Which Piano Is Best?
- Angela Umphers Rueger
- Feb 13, 2017
- 5 min read
How many people do you know who have, or used to have, a piano in their home but did not play? Throughout history, the presence of a piano in the home was a symbol of culture and social status. But as homes were scaled down, there arose a need for pianos that took up less floor space. The square grand was designed for this purpose, and for 150 years, American piano manufacturers produced more square grands than any other type of piano. Yet few people today have even heard of a square grand piano, much less seen one. I almost became the happy owner of a square grand back in 2015. A man had one in storage locally and was giving it away. Unfortunately, someone else snatched it up before I had a chance. It looked very much like the one pictured above.
Vertical pianos have been a popular choice since the late 19th Century. Over time they underwent many changes, not only in body style, but also in height. The shorter pianos allow for the pianist to see over the top, but shortening the piano also reduces the quality of the sound. And although shorter pianos also have the advantage of being less heavy, making the piano shorter does not make it take up any less floor space. So when looking for a piano for your needs, generally the taller the better. Even so, the small pianos serve a purpose as practice pianos and such.
Not all vertical pianos are upright pianos, though the terms are usually used interchangeably by novices, myself included, until I began to study the instrument a few years ago. A true upright piano, also called an upright grand, is what you might think of as “grandma’s piano.” These were the first vertical pianos to be made. They range from very ornate to very plain, depending on their age. As for the quality of their sound, they are the most comparable to a traditional grand piano, while having the advantage over the grand of requiring less floor space. Any vertical piano 59" or taller is classified as an upright. The studio piano is a little shorter, ranging in height from 44"-48". The console piano will be 40"-43". The shortest piano is the spinet, at 36"-40" in height. The construction of the spinet is different from the others in that the action is placed under the keys instead of above them. In this way they can be constructed more compactly. They also have shorter strings, which greatly reduces the quality of their sound.
Even among grand pianos there is quite a variety. The width is pretty much standard at about 5 feet, but the length can vary from 4½ to 9½ feet. From smallest to largest, grand pianos are classified as Baby Grand, Medium Grand, Living Room Grand, Parlor Grand, Music Room Grand, and Concert Grand; and they can weigh anywhere from 540 to 990 pounds. Smaller grands may be appealing for smaller spaces, however the tonal quality of the smallest (baby) grand is inferior to that of a quality upright. So if sound means more to you than aesthetics, a good upright is the better choice.
What makes a grand piano sound different from an upright? Well, first of all, the top opens to expose the entire length of the keys and casts the sound in the direction of both the player and the listeners. Because the strings are horizontal, the hammers strike from below, allowing gravity to draw them back down. Springs must do that work in an upright, and they do not always work as well as gravity. The difference is a clearer distinction between the notes, especially when played very fast. Obviously, the larger pianos, whether grand or upright, will have deeper, richer, louder tones because they have longer strings. One other advantage the grand has over the upright is the position of the player. An upright piano is almost always turned to the wall, so the performer’s back is also turned to the audience; whereas from a grand piano, the performer can at least make facial contact with the audience if not eye contact. This is especially important for musicians who like to sing while they play.
Since the beginning of my time as a piano artist, I have used the parts of 8 different pianos: a spinet, a console, a studio, and five upright grands. Two of the uprights were very fancy, with hand carving on the outside and intricate detail work painted on frame inside. Another upright was a player piano that had been converted to an acoustic. The console piano will always be my personal favorite because I used to play it at church before it was ruined in a fire. Every piece of this piano brings back fond memories of the countless times I either sat at the bench or stood nearby for choir warm-ups or offertory and special music practices. I was overjoyed when it was given to me, and I cleaned the soot off some of the keys and used them to make the clock that now hangs in my kitchen. The spinet came to me with the help of one of my clients, who found it on the curb near their house and told me about it. Excited, I located the spinet and took what pieces I could carry in my car.
The interesting thing about taking apart these pianos is seeing the great variety in the construction of the parts within them. For example, take a look at this picture of jack/wippen/sticker assemblies from four different pianos. The part performs the same function in each piano, but its actual shape and size varies greatly from one to the other. Incidentally, the shortest sticker came from a tall piano, while the longest sticker came from the spinet. This is due to the difference in how the action is placed with respect to the keys.
Hopefully now you, like me, have begun to realize how very different one piano can be from another. In my opinion, there is no one piano that is “best,” but there may be one that is the best choice for your particular needs and room. Both the dimensions and the sound are important factors in choosing a piano—and most likely the price as well. But the most important thing is what you do with the piano after you have made your selection. Be sure to maintain your instrument—and play it! Don’t let it be an expensive dust catcher. In this age of instant gratification, go against the grain by taking the time to learn to play your piano well, and it will give you great pleasure. Trust me. I know! ☺
Credit for my information and some of the photos goes to the Antique Piano Shop and the Blue Book of Pianos.
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