Types of Upright Pianos
Vertical pianos or upright pianos are the most popular type of piano for in-home purchase. Vertical pianos are usually more compact and less expensive than grand pianos and baby grand pianos. Due to the limited dimensions of upright pianos, they are the perfect choice for private homes, music conservatories, community centers, university music programs, schools and churches. There are many types of upright pianos available for purchase, so let’s go through the more popular ones.
What is an Upright Piano?
A vertical or upright piano features a very different frame and strings when compared to a baby grand piano or a concert grand. The piano’s internal hardware runs vertically, perpendicular to the keyboard, which allows it to take less space. The vertical piano was invented back in 1826 in London, quickly gaining popularity and allowing the creation of many different types of upright pianos soon after that. The vertical piano allowed the introduction of classical music directly into homes and pubs, whereas before its invention, piano music was only available in ballrooms.
The main types of upright pianos are:
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Spinet
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Console
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Studio Upright
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Full-Size or Professional Upright Piano
The largest vertical piano models will be around 5’ tall, but most grand pianos range between 5’ and 9’ in length. Generally speaking, longer strings and soundboards with a larger surface area will produce better sound quality. Due to its limitations, the vertical action on upright pianos is less responsive when compared to horizontal grand pianos.
Spinet Upright Piano
The spinet piano is the smallest type of vertical piano available for purchase. It’s also one of the most affordable pianos you can purchase. Due to their limitations, they provide the poorest sound quality of the upright piano family. That being said, these pianos are excellent for beginners and players with tight budgets.
What is a Console Upright Piano?
Console pianos are built with a “direct blow” action. The keys connect directly to the action, which makes the piano easier to play and offers an improvement in terms of sound quality.
Console vertical pianos are up to 44” in height, allowing for longer strings and improved sound quality, compared to spinet pianos. Console pianos are a great choice for beginners and intermediate players since they are only a little bit more expensive than spinets.
Studio Upright Piano
Studio vertical pianos are at least 45” tall, and produce better sound quality, compared to spinet or console pianos. Apart from the longer strings and soundboard, these pianos also feature full-size action, making it easier for players to bring out the full range of the instrument. Vertical studio pianos are an excellent choice for intermediate and experienced players.
Full Size & Professional Upright Piano
The full size vertical piano is the largest type of upright pianos. These pianos feature soundboards that are similar in size to those of baby grands. This means that you’ll be getting a sound quality that’s similar to a baby grand but without needing too much space to store it. That being said, professional upright pianos tend to be quite expensive, compared to the other, smaller models. These types of vertical pianos are recommended for intermediate and experienced players.
