🎹 Upright v.s. Grand Pianos: Which Is Better For You? | Common Misconceptions & Myths 🎹

[@catkeys6911]

I'm a retired tuner/tech, myself, and I have to say that these are some of the most comprehensive and lucid explanations I've ever heard! Of course, as you know, the decision regarding upright vs grand is usually based on what actually physically *fits* best in any given home.

[@MerriamPianos]

Thank you so much for the incredibly kind words and review! We sincerely appreciate it! And thank you so much for tuning in and supporting our channel! All the best! :)

[@thecrazeecow1682]

I regularly play a Baldwin 6000 upright. Fantastic sound out of a vertical piano. Recently learned that if I move it off the wall as far as a grand’s soundboard from the floor, and open the bottom panel and top cover, it sounds very much like a grand piano and is quite loud.

[@MerriamPianos]

The Baldwin 6000 uprights are wonderful instruments! Thanks for sharing your experiences with it. If space permits, you can certainly get more out of uprights moving it further from the wall as you've pointed out. :)

[@Damster587]

Hi, can I ask you where you bought your Baldwin 6000 and if you have any Advice on finding a good one. I don't know if it's just me, but I try to test out every piano I see when I'm at my customers houses (I'm a window cleaner) and the Baldwins just seem to just have a Better sound then any others I've tested. I'm still an intermediate player but I have a really good ear. I currently have a "Hamilton" made by Baldwin, and I love it but I feel like there is still something better out there... Thanks for your reply :)

[@thecrazeecow1682]

@@Damster587 it’s not mine, belongs at to my church. I use it for practicing

[@Damster587]

Uhh man, LUCKY!!!@@thecrazeecow1682

[@jilliannachtigall6900]

I have a Baldwin 6000. I stumbled upon a second hand one (built in the 90s) at my local piano store. I wasn't planning to buy a pain that day but the sound was so beautiful I cried while playing it. Ended up taking out a chunk of my savings and buying it that day. It's an incredible instrument with incredible sound.

[@Instrumental-Covers]

Talking about Myth #5 and bass: the lowest note on a standard 88-key piano produces a tone profile with a fundamental frequency of 27.5 Hz. When a Fast Fourier Transform is applied to an audio signal, it will yield individual pure sine waves that make up the signal, and the lowest in frequency is the so-called "fundamental frequency". But due to the physics of a piano, we don't hear a rumbling bass, subwoofer style, from the lowest note, not even in a concert grand piano. A 27.5 Hz pure sine wave is 12 meters (41 feet) long. Since a soundboard is a dipole of much less diameter, the front wave and the back wave partially cancel each other out at these lengths, resulting in a much weaker signal. The piano rim acts here as an H-frame, similar to open baffle subwoofers in H-frame configuration, extending the bass response a bit. But since the diameter of the soundboard of a concert grand piano is much smaller than the length of those 27.5 Hz soundwaves, no piano can possibly generate a 27.5 Hz pure sine wave with the same amplitude of other frequencies. The next integer-ratio overtone would be 27.5*2 = 55 Hz, which has a sound wave of 6 meters (20 feet). This is still too much for a piano, even a concert grand. There will be cancellations between front and back waves. This doesn't mean there is no bass response at those frequencies, but it will be reduced. The third full integer overtone will be 27.5*3 = 82.5 Hz, which has a wave length of 4 meters (13 feet). Finally, around 125 Hz, the length of sound waves is about 9 feet, and a concert grand piano should be able to reproduce that frequency without cancellations. The bass notes are dominated by overtones, even in concert grand pianos. As Stu explains in this video, a large upright piano should be able to produce similar bass as a grand piano of comparable soundboard lengths and string length/thickness.

[@MerriamPianos]

Thanks for the very detailed and interesting insights! I'm sure some of the more analytical minds of our community appreciate it. :)

[@Instrumental-Covers]

@@MerriamPianos Thank you for comment! :)

[@Ocawesome101]

The 18-foot Alexander Piano (search it up on KZbin) has immensely better bass than any other piano I've ever heard. Though it is one-of-a-kind :P

[@Zoco101]

Wow. I knew some of this, but I still feel dazed after reading it. I tested some low frequency signals on my mobile phone. It can only get down to about 80Hz in reproduction. Even then I might be hearing harmonics more than pure 80Hz. Dunno. And the speaker is better than average - that's why I bought this phone. Most 5" studio monitors are rated at something like 50Hz up to whatever. I feel happier with 40Hz (or a bit lower) for reproducing the lowest piano notes on my digital piano, but I realise that 27.5Hz isn't necessary.

