Does touching the strings damage them?

[pianowolfi]

I've heard that you should avoid to touch the strings because tallow and sweat and things would damage them so they would get rusty. But now I'd like to experiment with pizzicato and glissando for some improvisations. Should I be concerned about the health of my strings? Should they be cleaned with a special cleaning agent afterwards?

[bench warmer]

 
From what I've read ( no empirical evidence), it would be safer to use a plastic guitar pik rather than your fingers since you can deposit oil, salt  & other componds from the skin which would tarnish the wires.
 
Make sure you don't use anyhing metal since it could cause an abrasion point on the string which then becomes a failure node for a broken string.

Happy adventuring!

[tosca1]

Touching the strings should be avoided. Sweat and other other secretions on the hands and fingers cause oxidation and corrosion on piano strings. I also believe that cleaning the strings with a special cleaning agent would be harmful as the product could clog the copper windings and adversely affect the acoustic response of the wound strings.
While your spirit of creativity and sound exploration is fun and exciting I would certainly not apply this practice to a fine piano. If the piano is an older instrument that may need restringing then that would be a different matter.
Kind regards,
Robert.

[pianowolfi]

Perhaps one should wear gloves?

[thetrojanhorse]

If you'd like to pluck something, I'd suggest you buy a harp.  The piano is a percussion instrument.

[pianowolfi]

The piano IS a harp. A hammer harp

[quantum]

If you'd like to pluck something, I'd suggest you buy a harp.  The piano is a percussion instrument.

So does that mean I can use a sledge hammer? 


Anyways, since I am into contemporary music some of it does require plucking and other activities on the strings.  I'd say wash your hands throughly before you touch them.  Using other objects is possible, but it does change the sound. 

[pianowolfi]

So does that mean I can use a sledge hammer? 


Anyways, since I am into contemporary music some of it does require plucking and other activities on the strings.  I'd say wash your hands throughly before you touch them.  Using other objects is possible, but it does change the sound. 

Lol a sledge hammer, yes
Exactly, it does change the sound. If I intend to get a more clear, crispy sound I would use a guitar pick. But if i want to get a softer sound I would use my fingers. It gives much more control over the sound. Like when you play a string instrument. Sometimes I miss my cello (which i have access to but no time for) and the endless possibilities you have with just playing ONE LOOOOONG TONE for instance. One tone with infinite nuances. 

[blintz]

Buy a trashy piano and then touch its strings a lot.  Get it out of your system. 

But don't touch the strings on a piano you care about.

There are certain violin pieces that require abuse of the violin, and the violinists often get a trashy violin just for the purpose of playing such pieces.  They would never do that on, say, a strad.  Isn't there some John Cage piece that requires the violin to be set on fire?  Definitely not to be performed on a strad.  Anyway, that's where I got the idea--having a nice instrument and a beater instrument.  You can do that with anything, really.  Cars, spouses, whatever.

[jeremyjchilds]

Go ahead and touch the strings. just make sure that you clean them before you leave the piano.

Technicians use thier hands on the strings all the time, and we clean the strings after.

Reblitz's Piano technicians text (The technicians Bible) suggests cleaning the plainstrings with a mixture of 2 tbs of vinegar to 1 Gallon water. (Of course you will only need a fraction of this to clean them) use a slightly damp cotton cloth.

The wound strings may be cleaned (Gently, especially gently around the ends) with a gentle toothbrush dampened with the mixture. blot with a cloth to dry.

Happy experimentation