Crossword Dictionary
Grand piano
Grand pianos are the largest and the most expensive type of piano. Grand piano soundboards are horizontal. This allows for much longer strings and a greater soundboard area.
The action of a grand piano is much different than an upright piano seeing as the strings sit horizontally. The piano can play faster and with more control than an upright due to the hammers being reset by gravity as suppose to a complicated combination of springs.
The visible key size is identical across all pianos, but the grand piano key extends far deeper into the piano than an upright. This makes for a longer leaver, giving the pianist more control over dynamics and tone.
Grand pianos range in length from approximately 1.5 meters (4 ft 11 in) to 3 meters (9 ft 10 in). Some of the lengths have been given more-or-less customary names, which vary from time to time and place to place, but might include:
- Baby grand – around 1.5 meters (4 ft 11 in)
- Parlor grand or boudoir grand – 1.7 to 2.2 meters (5 ft 7 in – 7 ft 3 in)
- Concert grand – between 2.2 and 3 meters (7 ft 3 in – 9 ft 10 in)