Types of Pianos

by Clint Strait

If you are in the market for a new or used piano for sale, it is a good idea to know a little bit about the different shapes and styles of pianos that are most common, so that you can pick the best type of piano for you and your home. For many people, the size and shape are very important factors depending on the floor space available in the home. According to shape, horizontal and vertical are the two most basic categories of pianos.

These terms refer to how the piano's soundboard is arranged. The soundboard on a horizontal piano is built parallel to the floor. These are also known as grand pianos, though they take up the most amount of space, they are considered to have the most full and lush sounds as well as dynamic range. Amongst the horizontal, or grand, pianos are several different subcategories of piano designs. The Petite Grand is the smallest horizontal piano design, and it ranges from four to five feet in length, but it is still a quite a powerful instrument. The Baby Grand is perhaps the most popular of fine household pianos. These range from one to two feet longer than Petite Grands. Baby Grands can produce a marvelous sound without taking over an entire room. The next most well known horizontal piano is the Concert Grand. This piano is considered the finest in tone, key response, and action, and it consumes a whopping nine feet in length. It is the most commonly used piano for professional music productions such as symphonies and operas. Between the Concert grand and the Baby Grand, there are a host of other sizes, such as the Medium Grand, Parlor Grand, and Ballroom Grand, each with its own unique shape and sound.

Vertical piano designs are much more common in the home for a couple of reasons. Because the soundboard is arranged vertically, the piano takes up less space and also requires less material for manufacturing, thus they are less expensive than most horizontal varieties. There are four basic types of vertical pianos. Spinet pianos are approximately 36 to 38 inches in height and around 60 inches in width, and they are the smallest of vertical pianos. For those that live in extremely limited quarters, the Spinet is an ideal solution, however, the power and accuracy are somewhat compromised due to the size. The Console piano is taller than the Spinet at 40 to 43 inches and very similar in width. Console pianos are designed to compliment interior design, so they come in many different shapes, finishes, and designs. A Studio piano is the most common vertical piece found in music schools around the world because it has a larger soundboard while still a vertical design. This creates a great tone quality due to the longer strings. However, the tallest of vertical pianos is the actual Upright piano. These range from 50 to 60 inches in height and are most common amongst the grandparent generation. There are many of these built fifty years ago that have maintained a very rich tone and rival some horizontal designs in quality.

Take the time to see and play several of these types of pianos before you decide on the right one for you. This largely depends on your budget, the amount of space you have, and how you plan to use it. If you are opening a new concert hall, the answer is simple. The concert grand is your only option. However, if you are a student learning to play for the first time, you might consider on of the vertical varieties.