[@MERCEDES-BENZS600GUARD_V12]

This isn't related to your comment, but I agree about what Stu said about the upright piano's boxed in design. IMO it's not that you can't get an opened sound on an upright you can by removing the frunt panel, however because the strings and soundboard are pointed directly at you the sound is prity much in your face. Also the fallboard might get scrached if you keep removing the frunt panel haha🎹🎶

[@bruceraykiewicz6274]

Thank you so much for this video. I grew up in an old two family house, with my Polish grand mother's upright piano being upstairs. The first time I could remember hearing Chopan, was my grand mother playing a Chopan piece on her precious old Lenox Upright Grand piano, in her living room. She bought it new, in 1905. Thank you again.

[@MerriamPianos]

You're very welcome! Thank you for sharing your wonderful story! That is one of the beautiful things about music. It is able to keep us connected to our fondest memories throughout the entirety of our life. :)

[@commeownism]

"grand" mother

[@Gustavo-x8f3q]

Chopin

[@jerrygundecker743]

First, let me thank Merriam Pianos for hosting these videos. Five weeks ago, Neither music in general, nor pianos were even on my horizon. I even scoffed at the idea of reviewing a piano, when I blundered onto your channel. But I listened to stu and the more he spoke, the more I got interested in those wonderful instruments. Since then I bought a small digital, (YAM P125), and I'm trying to get it to make a sensible noise, (no luck yet, but I'll get it). Thank you, Stu for the vast knowledge you hand out and the inspiration of your talented fingers on the keys. You've opened up a very nice interest, (and something of a can of worms, i.e. music), for met to wrestle with for the rest of my life. I appreciate it.

[@MerriamPianos]

Hi Jerry! Brent from Merriam Music here! That is awesome news! It makes us all here at Merriam so happy to hear that you've been inspired to play by Stu's wonderful review and demo videos! Learning to play the piano is one of the most enjoyable and enriching things you can invest your time into. We wish you the very best on your musical journey. Happy playing! :)

[@cor3944]

Stu, you really rock this channel and it is a pleasure combined with so much information. Thank you! Greetings from Germany!

[@MerriamPianos]

Hello from Canada! Brent from Merriam Music here! Thanks so much for supporting our channel and videos! We appreciate it immensely. I will certainly pass along the kind words to Stu. :)

[@TheAlwards]

Thanks. I wondered if I was crazy to prefer a Schimmel upright to a grand in another room priced 60% higher - it happened to me in 3 showrooms before I caught on. The bias in North America against uprights remains strong, even among sales staff. I guess we have the European buyers to thank for keeping the demand for higher-end uprights healthy.

[@MerriamPianos]

The sonic experience of an upright piano is very different than that of a grand piano and some players prefer the upright experience because of their close proximity to the soundboard. You are certainly not alone on that front. ;)

[@VladK-1]

It's important to mention inharmonicity of the bass strings, which was not discussed in proper details here. Listen to the lowest bass notes on a short upright piano (a console one)-they sound very metallic! (with each harmonic being a bit higher than it should be according to the math if the string is hypothetically perfect) The bass strings there are extremely short so to produce the required frequency their mass is increased by winding, but this makes the string very thick and stiff. Now compare that to a concert grand piano where bass strings are several times longer and much thinner, and producing much more natural overtones (much less metallic). The length of the string is extremely important-longer strings require less winding and so they're less stiff and sound less metallic. However, it doesn't necessary mean that studio-sized upright pianos are definitely inferior than baby grand pianos-some (if not most) studio uprights have longer strings. I have KAWAI K-300 (the same as white one displayed on this video at 8:45) and it has quite long bass strings (longer than in other uprights of similar height as the bass strings angled further than usual; and longer than other baby grands I've checked) so its bass is pretty amazing for the price and better than in many baby grand pianos. If you interested in specs, look up for the the first note's string speaking length (some manufacturers are specifying this number). However, it should not be taken as the only factor to approve or dismiss a certain piano-the overall sound is affected by many more factors.

[@MerriamPianos]

Hi Vlad! Brent from Merriam Music here! Thanks so much for taking the time to check out our channel and for writing in with these excellent and thoughtful insights! While it can sometimes be easier to streamline the conversation by simply saying that longer bass strings lead to a clearer, purer sound, the science behind the actual reasons for that superior tone and clarity is quite fascinating. I am sure many of our more technically-minded community members will sincerely appreciate your fantastic and articulate breakdown. Thanks again and happy playing! :)

[@poppleswamp6546]

These videos are informative and entertaining. I have watched a dozen and they have informed my purchase decisions.

[@MerriamPianos]

Thank you so much! We sincerely appreciate that and are happy to hear that the videos helped you through your decision making process. :)

[@WhiteWulfe]

I've recent started looking at getting a piano again since I grew up with one in the house, and I'm rather glad to hear about the differences between the two types. I grew up around a rather heavy bias in favour of grand pianos (but never played one myself), so it's nice to hear the differences aren't quite as seemingly black and white as the common biases state they are. I always did like just how much feedback I got while playing an upright piano though.

