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Grand Pianos in Edina Minnesota | Why do Grand Pianos Sound Better?
A grand piano, sometimes called a grand, has a long case with strings running from front to back. A grand piano can have more than six octaves of keys and is typically larger and heavier than an upright piano. While both types of pianos are made from iron frames with wood soundboards, there are several factors that contribute to the way that a grand piano sounds compared to an upright. Grand Pianos in Edina Minnesota
Long Case with Strings Running From Front to Back
The strings in a grand piano are longer than those in an upright piano. This allows them to vibrate more powerfully and produce a louder sound. The longer case of a grand also helps with this, because it acts as an echo chamber for the sound produced by each note. The longer case means more sustain for your music. Sustain is usually defined as how long your notes ring out before they fade away or become silent altogether—how long they last before disappearing entirely, basically!
Grand Pianos Have Better Key Repetition
A grand piano sounds better because it plays better for things like key repetition. The reason why grand pianos can have better key repetition is that they have a double escapement mechanism. This means that the keys do not return to the starting point fully so this allows for faster repetition compared to upright pianos. Upright piano strings are vertical and rely on springs so they do return to the starting point after each time and then it takes just a little bit longer to hit the string again for the next note. The mechanism for grand pianos allows for a smoother key repetition than what is on upright pianos.
The Shape of a Grand Piano Helps Transmit Sound More
The shape of the piano is also a major factor in its sound. The grand piano has a longer body than its upright cousin. The upright piano is more compact and the strings are vertical rather than horizontal and spread out. The shape of the grand allows for more room for the sound to resonate and travel around inside the instrument, which helps you get the most out of each note you play. In grand pianos, the sound will come out of the top which helps transmit the sound and fill the room, especially if the lid of the piano is opened. However, for upright pianos, the sound comes more from the back of the piano because of the shape. This can make the sound not as good quality especially because upright pianos are often put up against a wall and this then muffles the sound. The shape of a grand piano is designed to produce a high-quality sound.
The Extra Soundboard Area
The soundboard is the area of the piano that amplifies and projects the sound. It helps support the sound to get a high-quality noise. It’s made of spruce or another similar wood with a high level of stiffness and strength. The larger this area is, the more volume your piano will produce. Grand pianos have larger soundboards than upright pianos, which results in more harmonics and overtones—and thus, a fuller and richer tone.
We hope that you now have a better understanding of what makes grand pianos sound better compared to upright pianos. Grand pianos are designed to produce the most beautiful sounds and tones, and the technology behind them helps them deliver on those promises. If you are ready for a grand piano in your home, visit your local piano store online or in person. Carlson’s Piano World near Edina Minnesota would love to help with your piano selection. Contact us today.
