Wednesday, January 19, 2011

A Guide to Different Types of Pianos

Pianos are an important and common instrument in our culture. The piano comes in many different styles, designs, shapes and sizes.

Pianos have two basic categories. They are the vertical and horizontal.

Vertical pianos are called such because of their height and the position of the strings. The height of vertical pianos ranges from 36 to 60 inches.

There are four types. These types of vertical pianos are called spinet, console, studio, and upright.

Spinets are the smallest of this instrument. They have an approximate height of 36 to 38 inches, and width of 58 inches.

Due to the smaller size of the spinets, it is the popular choice of many people who live in limited living spaces, such as apartments or condos.

One of the downsides of spinets is called "lost motion." This means the spinet piano has less power and accuracy in producing sound due to its size and construction.

Consoles are slightly larger than the spinet. Its height ranges from approximately 40 to 43 inches and is around 58 inches wide.

Consoles comes in various styles and finishes, giving you lots of choices. This may be the best choice for you if you're particular about your furniture complementing or really matching your piano.

Consoles also have better sound than spinets. This is because it is made with a direct action, thus producing more enhanced tones.

Studio pianos are seen in music schools and music studios. It is approximately 45 to 48 inches in height and has a width of 58 inches. Due to the larger soundboard and longer strings, it produces good tone quality and is very durable.

Upright pianos are the tallest among the vertical pianos, with a height ranging from around 50 to 60 inches and width of 58 inches. These pianos are very durable when cared for properly. They are very capable of standing the test of time and maintaining a rich tone.

The second category is horizontal pianos. These are also known as grand pianos. They are called horizontal because of their length and the placement of their strings.

There are six basic types of these horizontal instruments. These include petite grand, baby grand, medium grand, parlor grand, semi-concert or ballroom, and concert grand.

Petite grand is the smallest of the horizontal pianos. It ranges in size from 4 feet 5 inches to 4 feet 10 inches. Although this piano is small it still has power.

Baby grand is a very popular type of piano. The size ranges from 4 feet 11 inches to 5 feet 6 inches. Baby grands are so popular because of the sound quality, aesthetic appeal and affordability.

Medium grand pianos are medium in size. They are larger than the baby grand, at a size of 5 feet and 7 inches.

Parlor Grands range in size from 5 feet 9 inches to 6 feet 1 inch. The parlor grand piano is also called living room grand piano and can often be found in homes.

The semi-concert or ballroom piano is the next size up from the Parlor Grand. This instrument is approximately 7 feet long.

Concert Grand pianos are the largest of all. At 9 feet, grand pianos are said to produce finer tones and has the most responsive key action.

The different types of pianos all correlate to meet various needs. When purchasing or choosing this instrument for you make sure that you identify your needs and choose accordingly.www.articlesengine.com

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