The Dimensions of Different Types of Pianos: A Guide
When you’re shopping for a new piano, the first question that comes to mind is, “What kind of piano do I need?” The second is probably: “How big is it?”. After all, playing an excellent instrument easily and comfortably would be best.
You see, the dimensions of a piano directly impact its functionality and playability. If not taken care of properly, large pianos will become unusable after only a few years. A small one can have the same effect after just a few weeks.
The right size will make sure that you don’t get bored quickly. And if you have children at home, it will also help you keep their musical training away from video games and other media that aren’t conducive to learning an instrument (reading music). So, to help you find the best fit for your home, below are some crucial data regarding the various pianos and their related measurements.
To assist you in making an informed decision, we have compiled a list of the different types of pianos and their sizes or dimensions so you can get one that fits your space.
1. Acoustic Piano
All pianos rely on the same physics and sound production principles, whether upright or grand. The main distinction is the formation of the note: on an acoustic piano, strings are placed on a metal plate and plucked by a bridge, while on an electric piano, the lines are connected to a pickup and played using an electronic sound source.
The standard size of acoustic pianos and their critical dimensions vary by manufacturer, but they are generally classified into two: Grand Piano and Upright piano.
Let’s Look At The Grand Pianos
The grand piano is the most frequent type, accounting for around 80% of the market. It’s usually described as the traditional piano type and consists of a central soundboard that sits above the strings. The soundboard is linked to the main frame by a keyboard, keys, and a piano hammer switch at the front.
The hamming switch connects the piano’s strings to its soundboard, causing the pizzicato (bowing) and portamento (gliding) effect when you press the keys. Grand pianos are usually very heavy and oversized (often over 5 feet tall) and are the only type suitable for professional or large-venue performances.
Below is a review of grand pianos:
The Baby Grand Piano
The baby grand is the most portable piano on the market. They are not just for kids, though. Instead, people who want to practice their music casually or seek a cheaper option can also go for it. These are the best pianos for beginners because you can use them for both piano and guitar lessons. You can even purchase a keyboard with a built-in amp to jam out with your friends.
The breadth of a baby grand piano is 5 feet, while the length ranges from 4’11 to 5’11 feet. Additionally, they weigh approximately 500 to 600 pounds. Always remember that the dimensions of a piano are a significant determinant of your owning or leaving a piano in the stalls.
Concert Grand Piano
The concert grand piano has a width of 5 feet and a height of 6.5 to 7.4 feet for larger models. However, the pianos can be as long as 9.6 feet and weigh approximately 900 to 1200 pounds.
Medium Grand Piano
Medium grand pianos range from 5.5 feet to 6.3 feet and weigh approximately 600 pounds. Additionally, the medium grand boasts exceptional stability, a broader dynamic range, and a richer, deeper tone character.
Parlor grand Piano
The parlor grand is often known as the living room piano. Moreover, the parlor grand piano’s height ranges from 5 feet 9 inches to 6 feet 1 inch, weighing around 750 pounds.
The Petite Grand Piano
Petite grand pianos are appropriate for people with light hands, such as youngsters. It is also the smallest of the grands, at 4.1 to 4.6 feet and a weight of between 400 to 500 pounds. Yet, despite its small size, it produces a tremendous sound.
Ballroom Grand Piano
The ballroom or semi-concert grand is approximately 6 feet 5” to 7 feet 4” long. It’s also 58 to 60” wide and weighs around 900 pounds.
What About The Upright Pianos?
Did you know that Klavins Model 450i Vertical Concert Grand is the world’s most prominent upright piano? With an elevated platform, it stands 4.5m (14ft 9in) tall. Upright pianos are born from the harpsichord, a form of an older piano played by pressing the keys with the fingers. Today’s upright pianos are almost always grand or combo models, meaning they’re both piano and sound.
Most upright pianos feature one or more pedals for additional notes, and some have an amplifier system for louder playing. Though upright pianos are usually smaller than grand ones, they’re still much heavier than most other instruments. They’re also generally more portable than acoustic and digital pianos since they don’t require an amp or other electronic parts.
Upright pianos include the following two:
Console Pianos
The smaller piano version with a foldable console for better storage is known as a console piano. Spinets are smaller than console pianos, measuring between 40 and 43 inches long by 58 inches wide and weighing between 350 and 450 pounds.
Additionally, they are great for smaller spaces, like a living room or small studio. However, they are great for beginners who don’t have space for a full-fledged piano.
Spinet Pianos
The spinets are around 38 inches high and 48 inches wide, weighing 200-300lbs.
Smaller versions of the console pianos are perfect for children to learn how to play.
Furthermore, because they are smaller, they do not take up much space, which is great for smaller homes.
The downside to spinets is that they don’t have as rich a tone as grand pianos, so they are not great for students who want to learn how to play jazz or classical music.
2. Semi-Solemium Pianos
The Semi-Solemium is the most popular kind of piano in the market, and you will most likely find it in most piano stores. They are designed to satisfy the demands of most homeowners and are slightly smaller in size than grand pianos.
The weight of such a piano will be roughly 125 to 150 pounds, and it will be easy to carry from one location to another. You can also play the semi-selenium piano with a single strap, and it’s an excellent option for piano students who don’t have a huge budget.
3. Forte-Solemium Pianos
The forte-Solemium comes with a more robust sound, is built for durability, and has a maximum limit of weight that a buyer can lift. Most of the time, a company will specify the weight capacity of its fortepiano. As a result, you should have no trouble locating what you want. And if you’re not sure if you can handle lifting a piano, you can always take the store’s offer of a free piano lift.
