Dealers -> Musical Instruments -> Keyboard
The first pianos to be called “grand” were manufactured in 1777, and soon became status symbols that the wealthy and affluent all wanted to own. A grand piano can command a room. Usually, it’s the largest piece of “furniture” in a room, and draws the eye the moment you enter. It turns any space in to a musical one, making it clear that there’s no room for any other purpose but music and grandeur. While grand pianos are beautiful and rather majestic looking, the difference between them and upright pianos goes far beyond mere size and scope.
In an upright piano, the strings are perpendicular to the keys, necessitated by the shape and size of the instrument. The chief benefits to owning an upright piano are the price, which is much less than a grand or baby grand, and the mobility. They’re easier to move, they can be placed against a wall and fit into a relatively small space for such a large instrument. The grand piano, however, takes up a huge amount of space. They’re large and more difficult to move, and pretty much demand a huge room that they won’t overwhelm with their size.
The strings in a grand piano stretch outward the length of the piano. This is what gives the grand piano, and even the baby grand, a much richer sound than an upright. The length of the strings allows for a truer tone and more resonance. Concerts and performances aren’t given on a grand piano just because it looks impressive on the stage—the sound quality is unparalleled. If you want to buy a grand piano, make sure you have a room large enough to do it justice. The ceiling height is an important consideration. A higher ceiling allows for more resonance of sound, while a ceiling that’s too low will only dampen the rich sounds of the piano.
When you decide to purchase a grand piano, you can choose a used or new instrument. This is a matter of personal preference, of course, but a well-loved and often-played instrument brings with it its own sense of history. While the sound of the instrument should be the most important consideration, you’ll want to make sure the wood is in good shape, the finish is true, and whether it’s original or has been renovated. A refinished grand piano can be a beautiful instrument, and better than one in bad condition, but you’ll want to know these details before you make a purchase.
Also keep in mind that grand piano lengths do vary quite a bit. If you’re looking to buy one simply for the appearance, then even a baby grand piano will give you the look you’re after in a smaller amount of space, and for a smaller price. But if the sound is important to you, and it should be, a longer grand piano is a better purchase than a shorter one, whether you’re buying used, antique or new. The longer the strings are, the truer and richer the tones will be.
Originally posted 2008-11-13 05:06:34. Republished by Blog Post Promoter
Related Posts -
Pinball Machines Collectibles -> Arcade, Jukeboxes and Pinball -> Pinball-> Machines Pinball machines are very special to many people and over the years, they have become very collectible. Whether you are looking for a pinball machine to restore or one that is in perfect order, they are a great addition to any...... -
Personalized Shot Glasses Collectibles -> Barware -> Shot Glasses For the person who has everything, personalized gifts can be some of the most thoughtful, so why not choose personalized shot glasses? There are many advantages to this type of collectible item, both as a gift, and as something you collect yourself. Personalized shot...... -
Fountain Pen Collectables -> Pens-and-Writing-Instruments -> Pens You can walk into almost any store today and purchase a fountain pen. Technically, the modern ballpoint pen is a fountain pen, at least by definition. But the type of fountain pen most people think of is a vintage pen that's refillable and has...... -
Silver Tea Sets Collectibles -> Housewares-and-Kitchenware -> Tableware The first silver tea set was created in 1790, almost 100 years after the first known silver tea pot was created. That first silver tea pot is now in a London museum and is much smaller than what we think of as a tea pot...... - Surveying Equipment Collectibles -> Science-Medical -> Surveying Equipment While many people collect cat figurines, dolls, books, sports memorabilia and almost anything you can think of, fewer people collect things like surveying equipment, medical instruments, mining tools and things of that nature. But those who do collect them are enthusiastic about their hobby,......
Related Websites -
Fiddling Instruments: A Primer pt 5 ... Continued from pt. 4 The Pontic Lira The Pontic lira is a lira that is slim and bottle shaped and that has a finger board upon which three steel strings can be stopped. All three of the steel strings are tuned into fourths. This instrument features a nut like...... -
Acoustic Guitar Basics The first thing you think of when you think about acoustic instruments is likely the acoustic guitar. What most people do not know is that “acoustic guitar” is a retronym. Until electric guitars were invented, they were simply called guitars. The differentiation was necessary upon the invention and adoption of...... -
Guide to Buying the Oboe Learning how to play a musical instrument can be an exciting and rewarding adventure. Finding the right instrument is an integral part of learning how to play beautiful music on this intriguing and exciting instrument. If your mission is to purchase a brand new oboe, then it is important to...... -
Hammered and Lap Dulcimer Instruments The Hammered Dulcimer What the dulcimer is, is a stringed instrument that has perceived to be an ancestor to the modern piano. It possesses a number of courses of between two and five strings for each note, and they are stretched across a shallow trapezoid shaped box that is made...... -
The Modern Piano It has been a staple of classical and contemporary music, used by musicians from Mozart to Elton John and more. Many musicians who have brought their fingers to the ivories have created music that has inspired and captured the hearts of countless people all over the world. That instrument is......
