This is so cool! I’m not a great pianist, but it’s one of my dreams to perform something on a Steinway. So great y’all are sharing this process with everyone.
I wouldn't know how to notice a lot of the things said and I've been playing for over 10 years, the note repetition inconsistency was one of the few things I could notice. I've always blamed myself for a lot things that I thought I did wrong, but seeing this video make me think that perhaps the problem hasn't always been mine. I haven't been around a lot of grand pianos so that might explain it.
Really like you doing this series, as I feel I've entered that stage in the last year where this kind of fine tuning is more noticeable, so it would be great for me to learn to pick up what you notice about the piano!
I'm a professional pianist myself and I often find this type of not enough singing tone problem in that middle high register. Could this be related to the thinner nature of the strings (compared to the lower register) plus the dampers not yet lifted as well? I also am mainly bothered by intonation issues, which happen in many venues, and should be easier to fix, but due to economic reasons they aren't... As my teacher used to say, wherever you go you try hard to befriend the piano you get, but sometimes the piano doesn't want to be friends.
That range of the piano is typically where the problems are, and unfortunately also where many lyrical melodies fall. Some technicians have called it the "killer octave". If you have a design with thicker strings, you have to have higher tension to achieve the same pitch, which increases the intensity and power of the tone, but not the sustained, singing quality. It's also a part of the piano that structurally is very finicky. If I were picking a piano, I would go straight to that range of the piano and see how well it sustains. By hardening the hammers, we can hide the difference in that register and blend it, but it will never have the same length of sustain as the lower register which has much longer strings that vibrate longer.
@@saltlakepianoservice thank you very much for your answer, I understand it's a simple 'physics' issue, not much can be done. Even hardening the hammers could result in a more metallic and harsher sound, so the solution could bring another problem to the table. It's very interesting for a pianist to know this sort of technical aspects of your instrument. Thank you for your videos!
May I ask for your input? I purchased a new Steinway M in 2018 from Dallas Steinway. After delivery one of their techs tuned it in my home. I have had three different men tune the piano since then. But at times it sounds off to me. I am a complete novice but after Josh’s comments on the new out-of-the-box Steinway needing correction I am concerned that what I am hearing is indeed a problem. I am at a loss about what to do. Do new Steinways often need corrections in your opinions?
Hi Charles, Hyrum would love to hear about your specific issues and has generously offered to address these kinds of questions in future videos on his channel. Check out his channel (Link in description) and you can get in touch with him directly :)
@@joshwrightpiano Thank you. I watched Hyrum drill a large hole in frame of an older Steinway. I was horrified. He must know what he is doing. I then checked my M and was much relieved to see the wooden dowel.
The trick is to differentiate between the tuning and voicing of the piano. Also, new instruments take a couple years to become more stable, and even then there are a lot of environmental factors that can change the tuning very quickly. Your best bet is to try and articulate what sounds off to you to your technician. Is it uneven with some notes sticking out above others, does a particular area sound flat or sharp to you? Are there noises aside from the basic tone that you are distracting you? You will have the best luck working with someone who works in concert venues on a lot of Steinways.
I do not believe this is a NY Steinway. New York Steinways or rub the Ebony not lacquered And they are black on the inside not natural wood. Finally they have square arms by the keyboard not rounded. This appears to be a Hamburg Steinway
What you describe was true until just a few years ago. Starting with Spirio (approximately), they have gradually been unifying the features of pianos between the two factories, mostly by making NY pianos more like Hamburg. But the big difference in hammers remains. It's clear in this video (and the next) that this piano has NY hammers (initially soft, requiring hardener).
Don’t make assumptions about someone’s character having never met them. Hyrum is one of the nicest people I’ve ever met. A few months ago when he did work on my piano, and I encouraged him to revamp his TH-cam channel because he’s such an expert technician and I wanted to learn more. I told him if he ever needed help or wanted to collaborate on anything to let me know because I like learning about this stuff. When he pitched the idea of doing something like this, I was on board. So yes, he’s “using me” at my request so I could learn more about piano technology
I'm back with my digital keyboard, lol.
This is so cool! I’m not a great pianist, but it’s one of my dreams to perform something on a Steinway. So great y’all are sharing this process with everyone.
I’m glad you’re enjoying it!
Will watch the new series later!
