Harmonic Piano is a free virtual instrument from The Crow Hill Company that approaches the piano very differently from a conventional sampled grand.

Instead of focusing on normal piano notes, the developers captured the delicate harmonics produced by touching the strings of two grand pianos while the corresponding keys were played.

The result is an atmospheric instrument filled with bell-like overtones, natural resonance and unusual textures that can work beautifully in cinematic music, ambient production, lo-fi, soundtracks and experimental compositions.

Not Your Typical Piano Plugin

The story behind Harmonic Piano is what makes this instrument interesting.

At Castlesound Studios, the lids were removed from two grand pianos. The strings were then lightly touched at approximately a quarter of their length while the corresponding keys were struck.

This technique suppresses much of the fundamental tone and allows delicate upper harmonics to emerge.

Because producing these sounds consistently on a real piano is difficult, sampling them creates an instrument that would be impractical to reproduce during a normal performance.

Watch Harmonic Piano in Action

Christian Henson demonstrates the concept and sound behind Harmonic Piano in this presentation of the instrument.

Made for Atmosphere and Texture

Harmonic Piano is unlikely to replace your main acoustic piano library, and that is precisely why it is interesting.

Its strength lies in adding an unusual layer to a production. The naturally resonant harmonics can sit underneath strings, pads, vocals or orchestral arrangements without sounding like another conventional piano part.

For cinematic composers, it can provide fragile melodic elements and mysterious underscore textures. Ambient producers can use its extended resonance for spacious chords, while electronic producers can process the sound further with reverb, delay or granular effects.

Part of the Crow Hill Vaults Collection

Harmonic Piano belongs to Vaults, The Crow Hill Company’s collection of compact experimental virtual instruments.

The concept focuses on distinctive sampled sounds rather than huge conventional libraries. Instruments in the series explore unusual pianos, strings, synths, basses, percussion and other sources.

Harmonic Piano fits that philosophy perfectly: simple concept, distinctive recording technique and a sound that can immediately add personality to a track.

Who Is Harmonic Piano For?

This free instrument should be particularly interesting for producers working with:

• Cinematic music
• Ambient
• Neo-classical
• Lo-fi
• Film and television scoring
• Experimental electronic music
• Sound design

Its unusual harmonic character also makes it a useful layering instrument when a normal piano feels too familiar or occupies too much space in an arrangement.

Is It Worth Downloading?

Definitely, especially if your plugin folder already contains enough conventional pianos.

Harmonic Piano offers something more specific: a carefully sampled acoustic technique that would be difficult to recreate reliably outside a recording studio.

It is simple, atmospheric and immediately musical. For a free virtual instrument, that makes it an easy addition to a producer’s sound palette.