Acoustic Pianos are arguably the purest form of keyboard instrument, encompassing everything a real piano should be. Early precursors led to the modern designs available today - from majestic Grand Pianos (such as the Steinway and Bosendorfer concert grands) down to the compact Upright Pianos.

Within the more commonly found upright pianos are the Upright Grands - so named because of the extended height of the instrument cabinetry in order to encompass the length of the strings along the soundboard - if you look inside an upright grand, you'll see that the strings are attached/canted in a much more diagonal direction than normal upright pianos.

Please click HERE for an external reference to Acoustic Pianos, including history and evolution.

Advantages of Acoustic Pianos

• true 'feel' and sound of a piano
• ultimate learning tool for dedicated pianists
• elegant cabinetry i.e. attractive piece of furniture

Disadvantages

• expensive (sometimes prohibitively so)
• must be tuned and adjusted regularly as well as maintained in a stable environment (temp/humidity)
• not portable (unless you have the resources of Elton John or Keith Jarrett
• size and sound output not suited to smaller houses and apartments - older upright grands, with their huge cast iron frames, are very heavy and cumbersome

If youare intending to purchase (or lease) an acoustic piano, please see my ASSISTANCE page.

Additional Note

Many piano teachers will only consider students who have access to a true acoustic piano.
Purists will argue that an acoustic is the only way to learn to be a 'real' pianist - on the following pages you will learn about viable alternatives and why I consider them on a par with (or above) acoustic pianos.
As I've said before, all acoustic pianos are not created equal, especially with respect to touch/velocity sensitivity - some have a decidedly 'springy' action whilst others are decidedly 'boggy' due to a shallow key bed. On a shopping excursion in London one time, a fellow pianist and myself trawled through a used piano warehouse containing literally hundreds of pianos - only finding one with the exact feel and response that we wanted. It was desperately out of tune, the cabinetry, once exquisitely french polished and inlaid with mother-of-pearl and brass, was a renovators nightmare - but it felt fantastic! Sold!