Home
Revelation of an ancient secret: what is the difference between an upright piano and a grand piano?

Revelation of an ancient secret: what is the difference between an upright piano and a grand piano?

Acoustic piano
Evolution of the piano
Maintenance

What came first, the upright or the grand piano? ... The grand piano! An upright piano was an entirely different instrument, namely the fortepiano, and was quite large in size. Read on to learn more about it! 

Why were upright pianos constructed then?

For a number of reasons: Many people did not have the means to buy a grand piano. Some people may have had the means, but not the space. It was cheaper to build upright pianos instead of grand pianos. It was not until the 19th century that instruments were produced on a large scale and became accessible to the general public. If there was television back then, there would probably be dozens of programmes called "Piano wars". The competition was enormous!

The mechanical difference

Actually, a piano is a grand piano. The main problem was that the mechanism of a grand piano does not work on that of a piano. A grand piano mechanism, also called double-repetition mechanism, lies horizontally and would not work standing up. This mechanism offers more possibilities for a pianist. One can repeat notes faster (pressing the same key again) and the keys are often longer, which makes playing more enjoyable.

Here is an example of a piano mechanism, also called single-repetition mechanism. This is not to say that upright pianos cannot repeat. It's just a bit harder to repeat quickly on a piano. Smaller pianos often play more 'difficult' because the keys and parts are shorter. The lever is smaller and therefore heavier. A higher piano plays much better for this reason.

Pedals

Upright pianos and grand pianos often have three pedals. However, there are many differences between them. The right pedal is the same on an upright piano and grand piano, it is also called the damper pedal or sustain pedal. With this pedal all dampers are pushed up and every tone can sound free after hitting a key. The middle pedal often controls a piano's moderator. This is a system that makes the piano sound softer when played. On a grand piano, this is the sostenuto pedal. When you only want to play a few notes instead of all of them, you can use this pedal.

Difference in sound

You don't want to play your favourite song on a cheap Bluetooth speaker but rather on a beautiful Hi-Fi set. Maybe you don't want the whole neighbourhood to enjoy your favourite 90s guilty pleasure? Then you opt for headphones, preferably of some quality. Whatever your choice, both systems use speakers and they come in many different shapes, sizes and prices. Pianos and grand pianos also have a speaker, called the soundboard. This is a picture of a Steinway grand piano without strings. The entire wooden surface is the soundboard. On the bottom there are combs, the strings span across the chamber. Everything is connected to each other. The strings resonate after the hammer hits the soundboard, and the combs and soundboard amplify the sound. The larger the soundboard, the more sound and tone colour can be produced.

Final note

There is a right instrument for everyone. There is no one super piano or grand piano that everyone should get; it is a matter of taste. If you have the space, definitely buy a grand piano. A grand piano offers more possibilities than an upright piano. If you don't have the space, an upright piano is an excellent choice. If space is no object, why not both?

Check out our current offer!