10 Different Types of Pianos and Their Uses Explained

There’s a famous saying, “Love comes in all shapes, sizes, and colours.” Similarly, in the world of a pianist, the saying could be, “Musical magic comes in all shapes, sizes, and sounds!” Truthfully so since there are so many different types of pianos, all with their own sound, mechanism, and grandeur! From grand and upright to keyboards and digital pianos, pianists are spoiled with wonderful choices!

In this article, we will go over the types of pianos and their distinctive features! We will unfold the beauty they hold in the world of pianists and help you discover which piano is “the one” for you!

“The piano keys are black and white but they sound like a million colours in your mind.”

Maria Cristina Mena

Different Types of Pianos

Grand Pianos

As the name suggests, grand pianos look magnificent and have a distinctive charm. Grand pianos are very similar to the harpsichord, a piano from the 17th century. In a grand piano, the frame and strings are horizontal, and the strings extend away from the keyboard. Due to the horizontal framework and larger soundboard area of grand pianos, the sound produced is fuller and richer. Grand pianos also offer faster repetitions of keys as the hammers are reset by gravity, resulting in a much smoother action. 

There are different types of grand pianos, varying in size. As the size of the piano increases, the soundboard area increases as well, making the overall volume and tone richer and better. The general range of grand pianos is from approximately 4’11’’ to 9’10’’. The “Baby grand piano” is around 4’11’’, the “Parlor grand piano” ranges from 5’ 7’’ to 7’ 3”, and lastly, the “Concert grand piano” is somewhere between 7’3’’ and 9’10”. 

Grand pianos are expensive and exquisite; therefore, they are not so common in public settings like schools and are commonly preferable among professional pianists.

Spinet Piano

Spinet pianos are a type of vertical piano that has the feel of grand pianos but takes up less space. Spinet pianos like most vertical pianos are popular models for domestic use and can be a good choice for beginners. In these types of pianos, the keys are connected to the hammers with the help of a series of levers and hinges attached to the drop wire. They are around 4 feet in height but produce a weaker sound due to the smaller soundboard.

Console Piano

Console pianos also have a vertical framework, which does not work in correspondence with gravity and produces a weaker sound than grand pianos. Console pianos are bigger than spinet pianos but significantly smaller than grand pianos. Unlike spinet pianos, console pianos have action above the keys rather than below the keys, resulting in a better sound than spinet pianos. It can also be a great starting point for a beginner.

Professional Upright Piano

The Professional upright piano, as the name suggests, is a vertical piano, and it is taller than spinet and console pianos. They are approximately 50 to 60 inches tall and have a rich tone. It is one of those pianos that can sound miraculous even after years of playing if taken care of.

Like other vertical pianos, professional upright pianos are also suitable for domestic settings due to their compact size. Their distinguishing feature, as compared to other types of vertical pianos, is that they have a cleaner sound and have good quality strings. Since it’s taller than other vertical pianos and offers a cleaner sound, many pianists, mainly professionals, resort to this type of piano.

All the different types of pianos mentioned above are acoustic pianos. In acoustic pianos, be it grand (horizontal) or vertical, the sound is generated when a player presses the keys into the hammers, which in turn strike the strings. The vibrations produced by striking the strings are amplified, resulting in the harmonious sound we hear. However, there are other types of pianos as well. Let’s explore them too!

Electric Piano

An electric piano looks like a typical piano, however, instead of strings it incorporates thin metal tines along a hammer and keys. The sound produced by metal tines is then converted into signals by electromagnetic pickups. These pianos also have an amplifier or a loudspeaker to make the sound audible to listeners. Electric pianos are especially popular amongst vintage instrument enthusiasts.

Electronic Piano

Electronic pianos produce sound through oscillators, meaning they generate a piano-like-timbre using analogue circuitry. The “electric” and “electronic pianos” are not the same since electric pianos are mechanical. A huge drawback of these types of pianos was that the keys of the early electronic pianos were not velocity-sensitive, meaning the volume of the sound produced wasn’t affected by how hard or soft the keys were being pressed.

Nonetheless, popular bands like Yes, Deep Purple, and Genesis used these pianos. However, electronic pianos became less popular when newer pianos, like digital pianos, gained recognition in the 1980s.

Digital Piano

With technological advancements, the world was introduced to pianos that work on electricity rather than the typical hammer-string system of acoustic pianos, all while being smaller and much lighter. One such piano that became popular was the digital piano, an electronic keyboard instrument that serves as an alternative to acoustic pianos.

