What Is Voicing?

Hammers change over time…

As time goes by, piano hammers harden and flatten under the repeated impact of the strings. You’ll often notice three distinctive grooves, or even a completely flattened hammer head that was originally rounded.

This wear produces an increasingly harsh, metallic tone — often described as honky-tonk or saloon-like. What’s more, if the hammer’s striking surface becomes uneven or tilted, the three strings of a note no longer vibrate at exactly the same moment — which compromises the purity and richness of the sound.

The Goal of Voicing

Voicing is the process of adjusting the tone of the piano to achieve:

• Even attack from string to string,

• A balanced tone across the keyboard, free of harsh or overly bright notes,

• Restored expressiveness, from the softest pianissimo to the most powerful fortissimo.

  
  

Common Techniques

✅ Filing

Filing reshapes the hammer head, restoring its original rounded form and removing grooves or flattened areas. This helps reestablish proper contact with the strings and regularize the tone. If the hammers are too worn or have already been filed several times, this step may be limited or inadvisable.

Hammers before and after reshaping...

✅ Adjusting the hitting point

The hammer must hit all three strings at exactly the same moment. This requires a well-shaped head, aligned at the correct angle, free of hollows or distortions. A precise striking point ensures clarity and consistency in tone.

✅ Voicing (Needling)

Using specialized needles, the technician softens specific areas of the hammer felt to release internal tension and alter the sonic texture — making the sound rounder, clearer, or mellower, depending on the desired character.

✅ Tuning and regulation first

Voicing always comes after tuning and regulation. Without a well-regulated action and accurate tuning, voicing the hammers is often ineffective — and can even be counterproductive.

Voicing is more than just needling

Even without sanding or needling, the piano’s tone can be shaped to some degree:

• A carefully tuned piano can already sound warmer and more even,

• Slight variations in the unisons can create a drier, more lyrical, softer or more percussive tone — depending on the pianist’s preference.

  
  

In Short

Voicing is about sculpting the piano’s tone by adjusting how the hammers interact with the strings.It restores:

• A more expressive touch,

• A balanced attack,

• A consistent tone, tailored to the pianist’s taste.

Even without replacing the hammers, good voicing can completely transform your playing experience.

When and why should you have voicing done?

• If your piano sounds too harsh, too bright, or lacks nuance,

• After a few years of use, or to meet the expectations of a more demanding musician,

• To adapt the tone to the acoustics of a space, or to suit a particular playing style.

  
  

Contact

Does your piano sound too dry, too bright, or simply uneven? I can help restore its character through custom voicing, tailored to your needs.

👉 Feel free to reach out via the Contact page for a personalized diagnosis.