How To Choose the Right Piano Brands

Choosing the right piano brand is important when you make this major purchase. Taking the time to learn about what makes a piano great will help you make a wise decision. Although there are a some major names when it comes to choosing a piano, keep in mind the three "T's":

- Touch
- Tone
- Type

Touch and Tone

Touch and tone are the keys to buying a piano. You want to make sure that you like the action of the keyboard as well as whether you want a "brighter" sounding, or a piano with more bass.

A piano with a light action is going to have a very "touchy" keyboard, you're not going to be able to fiddle around with how loud or softly you play. A firmer action on a keyboard keeps allows you to fool around with the dynamics while building up your finger strength. This may not seem very important, but when you go to play someone else's piano it will make all the difference.

Construction of your piano is important too. This will affect the action of the instrument as well as the tone. Look inside the piano, have the technician on staff explain the differences between piano brands. Don't fall victim to beautiful casework when the insides of the piano are junk.

As far as sound goes, this is totally up to you. Listen to a few pianos before you make you decision. This will be a lot like picking out a t.v. set. Find a piano that has the right touch and the right tone for to inspire you to sit down and play it.

Types of Pianos

When it comes to piano brands, the sky is the limit. Arming yourself with a little knowledge before shelling out the bucks will help you find the best buy.

Be aware that many makers of pianos have different "series" of instruments, each of these differ in quality and price. There are many store brand pianos, these instruments are like the house brand ketchup you might find at your local grocery store; they will do the job, but in the long run they may not be a wise investment.

Don't be drawn in by foreign names. Many piano brands that have German or Asian-sounding names are not actually made in other countries or by people of these descents. Sometimes you will find that American made pianos will be furnished with German made "guts".

Feel free to ask questions about the where your piano was made this may give you insight on the instruments quality. Use the serial number of the instrument you are thinking of purchasing as a guide to track down information about where it was made. Your piano technician should be able to provide you with the specs on any instrument you are looking over.

Pianos break down into two types, uprights and grands. Uprights are the tall pianos that you see in old western saloons while grands are most often associated with concert halls and famous pianists. The two types of pianos have a few different sizes between them:

Uprights (from shortest to tallest):
- Spinet: 35" to 39" in height
- Consoles: 40" to 44"
- Studio: 45" to 47"
- Full Size: 48" to 52"

Grands (from shortest to longest):
- Parlor: 4'5" to 5'5"
- Baby: 5'0" to 6'5"
- Medium: 5'6" to 6'5"
- Professional: 6'6" to 8'0"
- Concert: 8'9" to 10'2"

That's all there is to it. Nothing too complicated about the process. Basically you need to familiarize yourself with the names of the types of pianos and their sizes. Touch, tone, and type are the only things you need to remember when searching for piano brands.