A piano is a musical instrument with a broad appeal. It is essentially a keyboard that produces sounds with a hammer’s stroke to the keys. Based on their unique features, pianos can be divided into the following three categories:
Grand PianosAs evident by the name, these are the biggest, grandest, and hence, the most expensive kind of pianos.
StructureThe horizontal soundboards of grand pianos allow for longer strings and huge soundboard areas. The extended key size translates to a longer leaver, which gives the pianists more control over the speed with which they can play and the tune they want to work with. While playing the keys, the hammer automatically falls back after hitting the keys. This accounts for a crisp note and is one of the reasons many pianists prefer playing on the grand pianos. Fine tunes and better control over keys are specific to grand pianos.
MeasurementsA grand piano is measured with its lid closed. Its length is calculated from the keyboard’s front to the piano’s back along the spine. A standard 88 keys keyboard is usually 5 feet wide. Its length ranges from 4 and a half feet to 9 and a half feet.
Upright or Vertical PianosAn upright or a vertical piano is played exactly like a grand piano, but its strings, piano action dampers, and soundboard are vertically present.
StructureThe vertical piano’s strings and soundboard position is perpendicular to the ground. In comparison with the grand pianos, vertical ones come with smaller soundboards and shorter strings. In a vertical piano, the hammer makes horizontal strikes while hitting vertical strings. The pianists who are used to playing the grand piano feel this difference while playing the upright piano. The sound of a vertical piano gets a little 'muffled' because upright pianos are usually kept against the wall, and their soundbox is at the very back of their frame.
MeasurementsThe heights of vertical pianos are usually between 4 to 5 feet in height, 5 feet wide, and 2 feet deep; the height varies between models. This type of piano is usually found in music school’s rehearsal studios owing to their small size.
Digital PianosDigital pianos have almost the same sound and feel like acoustic pianos, but they are very different in shape, size, and weight from the traditional pianos.
StructureEven though they sound similar to grand and vertical pianos, the sound-producing mechanism of a digital piano differs drastically from its acoustic counterparts. Good quality digital pianos do not require tuning nor the regulation of the hammer action and can still produce a sound worthy of a grand piano. Striking a key on a digital piano activates a sensor that then plays an acoustic piano recording through speakers.
MeasurementDigital pianos come in multiple sizes, with some models being light enough to be portable, while others require only batteries for working.
Last ThoughtsPianos are delicate instruments and require proper care and maintenance, which multiplies if you ever need to move places and take your prized piano with you. For a free quote from a piano moving company, click here.
- Grand Pianos
- Upright Pianos
- Digital Pianos
Grand PianosAs evident by the name, these are the biggest, grandest, and hence, the most expensive kind of pianos.
StructureThe horizontal soundboards of grand pianos allow for longer strings and huge soundboard areas. The extended key size translates to a longer leaver, which gives the pianists more control over the speed with which they can play and the tune they want to work with. While playing the keys, the hammer automatically falls back after hitting the keys. This accounts for a crisp note and is one of the reasons many pianists prefer playing on the grand pianos. Fine tunes and better control over keys are specific to grand pianos.
MeasurementsA grand piano is measured with its lid closed. Its length is calculated from the keyboard’s front to the piano’s back along the spine. A standard 88 keys keyboard is usually 5 feet wide. Its length ranges from 4 and a half feet to 9 and a half feet.
Upright or Vertical PianosAn upright or a vertical piano is played exactly like a grand piano, but its strings, piano action dampers, and soundboard are vertically present.
StructureThe vertical piano’s strings and soundboard position is perpendicular to the ground. In comparison with the grand pianos, vertical ones come with smaller soundboards and shorter strings. In a vertical piano, the hammer makes horizontal strikes while hitting vertical strings. The pianists who are used to playing the grand piano feel this difference while playing the upright piano. The sound of a vertical piano gets a little 'muffled' because upright pianos are usually kept against the wall, and their soundbox is at the very back of their frame.
MeasurementsThe heights of vertical pianos are usually between 4 to 5 feet in height, 5 feet wide, and 2 feet deep; the height varies between models. This type of piano is usually found in music school’s rehearsal studios owing to their small size.
Digital PianosDigital pianos have almost the same sound and feel like acoustic pianos, but they are very different in shape, size, and weight from the traditional pianos.
StructureEven though they sound similar to grand and vertical pianos, the sound-producing mechanism of a digital piano differs drastically from its acoustic counterparts. Good quality digital pianos do not require tuning nor the regulation of the hammer action and can still produce a sound worthy of a grand piano. Striking a key on a digital piano activates a sensor that then plays an acoustic piano recording through speakers.
MeasurementDigital pianos come in multiple sizes, with some models being light enough to be portable, while others require only batteries for working.
Last ThoughtsPianos are delicate instruments and require proper care and maintenance, which multiplies if you ever need to move places and take your prized piano with you. For a free quote from a piano moving company, click here.
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