[@MerriamPianos]

Absolutely! The proximity of the player to the soundboard with an upright is a completely different sonic experience than a grand piano. :)

[@The-Organised-Pianist]

Thanks Stu, you're a very lucid communicator about these things & it was a subject that really needed tackling! Much appreciated.

[@MerriamPianos]

Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! Stu is just as excellent of an educator as he is a player. We're very lucky to have his guidance and wisdom! We're glad you have been enjoying the videos. :)

[@The-Organised-Pianist]

@@MerriamPianos Thanks Brent 😊Yes & I particularly enjoy Stu's positivity about upright pianos. They can certainly provide wonderful music experiences, as he shows whenever he sits at 1 !

[@minhosong4630]

Can't agree more and Thanks for the wonderful video. Adding some personal view as an acoustician, all sound propagates and decays. Definitely, a larger instrument can cover larger area, which helps when you have an audience, but for the player's enjoyment - just 50cm from the instrument - "perfection" of the build quality means more than "size".

[@MerriamPianos]

Thank you for your kind words and for tuning in as well as your wonderful insights! It is a very good point to bring up. The listening experience of the player versus an audience is very different and, depending on the intended use of the piano, should be taken into account by piano shoppers. :)

[@KarlUppianoKarlU]

It seems like a carefully designed spring on an upright piano could simulate the gravity assist with hammer return as on a grand piano.

[@MerriamPianos]

Most upright actions implement that strategy in fact! There are some other interesting technologies to compensate for the issue of fighting gravity, such as Seiler's SMR Super Magnetic Repetition upright action, which employs magnets in reverse polarity to drastically increase repetition. The repetition rate of the SMR actions are quite impressive and even outperform many grand piano actions in that department! :)

[@alicehb1606]

Thank you so much. Feeling so much better and confident buying upright. These are all myths I believed. Moving into tiny apt and must give up yamaha baby grand 5’3” -sounds like a Kawai k300 may be just the thing(from other extremely helpful video here). So glad I found your channel.

[@MerriamPianos]

You're welcome! We're glad our videos were helpful and instilled you with a feeling of confidence. The Kawai K series instruments, including the K300, are marvellous pianos with a wonderfully rich, warm tone. :)

[@JeffinIC]

Another great video, Stu! I really appreciate your knowledge and passion for pianos! For me, personally, when trying out a piano, I start by playing the bottom bass octave, at different dynamics, to hear how those notes sound. If they sound weak or tinny, I'll pass on the instrument. That may seem an unfair assessment, as the mid-range and treble are where the majority of the playing sits, but I prefer a warmer bass tone. I know that hammer voicing/shaping can affect this, as well, but if I can get the sound I like from a factory-fresh piano, rather than having to have it voiced after the sale, that is my preference. And this goes for uprights and grands. I've played some larger uprights and grands that sounded (to me) just awful, and I've played some smaller instruments that sounded really fantastic. So, there is some measure of subjective bias from one player to another, aside from the engineering and physics of bass string lengths and soundboard size.

[@MerriamPianos]

Hi! Brent here! Thanks so much for tuning in and sharing your very helpful insights! The prioritization of the bass region makes sense when you consider that the bass string lengths are one of the biggest things to be impacted by a larger upright or longer grand piano. But, you are certainly correct that, at the end of the day, there is a lot of subjectivity that comes into play. And, sometimes, individual specimens can be prepped to a point that they punch way above their weight class. :)

[@MarkEisenman]

Great informative video. Thanks. I've been trying to convince people for years that a QUALITY upright is a good place to start for anyone, but especially for a restaurant or jazz club where footprint is crucial (why lose a table?) and that they can be a BETTER musical choice than a cheap poorly made baby grand (even though the grand is more expensive than the upright) , because string length is crucial in pianos (stretch tuning - inharmonicity) inharmonicity is the degree to which the frequencies of overtones (also known as partials or partial tones) depart from whole multiples of the fundamental frequency (harmonic series). ... thanks for exploding many myths.

[@MerriamPianos]

Hi Mark! Brent from Merriam Music here! Thanks so much for taking the time to check out the video and share your thoughts! We appreciate it. There are definitely some situations where a strong argument can be made to prioritize a higher-end upright over a lower-end grand as you have pointed out. Sometimes, it just comes down to preference as well. We have had many very advanced players come through our showrooms that actually choose an upright over a grand piano due to the sonic experience they receive from an upright. Given the disposition of the soundboard to the player, some find the sonic experience of an upright a little more "immediate". At the end of the day, it is a personal and subjective experience. :)

[@serjiomartynov9177]

When I was studying at a music school, I heard how the same model of grand piano was played in an isolated room and in a concert hall. I want to say that these are two completely different sounds. only because of the surrounding space.

[@MerriamPianos]

Absolutely! The room the piano is being played in will inevitably colour the tone of course.

