Whenever a customer calls to schedule a piano tuning, I usually ask them what type of piano they own. Reason the pricing for the piano tuning for upright and grand are totally different.
While no one should ever be embrassed because they do not know their type of piano, I put together this article to assist piano owners discover what type of piano they own. It is not an ironclad rule, but a general guide to help customers and piano owners discover their type of piano.
The piano comes in many different styles, designs, shapes and sizes. Pianos have two basic categories: the upright (vertical) and grand (horizontal) pianos.
Upright Pianos
They are also called vertical pianos. A craze for a very small size also afflicted Uprights pianos. With the result that miniature models appeared which could only be classed as toys. The height was reduced by lowering the position of the action in relation to the keyboard, so that the layer was pulled up by the key instead of being lifted in the normal way. This type of piano sold as a 'Spinet'. These miniature Uprights sink to about the same depth of tonal and acoustic banality.
The Sizes and Types
The standard width of an upright piano is about 5 feet and the depth is between 2-2½ feet. The total floor space total floor space allowance should be about 5 feet wide by 5 depth deep including bench space. The height of the piano makes no difference in the floor space needed but it makes a major difference in the quality of sound the piano produces. The height of a upright (vertical) piano is measured from the floor to the top of the piano's lid. because of their height and the position of the strings. The height of this kind of piano range from 36 to 60 inches. There are four types of vertical pianos, based on piano height : Spinet, Console, Studio and Upright.
Spinet With its height of 36 to 39 inches, and an approximate width of 58 inches, spinets are
the smallest of the vertical pianos. Given its size, it is the popular choice of many people who live in limited living spaces, such as apartments. The spinet piano has what is called a dropped action. (The piano action is the part of the piano that transfers the force of striking the key to the hammer striking the string.) Dropped action means it has less power and accuracy due to its size and construction and it will have a lighter and less responsive touch than a larger piano and the soundboard produce a thinner tone. In appearance the spinet and console pianos are very similar.Console Slightly larger than the spinet, its height ranges from 40 to 43 inches and is
approximately 58 inches wide. This type of piano is the most popular of the vertical pianos and it comes in various styles and finishes. So if you're particular about your furniture complementing, consoles give you a variety of choices. The action of a console piano sits directly on top of the keys and as with all vertical pianos, the hammers sit in an upright position. Once the hammer strikes the string and the keys is released a spring pulls the hammer back to its original position, ready to strike the string again, thus producing more enhanced tones. This design improves both the touch and the tone over spinet type.Studio This is the kind of piano you see in music schools and
music studios. It is 45 to 48 inches in height and has a width of approximately 58 inches. Because of the additional height of the studio piano, the advantages of full sized action, soundboard and longer strings, it produces richness and fuller tone quality and is very durable.Upright This is the tallest among the vertical pianos, with a
height ranging from 50 to 60 inches and an approximate width of 58 inches. Today this term is usually used to refer to the older, tall pianos whereby your great grandparents or grandparents used to play. If properly preserved these old pianos are some of the most esthetically beautiful , maintain its rich tone and durable instruments ever made. But if not properly maintained, an old upright's only value will be a large piece of furniture, beautiful to look at but nerve racking to listen to.Grand Pianos
Also known as horizontal pianos. They are called horizontal pianos because of their length and the placement of their strings.
Tonal Quality
The soundboard and strings of a grand piano are positioned horizontally inside the piano case. When you press down a key, the hammer of the key hits the strings from below to produce the sound. The movement of the hammer falls back with the help of gravity, which makes the sound of repetitive notes crisp and allows the pianist better control of the keys. The size of the soundboard and the length of strings influence the tonal quality of a piano. Larger soundboard and longer strings produce greater volume and resonance of tone.
Sizes and Types
The standard width of a grand piano is about 5 feet. The length varies from 4½ feet to 9½ feet. The total floor space allowance for the smallest grand should be at least 5 feet wide by 6½ feet long, including bench space. Grand pianos are measure by the length from the very front of the keyboard to the farthest end of the piano along the spine, with the lid closed.
There are 6 basic types based on piano length: Petite, Baby, Medium, Parlor, Semiconcert and Concert.
Petite Grand This is the smallest of the horizontal pianos. It ranges in size from 4 feet 5 inches to 4 feet 11 inches, it is indeed small but still powerful.
Baby Grand A very popular type of piano which ranges in size from 5 feet to 5 feet 6 inches. Baby grands is a popular choice because of its sound quality, aesthetic appeal and affordability.
Medium Grand Larger than the baby grand at 5 feet 7 inches
Parlor Grand These ranges in size from 5 feet 9 inches to 6 feet 1 inch. The parlor grand piano is also called living room grand piano.
Semiconcert or Ballroom Next size up from the Parlor Grand piano, it is approximately 7 feet long.
Concert Grand At 9 feet, this is the largest of all the grand pianos.
Conclusion
The reason for the preference which most people show for a Grand to an upright piano are probably aesthetic and psychological. A Grand looks better in a room and the pianist is more favorably impressed by the view when he sits down to play a Grand, compared with an Upright, which usually stands with its back to a wall. Another advantage is that the top, when raised, deflects the sound to player and room.
Unfortunately, this preference brought about the production of miniature Grand pianos which are inferior in tone and touch to a good upright and are described in the trade as "Small Grand Pianos". The action in such models was cut down in size and price, and the strings are too short, in fact, the minimum size for a Grand seems to be 4 ft. 10 in. if the instrument is to be considered as a serious rival to a good Upright. Baby grands can often have an inferior tone & touch (even compared to uprights!), because the strings are so short & tubby.
Grand pianos much less than 5ft long suffer from loss of tone quality due to short strings, though a small grand made by one of the better-known makers can be a worthy instrument, if it is built with a `roller' action. As with upright pianos, the larger the instrument, the better the tone.
Grand pianos are said to produce finer tones and has the most responsive key action. In terms of tone-quality, the longer the strings, the superior & richer the tone, which is why the finest pianos are always concert grands.
However, if you are considering a Small Grand, you should also look into a higher end of a Full Size Upright. Some verticals actually have larger soundboard and longer strings than most small grand pianos. European and Asian grand pianos are measured by length in cm.
Recommendation
Since the tonal quality and the volume of the piano depend mainly on the size of the soundboard and the length of the strings, you want to start from the largest vertical or grand piano you could afford. You also need to consider the space you have. The sound of a Small Grand can get lost in a large open room where a Medium Grand in a small room can be too loud.
