| g a piano can easily become a daunting and | | | | right side, a flat left side and a lid that can be raised, |
| challenging task if you are completely new to the | | | | grand pianos are generally considered top of the range |
| instrument. The customer today is faced with a myriad | | | | for pianos. However, there are some excellent upright |
| choices and it’s easy to get confused by the | | | | pianos that many give many Grands a run for their |
| wide array of models available in most piano stores | | | | money. |
| today. How does one choose the best piano for | | | | With the largest variant known as the Concert Grand, |
| one’s budget? Piano manufacturing companies | | | | grand pianos in general vary widely in sizes. The |
| of all shapes and sizes are offering hundreds of | | | | smallest ones are lovingly called Baby Grands. Concert |
| models to their customers, each having its own set of | | | | Grand pianos often reach 9' and over while Baby |
| features. Indeed, the unsuspecting buyer will be simply | | | | Grand pianos are usually smaller than 6’ in |
| spoilt for choices. Keeping a few simple things in mind | | | | height. |
| while buying a piano can help you rise above the hype | | | | The other popular model of the piano is the Upright |
| and zero in on that ‘perfect’ model. | | | | Piano. It is also called as the Vertical Piano sometimes. |
| The first thing to remember is that a piano should suit | | | | They are usually less complicated structures than the |
| the buyer’s needs. Choosing the wrong piano | | | | Grands, having fewer parts in the range of 5,000 |
| could prove to be detrimental to enjoyable playing. It | | | | – 6,000. Consequently, they cost significantly less. |
| can also put an unnecessary strain on your bank | | | | The general rule of thumb is that the taller the upright, |
| account. An amateur player could be well off with a | | | | the better the action. |
| mid-end piano, which in spite of having less features | | | | With the proliferation of digital technology in the last |
| than its costlier counterparts, will suit the purpose of | | | | few decades, digital pianos have recently flooded the |
| the player perfectly. Professional or more experienced | | | | market. Many years ago, the quality of sound that |
| players can, of course, settle for more sophisticated | | | | digital pianos produced left a lot to be desired. |
| models with advanced features. | | | | However, modern digital pianos are nothing short of |
| The piano today comes in three main flavors - Grand | | | | analog pianos, as far as the sound emulation is |
| pianos, Upright Pianos and Digital Pianos. Grand pianos | | | | concerned. A good digital piano will cost you |
| range in size from approximately 4 foot to 9 foot long | | | | approximately $1,000 upwards. They often have their |
| and contain about 8,000 – 10,000 intricate parts. | | | | keys weighted in the same manner as you would find |
| That’s right, a piano is deceptively simple to | | | | on Grand and Upright pianos. In fact, once you start |
| look at from the outside but houses many small | | | | playing on one, you will soon forget that you are |
| constituent parts within its large frame. More than a | | | | playing an electronic instrument. Some of the best |
| musical instrument, it’s a masterpiece of | | | | names in digital pianos are Yamaha, Kurzweil, Roland, |
| engineering and human craftsmanship. With a curved | | | | Alesis, and Technics. |