Petite grand, baby grand, parlor grand, semi-concert grand, and concert grand pianos.Īlong with their different sizes, each grand piano has its different uses and set of pros and cons. Grand pianos fall into five main classifications. There’s no doubt that grand pianos have a rich tone to their sound, which is why they work so well in concert halls. They produce a richer sound quality because the strings are longer and the soundboard area is larger than upright pianos. Grand pianos can range in size from 5ft to 9ft and can produce a sound that is more powerful than that of a vertical piano. The more common term for horizontal pianos is grand pianos. This category of piano uses the term horizontal because the piano strings run parallel to the floor. So now that we know a little about the history of the piano, let’s take a more detailed look at the range and types of pianos available today. The traditional acoustic piano that we all know and love today is almost identical to the first pianos that Steinway built back in the early 1800s. The main difference from the modern piano, is the original piano forte had 49 keys rather than 88.Īside from the number of keys, pianos have changed very little. The harpsichord was a very popular instrument, but it produced a very limiting sound.Īt the turn of the 18th century, a man called Bartolomeo Cristofori invented the hammer mechanism and what we now think of as first type of piano. It still had keys and strings, but rather than a hammer striking the strings, they were plucked with a mechanism called a jack. Early pianosīefore the piano came the harpsichord. Before we look at the types of pianos available today, let’s briefly go through the history of the piano.

Piano keys actual size in inches