4. Grand-Solemium Pianos
These pianos are the largest of the bunch, and you can locate them in bigger homes. However, their piano benches can hold between 150 and 225 pounds, so it’s best to find one that suits your weight.
Moreover, the sound of grand pianos is generally more affluent and louder, so they are not suitable for home studios or practice rooms. However, they are fantastic for playing classical or jazz music and are usually the most expensive option on the market.
Upcoming Models and Their Sizes
Here are some upcoming models and their dimensions.
- Yamaha YPG-230 Silent Portable Grand Piano – The Yamaha YPG-230 is a 230-pound portable grand piano with a sound module that improves the instrument’s sound quality. It also features a portability system that allows you to set it up and fold it down in seconds.
- Yamaha P115 Silent – A 12-inch fully-loaded digital piano with 88 keys, a built-in speaker, and an accompaniment feature
- Kawai K20 – The Kawai K20 is a 20-inch digital piano with a built-in speaker, a built-in metronome, and an accompaniment feature.
- Kawai K30 – A 30-inch fully-loaded digital concert grand piano with 4GB of onboard memory
- Korg SP-170 – A 20-inch digital piano with a built-in speaker and USB ports
- Casio Privia PX-160S – A 16-inch digital piano with three dynamic layers and an auto-accompaniment feature
- Casio Privia PX-150 – A 15-inch digital piano with a built-in speaker, an accompaniment feature, and three dynamic layers
- Casio Privia PX-170 – A 17-inch digital piano with three dynamic layers and a built-in speaker
- Roland FP-15 – A 15-inch fully-loaded digital piano with 88 keys, a built-in speaker, and a headphone jack
- Kurzweil SP8 Pro – A fully-loaded Kurzweil SP8 with a built-in sound module, 16GB of onboard memory, and an accompaniment feature
- Steinway & Sons D6 – This sizeable upright piano can accommodate up to 200 pounds. It has a rich, powerful sound that is perfect for playing jazz, pop, and classical music.
- Kurzweil SP8 – The Kurzweil SP8 is a digital piano with a lot of variety with its 88-note polyphony. Additionally, its equipped with Kurzweil’s renowned built-in SPX sound module.
How to Choose the Right Size of Piano
Before heading to the nearest piano store or the internet, determine what area of your home will accommodate it. Large, expensive pianos are for playing in large, expensive homes. Therefore, the size of your room will determine the dimensions of the piano you should own.
How long does the piano need to be? If you’re looking for a home piano that fits well into your living room or bedroom, it doesn’t need to be very long; about 2 feet should do just fine if space is limited. But, conversely, if you want something that will fit into your living room without taking up too much space, you could wish to opt for something longer.
However, you may have difficulty finding a grand piano if you have a small living room. The same goes for upholstered bench pianos, commonly found in smaller spaces. If you have a small room and you’re looking for a more miniature piano, you can choose a baby grand. If you have a bigger room and you’re looking for a more prominent piano, you can go with a grand.
Additionally, the standard height for a piano at home is 7 feet. However, some pianos are even taller, standing at 8 feet or higher!
You should also note that the weight of a piano depends on its size and the construction materials used in its making. Therefore, a smaller instrument made from less expensive materials will weigh less than an instrument made from better quality materials with more robust design features included in its construction.
How are Harpsichord Pianos Different from Other Instruments?
Harpsichords are very different from other pianos in that they’re more like harps. Though there are a few upright harpsichords in the market, most are grand or hybrid models easily mistaken for acoustic pianos.
Harpsichord pianos are the most significant type of piano available.
They weigh the same as a grand piano and can be as long as one, but they are much heavier. They are significant because they have a unique mechanism that allows them to play notes that other pianos cannot.
- Height: Harpsichord pianos are generally taller than other types of pianos. Because the keys interact with the strings, size is essential for proper playing. The case height of the harpsichord is 25.9 cm, and the overall size is 96.2 cm.
- Weight: Harpsichord pianos are much heavier than most other instruments due to the size and weight of all the parts that make them work properly. The piano weighs approximately 70 kilograms.
How are Harpsichord and Classical Pianos Different?
Classical pianos are a hybrid type of piano: they’re a hybrid between a grand and a harpsichord, with a rich, complex sound and a light touch. Most of them are made in Europe, though some Asian builds are also available.
The harpsichord has a long scale about the same length as the piano. However, it also has a tiny hammer, so it can only produce a limited range of notes compared to the piano.
The classical piano’s scale is approximately 1/3 octave wide. Therefore, each note on a piano is one-third as long as its direct neighbor. As a result, when learning a new piece of music on the piano, most people play a half-step higher or down.
The scale of a harpsichord is approximately 1/4 octave wide, meaning that each note is one-quarter as long as its direct neighbor. In other words, if you were to play one note on an ordinary piano, you’d need four fingers to play any additional note within the same octave. However, you only need two fingers for every three notes within the same octave on a harpsichord.
How are Pianos Made?
Pianos are typically handcrafted, while some larger versions are produced in factories using mechanical assembly lines. The company building your instrument will probably have to order a complete piano from a manufacturer, then customize it for your specific needs.
Companies determine the size of their pianos by several factors. The most important is the sensitivity of the strings, which the manufacturers can adjust to control how loud the piano sounds.
Another factor is the size of the soundboard, which determines how loud a piano sounds. The larger the soundboard, the louder it will be. Finally, the wood used to build the body also affects how loud a piano sounds. For example, a grand piano has thicker wood than an upright piano and produces a more audible tone.
In addition, pianos come in different sizes. Some companies may build larger pianos than others because they have more space in their factories or because customers want larger pianos.
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