How low is a piano?

Grimace - You are correct (41.2Hz). There are 5 or 6 string electric bass guitars that have additional B string (31Hz) but it is made only for ease of playing. Composers would avoid writing music for 5 or 6 string instrument exclusively where most common bass has 4 strings.

I wonder why they produce instruments like Bösendorfer 290, that go below human hearing. With church organs vibration could be felt - is it the same for the piano? I though for a moment that perhaps it was designed for dogs but in spite of common "superior hearing" belief, dogs don't hear below 60Hz. It must have been for whales!!!

I believe dogs hear on the high end, not the low. High-pitched whistles and such.

For a quick listen to the lower notes from a Bosendorfer Imperial via iTunes, check out the song "Not Zero: In Three Parts" from Paul Bley's album "Not Two, Not One". It helps to have decent speakers for your computer. Pretty incredible sounding....not your momma's piano.

Ojgalli,

Right you are. Should have said "about half an octave" lower. Digitals with a pitch wheel, however, do go a full octave lower.

Marty

Here's some of the "why" for the extra notes:

https://www.boesendorfer.com/en/pianos/pianos/Concert-Grand-290-Imperial