Why is the sound of a harp soft in comparison with the sound of a piano?

Answer 1

The piano is louder because it is much heavier, much larger, and in places built with much more tension. A harpsichord is lighter in construction and is built completely of wood. Some modern harpsichords may have some metal in their frames or in other parts of their construction. Harpsichord strings are 'plucked' by a 'plectrum' which originally consisted of quills. The plectrum is built in such a way that the quill will pluck the string on the way up, and slide over the string on the way down. You can't vary the volume of a given note by changing the attack on the key. Pianos must have metal frames because the wires are on average longer and require much more tension to be brought to pitch. For most of the range of a piano, which is considerably wider than that of standard harpsichords, there are 3 wires per note. As you go toward the lower registers there are 2 wires, and then 1 wound wire per note. Most importantly, piano wires are struck by a hammer. Varying the attack on a key will vary the initial volume of the note quite a bit. The action of the piano, called an 'escapement' action, is very special. You can imagine that if there were just a simple lever causing the hammer action, then the hammer would strike and then rest on the wires it just struck. The escapement action allows the hammer to move freely (independently of the motion of the rest of the action) right before striking the wires. Then the hammer recoils and is checked by another part of the action.

Answer 2

A piano has a much larger soundboard.

A piano strikes the strings with hammers, while harp strings are plucked by fingers.

Piano strings are wires, heavier and under higher tension than harp strings.

Answer 3

The plucked strings of a harp are amplified a little by the small sound board and acoustic cavity of the harp. The energy of a sharply struck piano key is much greater that the harpist's plucking and the sound board in the piano is much larger.

Answer 4

There is more tension in the strings of a piano than in the strings of a harp. As such, the strings of a piano can be struck with more force than the strings of a harp, creating a louder sound.

Answer 5

Type your answer here... The harp is played by plucking strings, while a piano's strings are struck with hammers. The body of the piano itself also assists with resonance.

Answer 6

It is plucked not hammered like a piano