How Pink Floyd Created the 'Ping' Sound in 'Echoes' with a Grand Piano and Binson Echorec

That shimmering, almost alien ping that opens “Echoes” wasn’t a synth – it was a grand piano being abused. Richard Wright (or possibly David Gilmour, depending on the account) took a metal slide, placed it against a single piano string, and struck that string with the piano’s hammer. The result was a bright, metallic tone that sounded nothing like a normal piano.

The magic came next: that raw sound was fed through a Binson Echorec, the tape echo unit Pink Floyd loved for its warm, slightly warbly repeats. By adjusting the echo time and feedback, the single ping multiplied into a cascading, underwater ripple that became the song’s anchor. The Echorec’s tube-driven preamp added a subtle compression and grit, making the sound feel alive and unpredictable.

It’s a perfect example of