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Types of Pianos Some basic types of pianos
are presented below, bearing in mind that a visit to the local piano store
would be just as instructive and hopefully more fun. |
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Piano Makers Steinway – This company
has for decades represented to many the best quality piano in the world. Steinways are found at many concert halls
and piano studios. They possess a rich
tone and often a light but firm key weight. Bosendorfer – This also very
respected brand of piano is especially known for having a few extra keys on
the bass end. While most pianos have
88 keys, Bosendorfers add around nine extra bass
keys. Yamaha – This is a
generally high-quality brand that is also used at many concert halls, despite
being not generally quite as ‘good’ as the Steinway. Yamaha’s often have a bright sound. Kawai – A lower-end piano,
but favored by some musicians. Piano Sizes Spinet – a small piano
with a vertical/upright soundboard, usually 35” to 39” high. Console – a small vertical
piano slightly taller than a spinet, at about 40” to 43” high. Professional or Upright –
the most useful vertical piano, about 50” high, which is tall enough to have
a resonant sound board and be used for professional-level practicing and
sometimes performance. Grand Piano – a piano with
a horizontal soundboard. Grand pianos
give the pianist a greater degree of control than uprights, such as faster
repeated notes and trills, better tone, more responsiveness, etc. A Baby Grand is any piano 5’7” or under,
while Concert Grands are typically around 9’ long. A Note: Who Invented
the Piano? Bartolomeo Cristofori invented the
piano in |
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All articles (c) 1999-2006 by LIFTOFF! |