Which Piano Should I Purchase? A Beginner’s Guide to Piano Shopping
Exploring the different types of pianos and assessing their benefits and disadvantages
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, I’ll be compensated at no cost to you. I only recommend products I use myself.
One question has come up to me repeatedly from new pianists beginning their piano journey: What piano should I purchase? New pianists want to know if they should get a new, used, or free piano, if they should start with a high-end instrument, or go with the most affordable option. Or, if they can just use the piano they already have. There is at times vague worry about this decision, worry that their piano choice will ruin their hopes of learning the piano.
Let me give you some basic information and tips to help you start your search. The most important tip is this: relax, and don’t stress about this! There are many conflicting opinions, but the bottom line is that any instrument is better than none, and you will not ruin your or your child’s piano-playing journey if you get the “wrong” instrument. Whatever your first instrument is, it’s always better than no instrument.
But, some piano set-ups will need to be upgraded sooner than others.
I will go over four piano options today, two of which are acoustic instruments, and two are electric. An acoustic instrument is the traditional option; they do not require an “on” switch to be turned on before playing. All acoustic pianos create sound by a hammer hitting a piano’s strings. The pianist makes the hammer hit the string by pushing a piano’s key. The shorter the string, the higher the pitch is. And the harder you push the key, the harder the hammer hits the string and the louder the sound.
Acoustic Options
Acoustic pianos are superior to electric pianos, hands down. They are more enjoyable to play and will not require an upgrade anytime soon. Some beginning pianists avoid starting with an acoustic instrument in favor of a more affordable electric piano.
However, here’s the paradox: if a pianist doesn’t enjoy playing their instrument, they will be much less inclined to practice. Keep this vital piece in mind as you consider your options.
Acoustic pianos can be divided into two rough categories: grand pianos and upright pianos. Grand pianos are the iconic instruments you’ll generally see on a stage, in the mall, or at a piano bar. Grand pianos have a large footprint because of the direction of their strings inside; grand piano strings are perpendicular and housed in that large piece that extends beyond the keyboard. Grand pianos can be as short as five feet long (which would classify it as a “baby grand”) to nine feet long (which is considered a “concert grand.”)
Most grand pianos that are in private homes are between five and six feet long. Bigger is not necessarily better for a grand piano in your home, as larger grand pianos are designed for larger spaces, such as concert halls, and would sound too loud and muddy in a smaller space.
Grand piano advantages:
Grand pianos are the most enjoyable pianos to play. The sound is superior, the action more responsive, and the subtleties are more nuanced.
Pianists playing on a (well-maintained) grand piano will not experience the frustrations that can come with playing on lesser instruments.
A grand piano is a beautiful centerpiece for a home. It can also become a musical gathering spot for family and friends to enjoy making or listening to music.
Grand piano disadvantages:
Grand pianos take up more space in your home.
Grand pianos can be loud.
Grand pianos tend to have the highest price point, (although sometimes a used instrument can be found for less).
Beginning pianists don’t have the discerning ear and nuanced control at the start of their studies, and the joy of playing a grand piano may not be fully appreciated. **However, the argument can be made that beginning pianists will get that discerning ear quicker when playing a high-end instrument.
Upright pianos are the more space-friendly acoustic option. Upright pianos get their shape again by the direction of the piano’s strings. Unlike the grand piano, an upright pianos’ strings are vertical, allowing the instrument to be placed against a wall. The size and number of keys are identical for grand and upright pianos, and inside, upright pianos work more or less the same as a grand. Size-wise, standard upright pianos range from 48-60 inches; the taller the piano, the louder it is.
Upright piano advantages
Its footprint. Upright pianos take up less space in a room than grands.
Upright pianos’ size makes them more suitable for smaller spaces acoustically.
Upright pianos have a lower price point than grands most of the time.
While an upright piano is not quite the same as a grand piano, it is still much more enjoyable to play than electric instruments.
Upright piano disadvantages
Uprights do not have the same sound quality and clarity as grand pianos. (But remember that there are always exceptions to this; a high-end upright will often sound better than a low-end grand piano!)
And two things to keep in mind with all acoustic pianos:
You must have them tuned annually by a reputable piano technician.
And if you move, you will need to pay professional piano movers to move your piano to your new location.
Don’t try to save a few bucks by moving or servicing a piano yourself. Professional movers and technicians are well worth the expense for the health of your accoustic piano.
Used Pianos
There are many options for used grand and upright pianos on the market. This may seem counterintuitive, but before starting your search for a used piano, I highly encourage you to educate yourself first by visiting a reputable piano showroom that sells new pianos for some information gathering. Don’t rely on internet reviews, or reliability stats, for something as personal and unique as an acoustic piano! Every piano varies in tone and action. Even novices can feel and hear the differences between different brands. Bonus; you will get an understanding of the pricing of a new instrument.
Now, armed with your new knowledge, you’ll be able to look at used pianos a bit more critically. You’ll have a better feel for the wide variety of tones and feels that pianos can have, and smartly assess if the asking price is too high for the instrument you’ll be getting.
Are used pianos a better value? Sometimes, but not always. New piano showrooms often include the cost of moving the piano in the purchase price (which can amount to several hundred dollars), and the first tuning or two for free. And while acoustic pianos can last a long time, they do eventually wear out. Ask a piano tuner to look over a used piano before you purchase it to make sure it really is the bargain you hope it is!
