Baby Grand pianos are usually shorter in dimensions, and the strings are thick and short when compared to full size grand. Although purists say the sound produced by these pianos is inharmonious, for a normal user, this piano does fit the bill, and the sound is definitely not as bad as many may have you believe. Grand pianos are first of all huge, then hugely expensive. Baby pianos on the other hand are small, can fit in your rooms, are elegant and affordable, too. They are mostly made of wood like oak, mahogany, etc. There are many antique baby pianos which are breathtakingly beautiful for their artistry.
Baby Grand Pianos: Sound
Baby grand pianos are smaller in size, but the sound they generate is not small in any way. While it is true that if we were to achieve the same level of true sound as a grand piano, then the cost would escalate manifold, but that doesn’t mean that baby grand pianos sound bad. They sound remarkably close to grand pianos, and first time users will not be able to make out the difference. Somehow, these pianos seem to add sheen and beauty to any living room. A baby grand piano makes the room look majestic, artistic and adds to the glamour. And of course, it can fill the room with sound that is not easily described. Generally with smaller sound board, the sound quality of a baby grand tends to be somewhat lower than grand piano.
A baby grand is usually shorter than it is wide and has strings that are shorter, thicker and stiffer than other grands. This allows the baby grand to sound more harmonic than the others. Many people buy baby grands instead of regular grands for three reasons. One because of the sound, two because they are smaller in size and three because they are less expensive! Some of the most popular brand of baby grand pianos are Breitenbach, Stuyvesant, Bergmann, and Baldwin. These types of pianos range from $1,000 on up to $8,000 but are worth it in the end!
If your looking around on the Internet for a baby grand piano, then you’re in luck! Many sites online offer buyers such as you to be able to buy, rent, or bid on these types of pianos. A few good places you could look if your looking for pianos in general or a baby grand pianos is:
- eBay
- Amazon
- ThePianoSuperstore
- SweeneyPiano
- MyModernPiano
- Google Checkout
While not as deep and rich sounding as their grand piano counterparts, the baby grand piano is perfect for students who are serious about music and who invest substantial time and energy into playing.
Small, yet not small in sound, baby grand pianos offer something the upright and grand does not, affordable elegance. There’s something about the way an instrument looks that either makes you want to play it or not. While an upright is fine for beginners and amateur pianists, it just doesn’t inspire those who need that certain aesthetic touch a baby grand provides.
And let’s not forget about the fact that a baby grand can fit into most living rooms as well. Many are 5 feet or less and can make a boring living room into a grand concert stage. It is the centerpiece of many musical homes and deservedly so! Houses with pianos in them seem to have more life. As soon as you enter the room and see a beautiful baby grand, you either want to play or hear it.
Expect to pay anywhere from $2000 to $10,000 or more for a decent instrument but also expect to get many, many years of enjoyment as well!
So you want to buy a piano. What a great musical adventure you have before you. Starting out on the journey, however, can be overwhelming, what with so many types and brands of pianos to choose from. That’s why I’ve provided this primer on piano types and brands for you, so that you can quickly and easily find the right piano for you and get on with enjoying a lifetime of making beautiful music together.
Types of Pianos
Grand pianos vs. Upright pianos: Grand pianos have an average of 10,000 moving parts and range in size from 4′ 6″ to over 9′ long. They have a winged shape with a curved right side and flat left side. Grand pianos are generally owned by professional and more serious amateur pianists.
The two primary types of grand pianos are Concert Grand pianos, the largest of grands reaching 9′ and over, and Baby Grand pianos, any grand piano that is smaller than 6′ tall. Different sizes of grand piano differ in the potential volume of sound it is able to produce, the tonal quality of its lower register (the bass notes), and the overall sound quality.
Also known as vertical pianos, upright pianos have an average of 5,000-6,000 moving parts. They typically cost less and take up less space than grand pianos, and are more commonly owned by amateur and hobbyist piano players.
Upright pianos come in various types depending on their size, the tallest reaching about 60″ in height. The taller an upright piano is, the better the action.
* Spinet pianos – approx. 36″ tall
* Console pianos – approx. 40″ tall
* Studio pianos – approx. 45″ tall
* Professional pianos – approx. 48″ tall
It is entirely possible to achieve the same quality with an upright as with a grand piano and, in some cases, better quality of tone than certain baby grands.
Digital pianos vs. Acoustic pianos: In contrast to traditional grand pianos and upright pianos, digital pianos utilize the technologies of audio microchips and speakers to reproduce the sounds of a traditional piano as well as those of other keyboard instruments like organs and harpsichords. Digital pianos also offer players the ability to record their practice sessions and performances.

