Piano Size report
The piano is the most common keyboard instrument in classical music and is called the "king of musical instruments." A piano consists of 88 keys (52 white keys, 36 black keys) and a metal soundboard. The Italian Bartolomeo Christofori invented the piano in 1709.
The piano range ranges from A2 (27.5Hz) to C5 (4186Hz), covering almost all the tones in the music system, and it is the instrument with the widest range except the pipe organ. The piano is generally used for solo, ensemble, accompaniment, and other performances.
The modern grand piano style was designed by the Steinway Piano Factory and was first introduced to the market in 1876. The grand piano has the same shape as the pianoforte, one of the early types of modern pianos. We will look at the differences between the grand and upright pianos and their available sizes.
Piano Size Guide
Modern pianos are mainly divided into upright (verticals) and grand pianos (horizontal pianos). The grand piano is the most primitive form of the piano. It is generally used for concert performances. It is a bulky behemoth. In order to solve the problem of large size, the upright piano was invented. The upright piano adopts a design scheme of staggered installation of strings, which solves the space requirements and the balance of sound volume.
However, when you start to know the pianos, there are 6 basic sizes of grand pianos and 4 standard sizes for upright pianos. Upright and grand pianos come in a wide variety of sizes. The important thing to know is that size is directly related to tone. While many other factors also contribute to the tonal quality, other things being equal, the long strings of a grand piano, especially in the bass and midrange, produce a deeper, more authentic, and more consonant tone quality than the strings of a small piano.
Upright Piano Types and Dimensions
Although the piano dimensions tend to differ from one model to another, the width of all pianos remains the same: 58 inches. It is to accommodate the 88 specific keys regularly found on a piano. Vertical pianos can be divided further into four different categories:
- Upright Piano
The standard upright piano dimensions are 58 inches in width, 48 to 60 inches in height, and around 24 inches in depth. The average height tends to differ according to the manufacturer and model.
- Spinet Piano
Spinets are among the smallest of the uprights. The height is only a max of about 38 inches and a width of around 58 inches. It is ideal for compact space, but remember that spinets are known to lose accuracy and have less power due to their construction; it can cost more when repairing.
- Console Piano
Console pianos are slightly bigger than Spinets, ranging more towards 40-44 inches high and 58 inches wide. This piano's claim to fame is that you can get the console in various styles and finishes.
- Studio Piano
The well-known Studio pianos are common in a music school, studio, or classroom setting. It has a larger soundboard and strings, so it has a richness in the tone quality comparable to grand pianos. Their height is around 45 to 48 inches, and their width of 58 inches.
Type | Height | Width |
---|---|---|
Upright Piano | 48 to 60 inches | 58 inches |
Spinet Piano | max of 38 inches | 58 inches |
Console Piano | 40 to 44 inches | 58 inches |
Studio Piano | 45 to 48 inches | 58 inches |
Grand Piano Types and Dimensions
The grand pianos get the name because of their length and the placement of the strings. They produce much finer tones due to their construction. Note that grand piano length is measured from the key slip to the very end of the lid. The standard width of a grand piano is also about 58 inches.
- Petite Grand
Although it is the smallest of horizontal pianos, the petite grand produces a very powerful sound that is impressive to audiences. Its size is around 4'5"-4 '10" in length.
- Baby Grand
The baby grand piano measures around 4'11" to 5'6" in length.
- Medium Grand
This piano is larger than a baby grand, approximately 5'7" long. The size of the soundboard and the length of strings influence the tonal quality.
- Ballroom Grand
The Ballroom piano is also called the Semiconcert grand and goes from 6'2" to 6'7" long.
- Concert Grand
This is the largest of all the grand pianos, with a length of 9 feet.
Types | Length | Width |
---|---|---|
Petite Grand | 4'5"-4 '10" | 58 inches |
Baby Grand | 4'11" to 5'6" | 58 inches |
Medium Grand | 5'7" | 58 inches |
Ballroom Grand | 6'2" to 6'7" | 58 inches |
Concert Grand | 9' | 58 inches |
Conclusion
There are many types and sizes of pianos. However, they also vary in sound, size, and type and feel different while playing. We recommend that you buy the largest piano on your budget. Small pianos vary more in size than larger pianos. However, a size difference of only an inch is usually not significant, as it might just be because of the larger case. If you have limited space, it is worth looking into possibly going for the Spinit or a Petite. Whatever your choice in piano, there are numerous options.