Definition of Aliquot stringing
Aliquot stringing is the use of extra, un-struck strings in a piano for the purpose of enriching the tone. Aliquot systems use an additional (hence fourth) string in each note of the top three piano octaves. This string is positioned slightly above the other three strings so that it is not struck by the hammer. Whenever the hammer strikes the three conventional strings, the aliquot string vibrates sympathetically. Aliquot stringing broadens the vibrational energy throughout the instrument, and creates an unusually complex and colorful tone.
Related terms
Wolf tone
A wolf tone, wolf note, or simply a "wolf", is an undesirable phenomenon that occurs in…
Strike tone
The strike tone, strike note, or tap note, of a percussion instrument (e.g. bell, chime…
Timbre
In music, timbre, also known as tone color or tone quality (from psychoacoustics), is…
Combination tone
A combination tone (also called resultant tone or subjective tone) is a psychoacoustic…
Brown note
The brown note (sometimes brown tone or frequency) is a fictional infrasonic frequency…
Quakers
Quakers are people who belong to the Religious Society of Friends, originally known as…
Pythagorean hammers
According to legend, Pythagoras discovered the foundations of musical tuning by…
Tone hole
A tone hole is an opening in the body of a wind instrument which, when alternately…
Noise measurement
In acoustics, noise measurement can be for the purpose of measuring environmental noise…
Frequently asked questions
What is Aliquot stringing?
Aliquot stringing is the use of extra, un-struck strings in a piano for the purpose of enriching the tone. Aliquot systems use an additional (hence fourth) string in each note of the top three piano octaves.
Sources & credits
- Wikipedia: Aliquot stringing – CC BY-SA 4.0
- Image by Lkruijsw – Public domain