Digital pianos were designed to sound and feel the same as acoustic pianos and almost always have 88 keys, just like acoustic pianos. Furthermore, they also have weighted keys that are velocity-sensitive like acoustic pianos, producing softer or louder sounds based on how the keys are pressed. 

Other remarkable features of digital pianos are that they have internal loudspeakers, can be connected to amplifiers, can help you save and load a song as they are compatible with computers, give you access to different voices, and can customize sounds. Some digital pianos can also emulate sounds besides piano sounds, commonly electric piano, harpsichord, and organ. 

Due to its vast number of features, ease of use, affordability, and smaller size, digital pianos are often a top choice in schools and studios as they are a great alternative to traditional instruments. 

Keyboards

Keyboards are also digital, meaning they produce sound electronically, but unlike digital pianos, they lack the look and feel of acoustic pianos. A few keyboards have 88 keys, although most have only 61 or 76 keys and have unweighted keys. Due to unweighted keys, the sound produced by keyboards is not as good as digital pianos, but they have a large variety of sounds, making them suitable for beginners to start practising. With various sounds available on the same instrument, it’s possible to have an overall great sounding experience on a keyboard! 

However, keep in mind that when most people say “keyboard,” they actually mean a digital piano. These two terms are often used interchangeably. 

Now, there are also some pianos that bring you the best of both worlds- acoustic and digital! Such pianos are called “hybrid pianos.” Hybrid pianos can be played acoustically because of the traditional hammer-string arrangement, but they also have a MIDI unit added to the underside of the piano. Two main types of hybrid pianos are the pianola and the silent piano.

Pianola

A pianola, also called a player piano, is a self-playing piano. This type of piano works on a pneumatic or electro-mechanical mechanism that produces sound due to perforated paper or metallic rolls. It generates sound when you press the pedals, which in turn forces the air through holes in a roll of paper to press the keys and play a harmonious sound.

While pedalling, you also get to control the tempo to get the appropriate tune. To play on the pianola, you must have strong legs, and each foot should be trained to act independently. Due to this fact, pianolas are a better option for intermediates and professionals.

Silent Piano

Silent pianos are acoustic pianos that let you have silent practice sessions. With these types of pianos, you can silence the strings by preventing the hammer from striking them. Silent pianos facilitate silent practice since the sensors pick up the movements of the keys and convert them into MIDI signals that are then sent to digital audio workstations or can be listened to on headphones. Players of all skill levels can use silent pianos and enjoy uninterrupted playing in all environments and settings.

These are all types of pianos that are commonly available in the market, all having different types of piano styles and different kinds of piano keyboards.

“Life is like a piano. What you get out of it depends on how you play it.”

Tom Lehrer

Pianos for Beginners Vs. Professionals

It is a great practice to start easy and then progress gradually to more complex techniques, styles, and instruments. Similarly, your advancement in piano will become seamless if you begin with beginner-friendly pianos and then move on to other types of pianos better suited for advanced players. Check out this table to learn what pianos are better suited for beginners vs. professionals.

Beginner	Professional
Baby Grand Piano	Other Grand Pianos
Electric Piano	Electronic Piano
Digital Piano and Keyboard	Digital Piano
Silent Piano	Pianola
Console, and Spinet Piano	Professional Upright Piano

How do professional pianos differ?

There are different types of pianos, some better suited for novice players, whereas some are tailored just for virtuosos! Some of the features of professional pianos are that they have a good number of keys, typically 88, offer a lot of features, produce a cleaner sound, and have an elegant appearance, so you can always be ready for a performance.

Most professional pianists prefer playing on grand pianos due to their majestic appeal, rich sound, and authentic piano-playing feel. Beginners should usually start playing on a digital piano or other less-expensive pianos or keyboards since making a hefty investment isn’t recommended when you have just begun playing. Moreover, learning on keyboards and digital pianos can offer illimitable features and convenience due to their portable size.

I hope looking at all these different kinds of pianos with pictures helped you get a better understanding of pianos. Refer to this guide to make an informed decision on which piano to buy if you already don’t have one. If you wish to commence your piano learning journey, Torrins can be your ultimate learning buddy!

You can take advantage of boundless piano lessons, with a special mention of Free beginner Piano lessons. You can also explore our super engaging Piano song lessons and become a skilled pianist sooner than you anticipated! Whether you are a jazz lover or interested in playing blues, Torrins has lessons for everyone! Here you can check out Blues Piano Lessons and Jazz Piano Lessons on Torrins.