Observations on the transient components of the piano tone

The onset of the piano tone shows interesting characteristics due to several efSects. At the very beginning of a note, a variety of transients are mixed, some of which are propagated via the strings, and others via the structure of the instrument. The details of the structure-born transients in a grand piano were studied by removing the strings for a note in the mid range and letting the hammer strike a dummy mass. It was found that structure-born transients occur at the bridge both before and after that the first transversal wave on the string has arrived (f'precursors" and f'postcursors," respectively). The precursors are affected by the way the key is depressed, and may thus be connected with the pianist's "touch." Both preand postcursors include strong components originating from resonances in the key and keybed.