[@lisasimpson1492]

Thank you Stu for your thorough reviews. I had a 2008 Kawai RX-2 that I loved, but sadly sold it due to space constraints when we relocated from Florida to retire in North Carolina. It was my only regret about the move. An upright piano will fit better in our new home so I’m leaning towards a Kawai K-800. I played a Kawai K-800 upright and Kawai GL-20 grand at a showroom recently. I was surprised that I preferred the tone and touch of the K-800 upright to the GL-20 grand. 🎹 😊

[@MerriamPianos]

Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! I'm sorry to hear you had to part ways with your beautiful RX2. With that said, the K800 is a stunning instrument! You are certainly not the first to favour its tone and touch over comparably priced grand pianos. From the player's perspective, uprights offer immediate sonic feedback due to the proximity to the soundboard, which is the preference for many players actually. :)

[@mfurman]

My more recent experiences show that the action of grand piano (Yamaha C7) is significantly lighter than action of upright pianos I tested, including Yamaha U1 and b1. Great video! Thank you, Stu

[@MerriamPianos]

You're very welcome! Thanks so much for tuning in and sharing your insights! We appreciate it. :)

[@richardgordon9939]

just subscribed. great channel

[@MerriamPianos]

Thank you so much for subscribing! The support is greatly appreciated. :)

[@michaelkennis6097]

Thank you Stu, as always, very informative. Lots of geometry and physics at play!

[@MerriamPianos]

You're very welcome! We're happy to hear that you enjoyed the video! :)

[@suryahitam3588]

As always, a succinct, informative and interesting video. Thanks. A small request that would assist viewers outside North America: please could you also mention the size of instruments in centimetres, too, just inches?

[@MerriamPianos]

You're very welcome! Thank you kind for the suggestion! We will certainly do our best to include those measurements as well. With that said, when it comes to upright and grand pianos, the model name often reflects the height/length of the instrument in centimetres (e.g. Bechstein A190 = 190 centimetres in length).

[@Glenowan]

I've had an incredible experience playing a baby grand piano in an exhibition room once despite being an absolute beginner. But for space reasons, I had to settle for an upright. I wonder who said that grands are louder than uprights. I find them equally loud when I play on them.

[@MerriamPianos]

Thanks for tuning in and taking the time to write in! When it comes to the volume difference between an upright and grand piano, one thing to consider is the proximity of the player to the soundboard. The perceptual loudness of an upright piano can seem to be equal or louder than that of a baby grand piano from the player's perspective because they are facing the soundboard and often hearing all of the sound bouncing back at them if the instrument is against a wall. That immediate feedback from the soundboard offers quite a different experience than that from a grand piano in which the sound is essentially propagating in all directions.

[@Gustavo-x8f3q]

I went from a Kawai GL10 baby grand to a brand new Kawai GL40 just a few months ago. I live in a small Aprtment and think I may have overdone it in size. Would a K800 be a downgrade from my GL40? I love my Kawai GL40 but feel I have to play softly since I live in a small apartment. I do plan on moving in a few months but wondering if a K800 would be inferior to my GL40. Thank you

[@MerriamPianos]

Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! While you might notice a drop of control and repetition speed in the K800, the soundboard quality of the K800 is actually superior to that of the GL40. So, to that point, you may find that the tone of the K800 is more nuanced and dynamically responsive. With that said, the K800 is quite a powerful instrument. If volume constraints are an issue, you may want to consider a silent system or a Kawai ATX / Aures model.

[@randyshoop3214]

Hello and thank you for sharing this information and comparison. As a retirement gift to myself I purchased a new Boston 132E upright from a local Steinway dealer. I also invested in weekly piano lessons and am now year 5 into a really fun and rewarding musical experience. I only wish I started earlier. I love my Boston and it’s truly all I know. However I’ve been interested in the Steinway K52. Should I upgrade ? Will I hear and feel the difference and obviously is it “worth” the price of a new $50k piano. I realize there is much to unpack in this decision. However trying one out isn’t a likely option as the K52 is difficult to come by as I’ve been told. Unless you purchase a dealers order in advance of delivery from Steinway, you won’t be getting a K52. I would appreciate your thoughts on this decision. I’ve also considered a model S baby grand or a model M. I have the space, I understand the increased investment and am just struggling with your Myth …. Is a grand for a better player and an upright for lesser skilled ? Thank you

[@MerriamPianos]

Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! Thanks for the question and congrats on your Boston 132E! The Boston 132E is a very solid instrument of course, but, as suggested by the price tag, models like the K52 or Model S/M grands are going to represent a meaningful step up. In terms of whether it is worth the investment, that is a deeply personal decision that every player/shopper must make for themselves. If there are any doubts/concerns as to whether you may be able to notice the difference, I would definitely recommend testing out these pianos in person before making a decision. From a capability standpoint, the grand pianos will offer greater dynamic/expressive control, as well as faster repetition speeds due to the physics involved with a grand piano action versus an upright action. Thanks again and hope this helps! :)

[@Gustavo-x8f3q]

Did you get the Steinway?

