Posted by Lee Stofer on September 01, 2003 at 10:37:24:
In Reply to: This Hertz posted by Steve Dedman on August 31, 2003 at 20:47:07:
The 27.5 cycle-per-second A is the lowest note on the standard piano keyboard for good reason. Beyond that, the sound rapidly starts to become indistinguishable to us humans. I have worked on extreme low register, but when I play past the F just below that A, it just starts to sound like a vibration and not a really distinguishable sound any more. Bosendorfer Imperial Grand pianos have extra bass notes, going to the C below the 27.5 cycle A. They may slightly help in reinforcing the bass in octaves, but are pretty useless by themselves.
If you can play clear pitches down to a pedal F(approx. 25 cycles/second), that is probably all you'll ever need - beyond that is mainly theoretical.
My $0.02,
Lee Stofer