per key

Answer 5

My old baby grand has 222:
12 singles = 12
18 doubles = 36
58 triples = 174

Answer 6

One for each key in the lower register.
Two for each key in lower medium + medium register.
Three for each key in upper medium + upper register.

Answer 7

Excellent Question...thank you for asking. I always wondered about that myself.

Answer 8

88

Answer 9

Lots

Answer 10

All of them!