[@randyshoop3214]

@@Gustavo-x8f3q I did not. Now considering a grand piano. Most likely Yamaha or Kawai.

[@Gustavo-x8f3q]

@@randyshoop3214 that’s what I just got. A brand new Kawai GL40. It’s a great piano. Also considered the K800 upright

[@randyshoop3214]

@@Gustavo-x8f3q Wow that’s awesome…… Congratulations !!!! The Kawai is very nice and I do like the tone better than Yamaha ( I played a Yamaha CG2 SH3 silent system and GX 3 I played Kawai GL 10 (too small and sounded stuffy/ constrainted) and GL30 with Aures2 I never even knew that technology existed. So cool to have the ability to go silent. Leaves household much happier place :) Did you try the Aures2. I’m a very intermediate player with high hopes to improve my playing. Absolutely love it. Wish I started younger Enjoy your Kawai !

[@lazyartist1327]

Amazing video as always

[@MerriamPianos]

Thank you so much! We're glad you enjoyed it! :)

[@robertbartelmes7623]

I haven't viewed this posting yet ... but, as someone who has not one, but two, top-tier uprights, I can tell you the Biggest Concern [after top-tier] for me was floor space ... I wanted two pianos so I'd have access to two entirely different tones without having to sell my 4 bedroom suburban home & purchase a McMansion ... Bart

[@MerriamPianos]

Very nice! There are certainly a number of situations in which there is a strong argument for a higher-end upright over a lower-end grand. Floor space and real estate are unquestionably one of them! :)

[@mfurman]

I am wondering if you read a mini essay about potential harm upright piano playing can cause (an addition to his original comment) by zvelekva. Do you have any thoughts about what he says? Thank you

[@nujuat]

I'm wondering (potentially for another comparison video) what you think about high end digital home pianos (NV5S, LX708 etc, and digital grands) vs similarly priced accoustics that they're attempting to emulate? Mainly because I bought a high end digital about a year ago, but it was during a huge covid lockdown so I couldn't do this comparison for myself. So it would be interesting to see how it turns out!

[@MerriamPianos]

Hi Alex! That is a fantastic concept for a video! More specifically, comparing the internal SKEX or SK5 samples of the NV5S / NV10S to the real thing (or something relatively comparable even). Thank you kindly for the suggestion! We are always adding to the list of potential future videos and this is a great addition! :)

[@nujuat]

@@MerriamPianos Ooooh comparing the samples to the real thing would be an interesting video. I was more of thinking though a comparison between eg an NV5S and an acoustic piano that costs about as much as an NV5S (eg a K300 looks like somewhat similarly priced piano, in my country anyway). So like asking the question "if someone has a budget for an NV5S, should they go with that or an acoustic?". Either way, I love your work and I look forward to what you do next!

[@Instrumental-Covers]

@@nujuat Hello, I have compared in a Kawai dealer a CA99 with a K200. I think real pianos even as small as a K200 have a much more satisfying midrange and color. The overall sound of the CA99 through speakers didn't seem any better than the K200, even when using the SK-EX Rendering (I would say the K200 was still superior). That is due to the speakers, which are modest and not comparable to a huge 9-foot concert grand. Even the K200 soundboard is huge compared to the 4 tiny speakers on the CA99 (the model has a wooden resonator on the back that produces mainly low frequencies). I also found a discontinued Kawai model, a CP200, which had 9 speakers with 200 watts and the shape of a grand piano. That one produced a sound comparable in volume and authority to a Yamaha GC2 (which was sitting next to it), although the sample lacked thickness in the low midrange/mid-bass. I think Kawai downsized their digital pianos from a CP1 to a Novus line in terms of sheer power.

[@PavlenkoM]

Thank you so much! 🤝

[@MerriamPianos]

You're very welcome! :)

[@blaupunkt1619]

Hello there, Stu - and piano players. I’m in a little bit of a dilemma… The majority of people I know just love how grands looks. Even the ones who doesn’t play anything at all: they’d like to have a grand on their living rooms just because “it looks nice”. On the other hand, well… that’s how I feel about the uprights… That being said, the thing is: I have the budget and space to go with a baby grand. Should I do it, or it would still be wise to upgrade my upright piano to a better one (even if it costs a baby grand)? I accept the change from upright to baby grand IF it’s really a game changer regarding playability and sound. Looks aside. Cheers!

[@MerriamPianos]

Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! That is a very common question and the answer to it is always very subjective and personal. While some will argue that you should always strive for a grand piano touch whenever space and budget allows, there are many players that will argue that a more premium upright will provide a richer musical experience. With that said, there is also a very different sonic experience from the perspective of the player for both grand and upright pianos. We have had a number of advanced players select uprights over grands because they felt more immediacy and intimacy from an upright due to its disposition. My recommendation would be to spend some significant time at a showroom to do some comparisons to make the decision that resonates most with you. :)

[@blaupunkt1619]

@@MerriamPianos Hello there, Brent. Thank you so much for such a rich feedback. You said everything… that’s the way: I have to try it and decide for myself. Again: thanks a lot! I’ll try to find a showroom to put Kawai K300 vs Yamaha GB1k to fight amongst themselves. Cheers!

