Are you currently having a dilemma with the different types of grand pianos and are confused about which one to buy? As mentioned in the previous blog post, we will be sharing more about the individual piano categories in detail, and we shall start off with the king of piano, the grand piano.
For the benefit of those who are completely oblivious about pianos, the grand piano, as the name suggests, is the grandest and the origin of all pianos. The grand piano is a finely crafted luxury musical instrument that is usually used by serious pianists for live performances. Despite being large and bulky, they are aesthetically pleasing and appealing to the eyes. The alluring sound and emotional tones produced by this exquisite instrument will definitely captivate anyone and stop them from doing whatever they were doing to listen to the melodious sound.
Although most upright pianos can produce the same sound like the grand piano, it is proven that the grand pianos are more durable than their counterparts due to the mechanical components that are unique to them. This is because most of the mechanical components of grand pianos move up and down, using gravity to reset them to the resting position, ready to be played again. Pianos such as upright piano, however, is designed such that most of their components move horizontally and since gravity does not work that way, strings are used to move the components back to their original positions. These strings will eventually undergo wear and tear, creating unevenness from one note to another, decreasing the overall performance of the piano.
From petite grands to concert grands, there are 5 types of grand pianos in the current piano industry. The differences between the six types of grand pianos are mainly their sizes, as well as their prices. Of course, with such differences, each individual types will cater to their specific situation. For the benefit of our readers, we will be sharing the specifications of each individual type of grand piano and recommending the type of grand piano to buy for different situations. However, do note that the grand piano industry is extremely huge and the specifications that we provided are simply for your reference and may not be 100% accurate!
1. Petite/Baby Grand
Petite grand pianos are the smallest type of grand piano and are usually shorter than 4'11 in depth. The baby grand pianos are almost identical to the petite grand pianos. The only difference is that baby grand pianos are slightly bigger than petite grands, ranging between 4'11" to 5'6" long in depth. The price for both petite and baby grands are usually between the range of $8,000 to $25,000.
The petite and baby grand pianos are suitable for beginner pianists or young children who want to practice the grand piano. People who are looking to add a sophisticated touch to their house can consider using a grand piano as a decoration. Most importantly, they are perfect if you are looking to place your grand piano in small places with space constraints.
2. Medium Grand
Medium grand pianos are within the mid-size range of grand pianos and are usually around 5'7" to 5'8" long in depth. They are priced around $26,000 to $30,000.
For the people who have slightly more space to spare and thinks that the petite or baby pianos are too small or not suitable for practice, you might want to consider the medium grand. Also, the medium grand piano is a great fit for places such as churches, community clubs, or business offices.
3. Parlor Grand
Being right in the middle in terms of size, the parlor grand pianos are the most commonly purchased grand pianos. They usually span from 5'9" to 6'1" long in depth and are priced between $30,000 to $35,000.
They are suitable for pianists who frequently plays the piano and are commonly used by music schools or studios. However, these pianos are relatively bulky, hence, they can only fit in places such as landed properties or old school condos that have no space constraints at all. Of course, if you are willing to make do with lesser furniture for the sake of having a proper piano to practice, you might have to execute an extensive replanning of your floor plans.
4. Semi-Concert/Ballroom Grand
Semi-concert grand, also known as ballroom grand, is the tier after parlor grands in terms of size. They are approximately 6'2" to 7' long in depth and are priced between $35,000 to $50,000.
These grand pianos are mostly used by serious pianists who practice on a daily basis and have a huge space to spare. These pianos are extremely bulky and can only fit in places such as huge landed properties, hotel lobbies or established music schools or studios.
5. Concert Grand
The concert grand piano is the king of all pianos, the most prestigious type of piano you can find and of course, the largest of them all! They are usually 9' long in depth or bigger and are priced at $50,000 or higher.
These classy and grandiose pianos are usually used by professional pianists for performances. They are also the absolute favourite of piano collectors. If you are recently obsessed with pianos and have the money to spare, concert grands will definitely be the type of piano you should consider!
Now that you have the proper information and recommendations, you should have a clear understanding of the different types of grand pianos as well as which one you should be buying. If you are also thinking about upright pianos, follow us on Facebook and stay tuned for our blog post on upright pianos later this week!
Wen Feng is a passionate music aficionado. He is constantly on the search for new music to listen to, with a particular interest in classical music. Piano pieces have always been a great companion and kept him calm throughout his school and work life.