The Piano

The piano is THE instrument of the Boogie Woogie.

The term "piano" initially was used for every instrument which had keys, such as harpsichord, clavichord or organ. Nowadays, "piano" or "pianoforte" is generally used for uprights or grand pianos.

Usually, a piano has 88 keys, of which 52 are white and 36 black. An normal keyboard today is 123 centimeters wide.

From one key to the next is a half-tone step. An octave at the piano has 7 white and 5 black keys. On the left hand side are the deepest, on the right hand side the highest tones. The pianos have either 2 or 3 pedals, with which the sound of the piano can be modified.

With the right pedal, all dampers are taken off the strings. Like that, the strings can continue to swing, even if the keys are not kept down. Other tones will swing in resonance, so the piano produces a fuller sound.

The left pedal shifts the mechanics, to the effect, that (in the treble) not three strings per tone are touched by the hammer, but just two. Like that, the third string just resonates with the other two, which changes the sound. It makes it easier to play soft passages.

The third (middle) pedal is either a moderator pedal or holds the tone. The moderator lays a felt between the strings and the hammer, and the piano can only be played with reduced volume. The tone holding pedal keeps the hammer from falling back onto the string, whilst the other tones can be played as usual. This device is particularly used in the piano music of the 20th century.

The piano plays an important role in the history of Jazz and Blues. Already Ragtime was piano music. Also Blues with its early form of Barrelhouse piano, from which Boogie Woogie emerged, would be inconceivable without the piano.

The piano widely contributed to the development and circulation of Boogie Woogie, Ragtime, Stride etc. In the 19th century, the piano was part of the Vaudeville theatre. The instrument became immensely popular in the U. S. American piano builders sold over 20.000 instruments in 1860. Until 1910, the sales reached 370.000 per year.

Together with the railroads, the piano came to the Wild West. It became an indispensible device in every saloon, bar, bordello, café or sports club. The pianists, both black and white, played for dancing and entertainment. With the widespread distribution of pianos, Barrelhouse and Ragtime were in full swing. The road for Boogie Woogie, Blues and Jazz was open.