Buying Piano FAQs

There are several things to keep in mind as you make this decision. The first step to do before you purchase a piano is to evaluate whether it’s likely be for a long-term or a short-term purpose. Are there several potential players in the family? If a parent is already a pianist chances are one family member will play for many years.

With only one potential player, on the other hand, particularly a young child, there is more risk that the instrument will be abandoned after a short while. Therefore you may want to start with a less expensive piano or an electric piano, or even to rent one, and then upgrade to a better instrument when you feel confident that the risk of abandonment has passed.

Ultimately, the decision you make depends on your actual purchasing power. If you can afford to shell out a big amount of money, then an acoustic piano can be a great choice. Repairs and tuning expenses should also be included in your computations since pianos usually require tuning at least two times a year. Quite obviously, digital pianos are generally more affordable and they require lesser maintenance. It simply makes sense to pick this if you cannot afford to spend big bucks for an instrument.

You may refer to the local classifieds or ask for referrals from family or friends when searching for a used or 2^nd hand piano. You can also search for your next piano online at our pianos for sale section.

Don’t buy 2^nd hand pianos over 60 years old, unless they’ve been reconditioned and have brand names. Also, avoid buying pianos from schools, churches, and/or public places because they get a heavy use and many times are neglected.

Playing the piano is a great way to get to its value and you should test as many as possible. If you’re unhappy with the sound of a piano, don’t be afraid to move on. Time must be spent discovering your personal preferences, and learning to appreciate quality. Inspect a used piano at least as rigorously as possible. Try every key with the right-hand pedal depressed to check the tone, and make sure the keyboard, pedals and hammers don’t stick or squeak. Bring a flashlight and open the top. Look to see that all the hammers and strings are there and in good condition. Make sure the hammers aren’t moth-eaten or string-cut, and check for rust and dirt. The price doesn’t connote great value so better be careful. Low piano prices are often too good to be true bring a piano technician along with your visit.

Yes! Whether you’re buying a piano for your kid or any member of the family you should always consider the condition and tuning. Buy only a piano that is IN TUNE. A bad piano can cost you a TON of money. Be sure to have it inspected by a professional tuner-technician before buying it, The fee for this service is small compared to the risk of paying too much, or ending up with a lemon.

When deciding for the size of piano you should consider the size of your home if you have enough space then you can opt for a grand piano. The common size for a medium grand is 5′×5″–6′×2″. If you live in a small apartment, squeezing in a grand may be out of the question right from the start.

The most obvious difference between ‘regular’ grands and baby grands is size. Actually, these are just two of the many standard grand piano sizes, the exact measurements of which can vary by manufacturer or location. The following are averages of the most widely-accepted:

The sound quality of a baby grand is almost indistinguishable from those of larger grands, but this becomes less so as the size of the piano decreases.

Digital piano might be just easier and simpler, while the old upright piano might bring that classical and natural sound to performance. An upright piano will hold its value over time and if it is looked after it will normally increase over a longer period, normally 20 years or more. While the value of your piano depreciates very quickly. New models are introduced every 2-3 years making your piano even less valuable and harder to sell.

In grand pianos, the strings lie horizontally and the hammers hit the strings from below. This means the movement of the keys, actions, and hammers are all in-line with gravity. This helps to produce more rapid repetition and control. In an upright piano, the strings are held vertically and the hammers hit the strings from the side. Thus, gravity does not work in its favor. Therefore, in general, upright pianos produce slower repetition compared to grand pianos. Also in general, grand piano action has more advanced features such as a repetition lever to aid in the speed and reliability of repetition of notes.

An upright piano makes sounds using strings, wherein the keys trigger the strings. Because of this, upright pianos are ‘touch sensitive’. You can change the sound depending on how you press the keys. Additionally, upright pianos have a LOT MORE keys than on keyboards. Most upright piano pieces cannot be played on keyboards as there are not enough keys. On the other hand Keyboard music tends to be a lot simpler and easier than an upright piano music. It often has simple chords in the bass and a melody in the treble rather than more complex harmonies on the upright piano.

The top of the line pianos is manufactured by Steinway and Sons. Their pianos have set an uncompromising standard for sound, touch, beauty, and investment value. Steinway remains the choice of 9 out of 10 concert artists. However for budget wise and availability you may consider a Yamaha piano. Yamaha pianos help provide the opportunity for everyone who wishes to learn to play the piano. It is produced and supplied to different countries throughout Asia as well as other continents.

How long a piano will last varies greatly, depending upon maintenance and repair, usage, climate, and quality of manufacture. It all depends on how well they are taken care of. If a piano is well maintained, and protected from fluctuations in humidity, it can last 100 years or more. Others that are abused by lack of maintenance and poor climate such as too hot, too much moisture can deteriorate quite fast.

A piano maintenance includes tuning to return the piano to pitch, voicing to adjust the tone, and regulating to adjust the action and change the touch of the piano. Because your piano contains materials such as wood and felt, it is subject to change with climatic conditions. Extreme swings from hot to cold or dry to wet cause its materials to swell and contract, affecting tone, pitch, and action response or touch. You can reduce the severity of these effects by placing your piano near a wall away from windows or doors that are opened frequently. Avoid heating and air conditioning vents, fireplaces and areas which receive direct sunlight. Your piano will perform best under consistent conditions neither too wet nor dry, optimally at a temperature of 68 degrees F and 42 percent relative humidity.

Regular piano tunings can prevent serious damage. In order for it to last long pianos should be regularly tuned in. Correct and constant string tension are important to the health of many delicate piano parts especially parts which are very expensive to fix. Tunings help these parts work together smoothly, preventing damage to and from neighboring pieces.

When the strings stretch a piano may go out of tune. The string is a piece of steel wire, even so, it will stretch, like a very stiff rubber band when tightened. It is designed to stretch significantly, and still not break when at its correct pitch. Another real culprit is the humidity changes. When temperature changes it also affect your piano and how well it remains in tune. It is advisable to keep the humidity and temperature as stable as possible in order to get the best performance from your piano.

Pianos should be tuned every 6 months or twice a year. New pianos need to be tuned 4 times during the first year. Four times may seem like a lot, but the piano is a stringed instrument, and stringed instruments by nature will always stray off-pitch. A tuning every 3 months will allow the piano to return to its original state after being altered by both climate changes and play, and this consistency will ultimately prolong its life.

Not necessarily so! While extremely severe bumps may knock it out of tune. Primarily, it is when the piano is moved through environments of greatly differing atmospheric humidity…like from a 75 degree furnace-dried-out 25% indoor humidity to 20 degree, damp 85% outdoor humidity and back inside again. This will mess up your tuning greatly unless you keep the piano outdoors only for a very short time. Obviously, moving the piano in the summer does not hurt the tuning near as much.