[@g.970]

Thank you for this video, but I think I’ll keep my SK6 even though I am not a professional player. I love my grand piano.

[@MERCEDES-BENZS600GUARD_V12]

That is already a great piano🎹🎶

[@MerriamPianos]

You're very welcome! The SK6 is an absolutely wonderful piano and a very fine choice! ;) Thanks again and happy playing!

[@vivid530]

Stu, I am picking a new piano for my son and we loved the sound of Boston 132. However, we are wondering if for a similar price or a bit more we should consider Boston GP156, or Essex 173. If space is not a problem, just focusing on the sound, based on the myth #1, would you say the upright Boston 132 is a better choice?

[@MerriamPianos]

Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! A grand piano is certainly going to have some added benefits for a student, particularly in terms of touch. The faster repetition, longer key stick and greater control can be beneficial to technical development. With that said, a higher quality upright piano over a lower quality grand would provide a more rewarding tonal and musical experience. I would also suggest exploring the K800 and GX1 / GX2 options as you may be able to find even greater value in some of those options.

[@grzegorzpiwowski890]

Hi, I would like to say that what are you doing is absolutely brilliant👍 You are inspiration for playing and practice. I'm old, and just started with it. This I have a question, I don't know that you will have time for reply but I will be glad if you can. Or maybe someone will. At this moment I have Arturia minilab mk 2 which is 25 keys. In my mind was creating some bits atc. but when I used Arturia piano I feel in love, and now I know what I want to learn. I signed up for piano school. At this moment I would buy something for practice at home, and I have occasion to buy used equipment. I would like focus on piano practice. So I have choice to buy: Native Instrument S88, Roland fd30x, Roland fd60x. Which of them you'll recommend for start? I will be glad for your help.

[@MerriamPianos]

Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! Thanks so much for the kind words! We're very happy to hear that you have been enjoying Stu's amazing review and comparison videos! It is also exciting to hear that you've decided to take up the piano. It is an incredibly enriching activity as I'm sure you've already started to experience. In terms of suggestions for a starting point, I am personally a massive fan of the FP30X and FP60X. Roland's PHA4 action is an excellent fully-weighted touch with wonderful escapement simulation. The FP60X is a more premium version of the FP30X (more built-in sounds, more levels of touch sensitivity, more powerful speaker/amp system, etc.). If you are primarily using the instrument for piano practice and don't need all of the extra bells and whistles, the FP30X is a wonderful value for any aspiring student. Hope this helps! :)

[@grzegorzpiwowski890]

@@MerriamPianos Thank you very much for your answer and big support. I'm so, so glad for it. At this moment, you even don't know how big smile I have at my face. That's so fantastic, thanks again. This what are you doing, and Stu's reviews were amazing and give you a lot of knowledge which is very important. You help me a lot.

[@grzegorzpiwowski890]

I have one more question, is possible to conneect Roland fp30x with pedal Roland RPU-3? I find out that is possible with fp60x but is the same with fp30x? I will be glad for answer.

[@lisasurber7281]

What do you think of the Story & Clark 5’ baby grand?

[@MerriamPianos]

Hi Lisa! Brent from Merriam Music here! Story & Clark baby grand pianos are excellent instruments for the money. They present a very good cost-to-value ratio in my opinion. :)

[@trevoranderson6794]

What song is being played at the first timestamp on the Estonia L190? I've been trying to find it and nothing im doing is working...

[@MerriamPianos]

I would have to ask Stu about that. With that said, hopefully, one of our helpful communities here can help out. :)

[@trevoranderson6794]

@ agreed. Thanks for any help!

[@blaupunkt1619]

Hi there! What would it be a 48” upright equivalent on grand piano size? I had sensible and notorious sound benefits when reducing from a 52” to a 48” upright in my living room, so I fear purchasing a “big” grand and suffer from the same “room saturation” issue as before. Thanks in advance!

[@MerriamPianos]

Hi! Brent here! Thanks for the question! In terms of speaking length, a 48" upright piano would be roughly equivalent to a 5'0" baby grand. Sticking with a baby grand piano size would be a safe bet if you're concerned about "room saturation". Jumping into the medium grands may lead to the same issue you were experiencing with a 52" upright.

[@blaupunkt1619]

@@MerriamPianos Thanks for your thoughtfulness, Brent! So kind of you. Best wishes from Brazil.

[@AGC828]

Great informative video for those who KNOW they want an acosutic piano over a digital. Some are more informed buyers ...many buy based on preconceived notions unfounded in fact. Just what they've been told by whomever. So many buyers out there I'm sure still assume grands cost more than "all uprights"...regardless of the brand.s. So unless they find this video.....or ones like this... I wonder how much of acoustic piano sales digtals have eaten into....because of their obvius benefits for in-home use....and maybe concert use...

