Headed to the Piano Store

When you are looking for something new, you know where to find it. You wouldn't go looking for furniture at a video game store. Never would you think to look for groceries at Belk. You probably would never go car shopping at the mall and you'd never look for the perfect blouse at the Ford dealership. It's the same way with musical instruments. If you are looking for the best, you don't go to a generic store and you don't go somewhere that sells trumpets when you are looking for trombones. If you are looking for a new piano, the first place you want to go is a piano store.

Before you walk through the doors, though, you better have done your research. You should know what type you are looking for, what brand, and what kind of results you will demand from your instrument. If you don't know that, you won't know how to answer any questions the sales clerk might throw at you. And, most importantly, you won't know when you have found the perfect one.

There are two main types of pianos that you will find in a piano store. The first is an upright. These are more compact because, as the name suggests, the strings are vertical. The hammers are horizontal. They return to their original position using springs, which can degrade over time and with a lot of use. That's something you will want to consider. If the upright is unusually tall and majestic, it might be classified as an upright grand. Within the upright category, there are two different types. The first one is a studio and is no more than 45 inches tall. This is just barely big enough to hold the strings in the cabinet. It's for anyone with constrained space. Anything upright that is over 45 inches is just classified as an upright.

The second type you will find at the piano store is the grand piano. These are what you would typically see at a music hall or concert hall. You can also find them in music schools. A grand is more likely to give a richer sound. Within a grand, the strings and frame are horizontal. When the hammer hits the string, it returns to its resting place and the string stops vibrating with the help of gravity. There are no springs that can degrade and lessen the power of your instrument. Easily the best brand in grands is Steinway, which is known worldwide. Many universities that feature a music department will boast that they are an all-Steinway school if Steinways are all that they have. There is one drawback to Grands, however, and that is space. Since the frame is horizontal, they require more space than an upright. However, they do come in different sizes, from five to seven feet and you can choose the one that first your home.

If you are seeking out a new piano, you would do well to visit a piano store. Whether you are searching for a grand or an upright or even an electric, you should do your research beforehand and have at least some idea of what you're looking for. And, before you know it, you'll be playing the keys like never before.