I wouldn't know how to notice a lot of the things said and I've been playing for over 10 years, the note repetition inconsistency was one of the few things I could notice. I've always blamed myself for a lot things that I thought I did wrong, but seeing this video make me think that perhaps the problem hasn't always been mine. I haven't been around a lot of grand pianos so that might explain it.
Really like you doing this series, as I feel I've entered that stage in the last year where this kind of fine tuning is more noticeable, so it would be great for me to learn to pick up what you notice about the piano!
Awesome
Was this piano tuned before this ? I’ve never seen a brand new piano that’s perfectly in tune
I'm a professional pianist myself and I often find this type of not enough singing tone problem in that middle high register. Could this be related to the thinner nature of the strings (compared to the lower register) plus the dampers not yet lifted as well? I also am mainly bothered by intonation issues, which happen in many venues, and should be easier to fix, but due to economic reasons they aren't...
As my teacher used to say, wherever you go you try hard to befriend the piano you get, but sometimes the piano doesn't want to be friends.
That range of the piano is typically where the problems are, and unfortunately also where many lyrical melodies fall. Some technicians have called it the "killer octave". If you have a design with thicker strings, you have to have higher tension to achieve the same pitch, which increases the intensity and power of the tone, but not the sustained, singing quality. It's also a part of the piano that structurally is very finicky. If I were picking a piano, I would go straight to that range of the piano and see how well it sustains. By hardening the hammers, we can hide the difference in that register and blend it, but it will never have the same length of sustain as the lower register which has much longer strings that vibrate longer.
@@saltlakepianoservice thank you very much for your answer, I understand it's a simple 'physics' issue, not much can be done. Even hardening the hammers could result in a more metallic and harsher sound, so the solution could bring another problem to the table.
It's very interesting for a pianist to know this sort of technical aspects of your instrument. Thank you for your videos!
3:38 layers
I have a kimball piano I've noticed the key hammers hesitate at times, I mostly play around the middle C area. What could cause this?
Check out Hyrum’s channel and send him a message :) I’m sure he’d have some valuable input for you
May I ask for your input? I purchased a new Steinway M in 2018 from Dallas Steinway. After delivery one of their techs tuned it in my home. I have had three different men tune the piano since then. But at times it sounds off to me. I am a complete novice but after Josh’s comments on the new out-of-the-box Steinway needing correction I am concerned that what I am hearing is indeed a problem. I am at a loss about what to do. Do new Steinways often need corrections in your opinions?
Hi Charles, Hyrum would love to hear about your specific issues and has generously offered to address these kinds of questions in future videos on his channel. Check out his channel (Link in description) and you can get in touch with him directly :)
@@joshwrightpiano Thank you. I watched Hyrum drill a large hole in frame of an older Steinway. I was horrified. He must know what he is doing. I then checked my M and was much relieved to see the wooden dowel.
The trick is to differentiate between the tuning and voicing of the piano. Also, new instruments take a couple years to become more stable, and even then there are a lot of environmental factors that can change the tuning very quickly. Your best bet is to try and articulate what sounds off to you to your technician. Is it uneven with some notes sticking out above others, does a particular area sound flat or sharp to you? Are there noises aside from the basic tone that you are distracting you? You will have the best luck working with someone who works in concert venues on a lot of Steinways.
I do not believe this is a NY Steinway. New York Steinways or rub the Ebony not lacquered And they are black on the inside not natural wood. Finally they have square arms by the keyboard not rounded. This appears to be a Hamburg Steinway
What you describe was true until just a few years ago. Starting with Spirio (approximately), they have gradually been unifying the features of pianos between the two factories, mostly by making NY pianos more like Hamburg. But the big difference in hammers remains. It's clear in this video (and the next) that this piano has NY hammers (initially soft, requiring hardener).
2nd video in the series and he's said about 4 times he's going to "use you." I cringe every time.
Don’t make assumptions about someone’s character having never met them. Hyrum is one of the nicest people I’ve ever met. A few months ago when he did work on my piano, and I encouraged him to revamp his TH-cam channel because he’s such an expert technician and I wanted to learn more. I told him if he ever needed help or wanted to collaborate on anything to let me know because I like learning about this stuff. When he pitched the idea of doing something like this, I was on board. So yes, he’s “using me” at my request so I could learn more about piano technology