Most people would like to be able to own and play a concert grand, still regarded as the version that produces the finest sound. However, the cost and huge size of the grand makes it impractical for the average player and the average house. Enter the upright piano. Upright are much more affordable and can stand relatively unobtrusively against the wall of most rooms. Before you buy your upright piano here are some factors to consider.
There are two main types of upright piano, the acoustic and the digital. The main difference between the two is that the sound of the acoustic is achieved by a mechanical system of hammers hitting strings to produce the notes. On a digital the notes are produced electronically. Two other major factors might influence your choice of whether to buy an acoustic or a digital. These are weight and price. The acoustic's construction produces a bulkier and much heavier instrument. Something that you need to consider carefully if the room in which you intend to play has restricted access. Digitals are generally smaller and very much lighter and easy to move around. Although the best digital pianos can be as expensive as mid-priced acoustics, the cheapest ones are relatively cheap.
When choosing a piano the sound that it produces is paramount among its features. This is an area where the electronic version has lagged behind its acoustic counterpart. There have been major improvements along this front in recent years, however, and the best digital pianos rival all but the very top acoustic models in terms of sound quality.
One aspect of playing that is very important to any player is the feel of the keys. The way in which acoustic instruments are made gives their keys a weighted feel, which means that the softness or loudness of the note played depends on how hard the key is pressed. Many digital pianos at the cheaper end of the price range don't have this feature. If they do it is often a bit crude compared to playing a traditional acoustic.
Digital pianos don't need to be tuned and will stay in tune for many years of playing. On the other hand, you will need to budget for a regular service and re-tune if you decide to buy an acoustic. The cost of this varies considerably but it will tend to more expensive for the the better quality models.
Although many players still prefer the touch and sound of the acoustic, digital pianos are fast catching up. In fact the top models are said to be as good as most acoustics and they are the preferred instrument of many professional musicians. Your own personal preferences will dictate which type of piano you go for and you should be now be in a better position to make an informed choice.
There are two main types of upright piano, the acoustic and the digital. The main difference between the two is that the sound of the acoustic is achieved by a mechanical system of hammers hitting strings to produce the notes. On a digital the notes are produced electronically. Two other major factors might influence your choice of whether to buy an acoustic or a digital. These are weight and price. The acoustic's construction produces a bulkier and much heavier instrument. Something that you need to consider carefully if the room in which you intend to play has restricted access. Digitals are generally smaller and very much lighter and easy to move around. Although the best digital pianos can be as expensive as mid-priced acoustics, the cheapest ones are relatively cheap.
When choosing a piano the sound that it produces is paramount among its features. This is an area where the electronic version has lagged behind its acoustic counterpart. There have been major improvements along this front in recent years, however, and the best digital pianos rival all but the very top acoustic models in terms of sound quality.
One aspect of playing that is very important to any player is the feel of the keys. The way in which acoustic instruments are made gives their keys a weighted feel, which means that the softness or loudness of the note played depends on how hard the key is pressed. Many digital pianos at the cheaper end of the price range don't have this feature. If they do it is often a bit crude compared to playing a traditional acoustic.
Digital pianos don't need to be tuned and will stay in tune for many years of playing. On the other hand, you will need to budget for a regular service and re-tune if you decide to buy an acoustic. The cost of this varies considerably but it will tend to more expensive for the the better quality models.
Although many players still prefer the touch and sound of the acoustic, digital pianos are fast catching up. In fact the top models are said to be as good as most acoustics and they are the preferred instrument of many professional musicians. Your own personal preferences will dictate which type of piano you go for and you should be now be in a better position to make an informed choice.
