Now that you have decided you are buying a piano, you might be already anticipating enjoyment of it could bring you. However, there are pianos of different shapes and sizes and it can be very difficult to finalize the perfect option to go with. But you will be pleased that using some easy guidelines discussed below, you can select the best piano suiting your space.
Types of Pianos
Essentially there are two different piano types, i.e. grand and upright. Size is the differentiating factor among the two but their characteristic shapes due to the position of their soundboards are also different. As the soundboards of a grand piano are mounted horizontally, the instrument has a bigger footprint and a much sleeker profile when compared to the uprights.
Grand pianos are mostly preferred by professional musicians as they offer a more dynamic and richer sound compared to the uprights. Yamaha YUS Series uprights are an exception to this feature as it offers a broad range of sonic tonalities that are more reminiscent of the grand pianos.
Uprights usually take less space and are mostly less expensive compared to grand pianos. They are preferred by music students or staple of schools and conservatories across the world.
Size of Pianos
Grand pianos are available in many sizes. From the Baby grand models that are about 4.5 feet in length to the Concert grand models that can be as long as 9 feet. On the other hand, Upright pianos start from small Spinet models to larger consoles and studio models. They can be as high as 52”. However, the most interesting feature is the width of both the piano types which are always around 5 feet. It is because they all offer a standard 88-note keyboard.
Yamaha sells a range of grand pianos from the popular GB1K series to the GC Series baby grands. They also sell the CX and SX series that have been internationally popular.
Which Is The Perfect Sized Piano For Me?
Room size is one of the most important factors to consider when purchasing a piano. Large rooms can accommodate larger pianos and if your budget permits, you should be purchasing the largest piano that fits your room comfortably. Considering a large piano is important as the increased surface area of the soundboard and greater length of the strings translates in better vibration energy. It eventually increases projection meaning larger grand pianos sound a lot louder compared to the smaller alternatives.
But in the case of non-professional pianists who do not play with the same velocity, they need to have to make larger pianos project to their best potential. Hence, it’s unlikely that you will fill in a large room with sound while playing the piano leisurely. Another factor to consider is if playing the piano disturbs people around you. Room treatments can help in reducing the sound from going out. For rooms filled with a lot of furniture and carpeting on the floor, the sound travels a much shorter distance. But in the case of hardwood flooring with limited curtains, furniture, and drapes, the sound travels much quickly. In the latter case, grand pianos might be overbearing but upright ones will sound perfectly fine.
Despite saying that, you shouldn’t be ignoring the fact that grand pianos usually are much more pleasing. If you have enough space in your room and you are prepared to buy a grand piano, opting for the same will be the right choice. But you should consider buying a baby grand or a smaller-sized full grand instead of the larger models. Hence, buying a very large grand piano for a living room isn’t the best purchasing option. Your choice should be primarily dependent on the room size, your budget, and your purpose.
If you have a piano and are in search of a professional piano tuning company in Tampa Bay, FL, consider calling Phil Frohna Piano Tuning. They have been in business for generations offer their services for rebuilding, tuning, voicing, and regulating pianos of all types and sizes.
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