The grand piano is simply beautiful, in form and sound. And this
is why grand pianos have become more popular over the years and are
loved by families for generations. While upright
pianos have a boxy look which makes it more aesthetically pleasing
for them to be placed
near a wall, grand pianos have more elegant classical look and
can fit basically anywhere as long as there is enough space.
Action
In grand pianos,
the frame and strings are placed horizontally.
Therefore, unlike upright pianos, the hammers lie beneath the
strings and move up to strike the strings, and return to their
resting position. This means the movement of the keys, actions, and
hammers are all in-line with gravity which helps to produce faster
repetition and better control. You can watch the demonstration video
to see how grand piano's action works.
Grand pianos also range in size (length) and finish.
The length of a grand piano is measured from the very front of the
keyboard end to the very back of the piano. The smallest grand is
called the baby grand and can start at 5' and go to 5'2". The
baby grand has gained popularity for its small size and usually fits into
living rooms. The next size up is the medium
grand which runs from 5'3" to 7'2" and has much larger soundboard
with longer strings. Usually when the piano is longer in length, it
is more expensive. The medium grand is the favorite of piano
teachers for the tone and the volume it produces. Music schools,
universities and serious amateurs also favor the medium grand. The
largest grand is the concert grand, which usually runs over seven
to nine feet long. These pianos are mostly used in concert halls,
theaters, auditoriums, public performances, and churches.
Models
Each brand has its own names for its own models, but essentially
almost all grand
piano models are classified by their size.