[@MerriamPianos]

Thank you kindly for checking out the video and for your very nice words! We appreciate it immensely. :)

[@mfurman]

I would like to ask if generally hammer return noise is louder on upright pianos comparing with grand pianos. If we talk about “key return noise”, does it include hammer return noise or is it considered as separate source of noise?

[@MerriamPianos]

Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! Typically, hammer return noise is considered to be a separate consideration than key return noise. I have personally not completed any thorough comparisons of hammer return noise between uprights and grand pianos, but that would be an interesting experiment to complete. Perhaps, this can be a subject for a future video. ;)

[@mfurman]

@@MerriamPianos Thank you so much, Brent! Very interesting for me. I am very much looking forward to perhaps a video on this subject. I wish Merriam was a bit closer to where I live. Oakville is still ~140 km away 😊 Michael

[@NiDieuNiMaitre]

Great video 👍. So regarding action, would it be fair to say that a high end digital piano action is closer to a grand piano's action than an upright?

[@MerriamPianos]

Hi! Brian! Brent from Merriam Music here! It really depends on the model, but there are a number of high-end digitals that many pianists tend to agree on the notion that they outperform entry and lower-mid tier upright acoustics. More specifically, there are some high-end digital pianos that have extra long key sticks and pivot lengths that will have a touch/feel that is more comparable to a grand than an upright.

[@lbamusic]

@@MerriamPianos I might add here that for a practice instrument when my grand is not available, I find the KORG D1 RH3 action to be very close to that of a Grand at a very reasonable price of $700! It's the same premium keybed that KORG uses on their top of the line $4000+ digitals!

[@mfurman]

Excellent and very helpful video. Thank you Stu

[@MerriamPianos]

Thank you! We're happy to hear that you enjoyed the video! :)

[@berkackgoz2145]

Great video and a lot of useful information, thank you! But im still waiting for Kawai ES120 vs Roland FP30X comparison x)

[@MerriamPianos]

Thank you kindly! We're still waiting on our first shipment of ES120s to arrive, but you can certainly bet that review and comparison videos are on the horizon. ;)

[@berkackgoz2145]

@@MerriamPianos Thanks for the answer. I sold my casio ap 470 to buy fp30x because i need something portable. Im not certain about if its a upgrade or downgrade, while searching this, kawai came up with es120 and now im so confused. What do you think about ap470 vs fp30x?

[@gustavogo2915]

@Merriam Music great video. I purchased a brand new Kawai GL10 a few months ago. Originally I was going to get a new Kawai K500 but when I arrived to the dealer they only had a GL10, a K800 and several K300s or below. I felt a connection with the GL10 and pulled the trigger since they gave me a great deal and top dollar for my trade in (Charles Walter). I truly believe you are the best reviewer online and for my birthday I am planning on driving to your dealer from Chicago to Canada. I would like to talk with you and check out your pianos. What days are good for you? I appreciate it.

[@gustavogo2915]

This Kawai GL10 is my first time ever owning a baby grand. Previously I had a Charles R Walter that was in pristine condition. I mostly went with it for the more natural action. I live in a condo with limited room. Do you have several K500s in stock? I am willing to drive from Chicago to you since I know you are the best reviewer and you have a wide selection

[@MerriamPianos]

Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! Thanks so much for tuning in and for your kind words! Congrats on your Kawai GL10! They are wonderful pianos and, as I'm sure you are experiencing, there are a lot of playing benefits that come along with a grand piano action. :) That sounds awesome! We'd love to have you stop by one of our showrooms. We do have Kawai K500 floor models at all of our locations. We are open 7 days a week (hours vary depending on the day of the week). While Stu is periodically floating around at the showrooms, he is not always on site and personally available. With that said, one of our piano experts will certainly be able to assist you during your visit. Thanks again and all the best!

[@Gustavo-x8f3q]

@@MerriamPianosafter owning the Kawai GL10 for two years I traded her in for a brand new Kawai GL40.

[@emaldonadog]

Hi, Brent, your biggest Spanish fan here! Today in Spanish, I'm sorry. ¿Debemos entender del vídeo que Stu nos recomienda, para un mismo precio, mejor un piano vertical que uno de cola? ¿Lo he entendido bien? (Que si, que yo algún día conseguiré comprarme un Kawai CN201 o un Roland RP701, pero ya sabes que me he vuelto muy aficionado a saber cosas de los pianos "de verdad", que están completamente fuera de mi alcance, y es culpa vuestra).

