Choosing a Piano

It's wonderful to find a piano that fits in with the decor of your home, but please don't compromise on the quality or craftsmanship or on the tone or touch that you want just to get a piano that looks a certain way on the outside. If you want the case (the outside of the piano) to be a certain color of wood, you can probably find that color in a good quality piano. If you visit a piano showroom and find an instrument that you like, but want in a different color, please don't just buy that same model in a different color without trying it out first. No two pianos sound or play exactly alike, and you might find that the one you ordered in your chosen color didn't have the same touch or tone that you liked so much in the one you tried in the store.

Insist on playing and examining the exact piano that you're going to buy before making a commitment.

Piano Craftsmanship

You should choose the brand of your piano that you want based primarily on quality of craftsmanship. Here are some points on which to evaluate quality:

Parts and Materials

Avoid pianos that have any plastic parts. Pianos with plastic parts don't sound as good as better-made pianos, and they will wear out or break sooner. The case should be made of veneered wood, not plywood, hardboard or compressed sawdust. The pedals should work smoothly and silently. A piano with 3 pedals is not necessarily better than one with 2. A piano only needs a sustain (right) pedal and a soft (left) pedal. If there is a middle pedal, it may sustain selected notes, sustain the bass only, or mute the entire piano for quiet practicing. The piano should have 3 strings per key for the higher notes and 2 strings per key for most of the lower notes. The keys should all work! Make sure that none of them stick down after playing, and that no note makes a rattling or buzzing noise.

Hand-made or mass-produced -

Hand-made pianos sound better and last longer.

Manufacturer's Warranty

A manufacturer that makes a good-quality piano will stand behind their product. Make sure your new piano comes with a warranty.

Resale Value

Find out how much a particular brand will be worth in a few years if you decide to sell it or to trade it in for a better instrument. Some pianos actually increase in value with age. Others become practically worthless with just a little wear. Find out which brands make a smart investment. Discuss these points with your retailer to determine which of the available brands are best suited to your priorities.

Touch and Tone

Touch means how the keys respond when they're played, and how that response feels to the player. Again, this won't mean much to you unless you're a skilled player, but as you or your child learns to play, touch will be a critical factor in pianistic development. If your piano offers too much resistance to pressure on the keys, it may be frustratingly difficult for a beginner -- especially a child -- to play. If, on the other hand, a piano doesn't offer enough resistance, it will be hard for the player to control the force with which the hammers strike the strings, and this can be equally frustrating. A beginner should have a piano with a moderate touch, or somewhat lighter for a small child. Just like people, every piano has a tone that is unique. Some tend to be louder than others. some have a brighter tone, while others have a warmer, mellower tone.

If you're not a skilled player or an experienced listener, comparing the tone qualities of several pianos and deciding which you like the best can seem baffling. If you have a friend who plays, take them along to the piano store and ask them to play the instruments that you are considering. If this isn't possible, ask the salesperson to play each piano for you.

Don't rush this process. sit down, relax, and really listen to each piano, asking yourself which sound is the most pleasing to you. Don't let a salesperson try to tell you what type of tone you want or need. A good piano salesperson wants you, the customer, to be happy with you purchase, and should allow you to make the choice that you'll be satisfied with.