Piano Index & Glossary

B
  • Baby grand piano -- A popularly used, non-technical term to describe any grand piano less than six feet long.
  • Backcheck -- The part of the piano action that catches the hammer in order to stop its movement after the hammer has hit the string.
  • Balance Point -- The pivot point of a key, like a see-saw where the front of the key travels downward and the back of the key travels upward.
  • Bass -- The lower register of the piano -- the lower notes. Generally it is from the octave below middle C downward.
  • Bearing block -- A piano tool, also called a downbearing gauge which is used to measure the angle of the string as it passes over the bridge. It is a way to calculate the proper angle of the string. The information can then be used in determining the correct height of the bridge or the aliquots.
  • Bearing Points -- Any contact point that offers resistance or support for a change in the string's angle.
  • Bent side of a piano -- The curved treble side of the piano case on a grand piano.
  • Bluing of tuning pins -- A coating formed from oxidation on steel tuning pins that helps prevent rust and helps keep pins secure in the pinblock.
  • Brass Piano Pedals
  • Bridge cap -- A piece of maple laminated to the base of the bridge that holds the bridge pins. The advantage of a bridge cap is that if it ever becomes damaged only the cap itself needs to be replaced instead of the entire bridge.
  • Bridge notch -- A bevel on the edge of the bridge cap that keeps the edge from interfering with the vibrations of the spring.
  • Bridge pins -- The pins driven into the bridge cap to hold the strings against the bridge so that the strings won't drift from side to side. The bridge pins also grip the string to help transfer the vibrations to the soundboard.
  • Bridge(s) -- Made of hardwood (maple), the bridge is the link between the strings and the soundboard. It transfers the energy of each vibrating string to the soundboard. The wood of the bridge also acts as a filter, eliminating some undesirable vibrations the strings might make.
  • Bushing -- A material, either wool felt or teflon, that is placed between two hard surfaces which cushions them, keeping them from making noise as they move. The density of the bushing also controls how much friction there is between the two moving parts.

-- Piano Glossary & Index --
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
| Sources |