What type of piano is it?
When a customer contacts me about servicing their piano, I want to know what ‘type’ of piano it is.
There are different ‘types’ or sizes of vertical pianos, as there are different sizes of grand pianos. Knowing what type and size of your piano helps me get an idea as to what might be involved in servicing it.
Vertical Pianos – The strings in ‘Vertical’ pianos are positioned vertically.
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 Spinet Piano ~ 36″ to 39″ Spinet – Spinets are the smallest pianos with the shortest strings and are approximately 36″- 40″ tall, with the very top of the piano being 6″ or 7″ higher than the keys. Due to their shorter height, spinet pianos have ‘dropped’ or ‘indirect’ actions. These ‘indirect’ or ‘dropped’ actions combined with their short strings make spinet pianos the least ‘musically responsive’ of all modern pianos. Spinet pianos can also be the most time consuming and expensive pianos to service and repair. Spinets pianos are the most difficult to tune. Their short strings require a very skilled piano technician to make them sound as good as they can. Spinet pianos were once popular due to their small size, but are much less popular today, and most piano manufacturers have quit making them.
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 Console ~ 40″ to 43″ Console – A Console piano is slightly taller (40″- 43″ tall) than the spinet and has slightly longer strings. The top of a console piano is about 12″ higher than the keys. Most, but not all, console pianos are tall enough to not require a dropped or indirect action. But some do have a dropped action!
Instead of the dropped or indirect action, most consoles contain a ‘compact’ action. A compact action does sit on the back of the keys, but some of the action parts have been designed shorter so it will fit into a piano of this height. Console pianos do have slightly longer strings than spinets and the compact action is a better choice than the dropped action. But both spinet and console pianos require more skill from the piano tuner. Console pianos are a common model piano for the home, and are available in many styles and finishes.
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 Studio ~ 44″ to 48″ Studio – A Studio piano is normally 44″- 48″ tall. Studio pianos are tall enough to have a ‘full sized’ vertical action. The top of a studio piano is about 24″ higher than the keys. The full sized action is generally the most efficient vertical piano action, providing most efficient responsive ‘feel’ in a vertical piano. Studio pianos are often found in schools and church choir rooms and were ‘institutional’ in appearance – with supported front legs, big casters, &c.. However, because piano buyers have been desiring larger vertical pianos for their homes, manufacturers have been making studio size pianos much more attractive with home friendly styles and finishes. Their full size action and longer strings make them a good choice for many vertical piano buyers.
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 Upright ~ 49″ to 60″ Upright – Oftentimes the word ‘upright’ is used as a description for ‘vertical’ pianos. But when we refer to the ‘Upright’, we’re referring to the big vertical pianos – their height ranges from 49″ – 60″. This is the type of piano your (great) grandparents used to play! The first ‘vertical’ pianos were these big tall ‘uprights’ or ‘Upright Grands’. The top pf these pianos can be 30″ to “36” higher than the keys.
Their height allows for long strings as well as a full sized actions. An Upright piano’s string lengths are approximately equal that of a 5’7″ Grand Piano. Some current piano manufacturers are still making these large upright pianos, and they are the cream of the vertical piano crop.
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The strings on all vertical pianos are vertical.
Pressing the keys down on a vertical piano, causes the hammers to go out to strike the strings.
The strings on all Grand pianos are horizontal.
Pressing the keys down on a grand piano, causes the hammers to go up to strike the strings.
The no ‘change of direction’ in a grand piano makes grand piano actions more efficient and responsive.
Grand Pianos
Grand pianos are measured from the front of the keys to the back edge of the lid.
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 Small or Baby Grand ~ 4’5″ to 5’3″ Small or Baby Grand – There is no exact dimension for the length of a ‘baby’ grand. Grand pianos are measured from the front of the keys to the back edge of the lid.
The term ‘baby’ here just means small. Some small or ‘baby’ grands are less than 4′ in length. The string length on these small grands is often less than some verticals. But grands pianos have grand actions, which don’t have to go thru the change of direction the vertical action does in order for the hammers to strike the strings.
At one time a manufacturer made a grand that was so small (approx. 4’6″) not only were the strings shorter than many spinet pianos, the action had to be radically modified to get it to ‘look’ right! Even though this piano was a ‘grand’ piano in styling, it was terribly compromised.
Short strings are short strings in both vertical and grand pianos. Long strings are the key to good piano sound.
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 Medium Grand ~ 5’3″ to 5’8″ Medium Sized Grands – A Medium sized grand is probably from 5’3″ – 5’9″ in length. The string length in a medium grand is generally equal to or longer than those of the larger console and studio pianos. Longer strings allow for better scaling design and better sound. This medium grand size is a very popular choice due to affordability, aesthetic appeal and sound quality.
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 Large Grand Piano ~ 5’9′ to 7’6″ The Larger Grands – Larger grands range in size from around 6′ to over 7′ in length. A 7′ piano is often a pianist’s choice for personal use and are commonly found in university piano faculty studios, church sanctuaries, and smaller auditoriums, where a concert grand may not be necessary.
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