Electric Options
Now, let’s talk about electronic piano options. Let me start by saying that acoustic pianos are always more desirable than electronic ones. The tone will always be better, and the experience of playing on an acoustic piano is so much more rewarding. However, for various practical reasons, some families might want or need to start with an electric instrument, so I want to include them in our piano discussion today.
There are definitely a number of options with electronic instruments, but if you’re planning on using an electronic instrument for piano study specifically, I would limit yourself to two options: digital pianos or keyboards.
Digital pianos are built to feel and sound like a real piano. The keyboard is the same size and length as an acoustic piano, and the keys are weighted. Digital pianos come with a headphone jack, which is nice if you have housemates who work from home, small children who nap, or if you plan on playing late at night.
A few of the higher-end digital pianos come with three pedals. All will come with one pedal, or at least a damper pedal or a sustain pedal jack in the back (a sustain pedal is a damper pedal. Electric instruments call it a sustain pedal). You or your student will need the sustain/damper pedal reasonably quickly in your studies, so be sure to purchase one if it doesn’t come with your instrument.
A digital piano can be an excellent option for the first two to three years of a beginning pianist’s studies, but to optimize the acoustic piano simulation, be sure to pay for the furniture stand to create a stable base for your instrument. Furniture stands simulate the stable casing of an upright piano, so the stability of the furniture stand for digital pianos makes it a must.
Over the years, I’ve seen a handful of students purchase cheaper digital pianos on the market. The sound quality is consistently poorer with these low-budget options, and they tend to break within the first year. Stick to Roland or Yamaha brand digital pianos; they are consistently more reliable and have a much better sound.
***Affiliate link- here is a good, basic digital piano set-up I have many of my own students purchase: Yamaha Digital Piano (click here) and stable furniture stand (click here). **Don’t try and save a few pennies by not getting the furniture stand! Purchasing the stable base for the digital piano is essential.
Digital piano advantages
Digital pianos start at a lower price point.
Digital pianos don’t need to be tuned or serviced by a piano technician or moved by professional piano movers.
You can use headphones with digital pianos.
Some housing situations have a “no piano” policy. A digital piano will work in these situations.
Digital piano disadvantages
All electric instruments are less satisfying to play than acoustic instruments.
Digital pianos are less responsive to the subtleties or nuances required for intermediate and advanced-level piano playing.
An advancing pianist can only grow to a certain point when learning on a digital piano. After the first two to three years of studies, an upgrade to an acoustic instrument is a must.
Keyboards
Lastly, let’s talk about keyboards. Keyboards are the worst option for piano studies. Many keyboards are shorter than digital and acoustic pianos. While the standard keyboard size is 88 keys, keyboards often have less, between 61 and 72. The keys on a keyboard require minimal effort to push down. This is because the keys are generally not weighted. This light action can create technical problems for a long time. The sound quality on keyboards is considerably worse than on digital or acoustic pianos; it’s hard to develop musicality or subtleties with a keyboard.
However, some situations make keyboards a good option for the first few months of piano studies. If the pianist learning is very young (like age six or younger), keyboards can be an option for beginning studies. However, if you’re starting with a keyboard, plan on upgrading within the first year of your studies.
If you do decide to start with a keyboard, set yourself or your pianist up for success by doing these three things:
Use a double X-stand to make the keyboard as stable as possible. Don’t just set the keyboard on a table.
Use a piano or keyboard bench of proper height, not a chair.
Set up your keyboard against a wall. This will improve the stability of it.
Again, stick to Yamaha or Roland for the best sound quality and reliability.
Here is a keyboard set-up I use regularly for my preschool classes: Yamaha keyboard (click here) plus a stable x-stand (click here).
Don’t buy a used keyboard or digital piano. Unlike acoustic instruments, electric instruments wear out much faster, and repairs are not an option for electric pianos.
Keyboard advantages
Keyboards are the most affordable option.
Light key weight can be helpful for very young beginning pianists.
Keyboard disadvantages
A piano student will outgrow this option very quickly. An upgrade will be necessary after the first six to twelve months of study.
The frustration of dealing with the keyboard and its many limitations will quickly outweigh the joy of playing the piano.
To Wrap Up
You now know about four different piano options to start your piano studies, and probably have a better idea about what you should purchase. Here are a few last “pro tips” for you to keep in mind:
Get the best quality instrument you can afford. Bargain keyboards from the thrift store are rarely inspiring for any pianist, even beginning pianists.
Set playing benchmarks for yourself or your piano student, and reward yourself or your pianist with a piano upgrade when those benchmarks are met.
Keep food and drinks off your instrument. And close the lid when it’s not in use.
Always hire a professional piano mover to move acoustic instruments. Furniture movers are generally not qualified to move a piano, especially a grand piano, successfully.
Make sure you have a bench tall enough for your or your student’s arms to be parallel to the ground—most traditional chairs are too low. Invest in a piano or keyboard-specific bench. Click here for a link to a great piano bench I regularly recommend- it’s adjustable feature makes it perfect for growing pianists, or homes with multiple pianists.
And teach small children in your home to respect the instrument you have, whatever the price point.
Now, get excited to go piano shopping! Have fun, and when you find something that works for your home, your situation, and your budget, rest assured that it’s the perfect piano for you. You’ll be on your way to becoming a pianist in no time. Enjoy!