ANATOMY OF A PIANO
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BRIDGES
As a general rule, attached to the top of the soundboard are two curved sections of wood called ‘bridges’ - a relatively small one for the transmission of bass notes, and a larger one for the treble. However, there are exceptions like Steinway where the bridge is one piece. The size is dependant on the amount of strings that pass over the bridge.
The piano’s strings pass over the bridge, which transfers the vibrations directly into the soundboard, which in turn amplifies the sound. As with so many parts of the piano, the orientation of the wood grain plays an important role in the bridge. Consequently, the selection of quality wood used for bridges is very important. |
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