[@MerriamPianos]

Hi there! Brent here! As always, thanks so much for tuning in and participating in our community here on the channel! We appreciate it. :) I don't think Stu is suggesting that uprights are better than grands. It comes down to which option is better for "you." There are many players that prefer the sonic experience of an upright piano over a grand because they are closer in proximity to the soundboard, which gives them more immediate feedback from the instrument. However, grand piano actions have an edge due to the physics involved in the key and hammer movement. This provides grand pianos more gradients of touch sensitivity and faster repetition. So, as you can see, from both a tone and touch standpoint, choosing which type of instrument is the "best" is highly subjective!

[@analuizadealmeida]

Best video about this!

[@MerriamPianos]

Thanks so much! We appreciate that immensely! :)

[@judo-rob5197]

Very interesting. Do you have an engineering or piano manufacturing background. Love your thoroughness.

[@MerriamPianos]

Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! Thanks for tuning in! Stu is a person with many talents and interests as well as a massive knowledge pool. His ability to break down every detail and aspects of a piano is really quite special! :)

[@Instrumental-Covers]

Not related to this video, but Casio just released 3 new models: PX-S5000, PX-S6000, and PX-S7000. They all have the type of hybrid keys that the Roland FP90X uses, meaning plastic keys with wood veneer on the sides, which is very stylish. The PX-S7000 is available in yellow, which reminds me of the (discontinued) Yamaha MODUS H11AG (Amber Glow), and it has 4 identical speakers and 4 channels. This is interesting: the only digital piano that I heard having 4 channels (not 2-way 2-channels, which is different) was the Yamaha AvantGrand N3X. The grill on the back looks like the Casio CT-S1. Casio is doing original things. The PX-S5000, at $1,200, is probably the cheapest way to get that wooden-key look on the white keys, still at 11.5 Kg (25 lbs).

[@MERCEDES-BENZS600GUARD_V12]

Yeah. I came across a PX-S7000 overview by Craft Music🎹🎶

[@MerriamPianos]

We're all quite excited about these new Casio models! You can certainly expect some deep dives into these new musical offerings in the very near future. :)

[@mfurman]

Interesting. I will have a look. Do those new digital pianos have digital audio interface? As a side note, I was testing three upright pianos recently. They were not new but supposedly well adjusted etc. I was very disappointed with both action and sound. I would not even get them free. I much prefer both the action of my FP-90X and VSL Synchron sound (I actually use Boesendorfer 280VC most of the time these days). I am checking relatively cheap grand (Young Chang) next week.

[@MERCEDES-BENZS600GUARD_V12]

@@mfurman what brands were those uprights? Also from someone who has tried a cheap korian grand before do not expect it to play that well🎹🎶

[@mfurman]

@@MERCEDES-BENZS600GUARD_V12 One upright piano was supposedly made by Kawai but did not carry its name. I liked the action of this one the most but the sound has some strange resonances. The second was a 15 year old, 45” Kawai that had action with static pressure to move the key > 80g and pretty hard bottom (definitely harder than PHA50). The third was a 44” Yamaha with light (55g) action. It was a comparison with my FP-90X (VSL Synchron 280VC sound and Pianoteq). I was not impressed at all. I do not expect miracles from that Young Chang grand piano but it is a more realistic comparison for me than, let’s say, with Steinway D.

[@robintyson591]

Have you done a video comparing whether parents should buy a digital or upright/grand piano for their children who are starting to learn?

[@MerriamPianos]

We have completed a video that dives into the acoustic vs digital debate, which you can check out here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/nqLcqWp-p9hseZI

[@FirstLast-nr6gf]

A decision on what to buy depends on how much you want your children to learn. How old they are, if they like computers, tablets and other gadgets. What kind of music they like. Do they want to go to a college. I would recommend to give them very broad music education. It depends how old your children are, but ideally I would teach them music theory, music composition, music software, sound design / synthesis basics. They should know about different musical instruments and how they sound, what is the difference between monophonic and polyphonic instruments. They should learn about bass lines, drum patterns, melody, chords, etc. I think it is also important to understand how modern electronic music is created. Artificial intelligence and machine learning became popular in music. There are few free web sites where you can separate a song into drums, bass, melody and voice parts. Education should be fun for students of any age. Ok, going back to the subject of this video, in my opinion, grand / upright pianos are niche products. If you want to spend 10K on a piano, I would rather buy Nord Stage 3 + Prophet 6/10.

[@robintyson591]

@@FirstLast-nr6gf Great advice. Few mention these areas and all assume the kids want to be classical music pianists! Having midi outputs and all that opens up can give the child the scope to explore other possible careers. I also love the portability of units like the Roland FP30X. They look and feel like a conventional piano but can easily be moved or taken to other venues - go and play in the church, play for granny in her retirement complex, etc. Plus having the sostenuto pedal - something (on our family upright from 1930) I never experienced. All things considered I think digital is the way to go, unless, as Stu says, you are at a highly advanced level of playing.

[@TariganSuper]

Could you please make album with fp30x piano?

[@MerriamPianos]

That would be an interesting experiment! The FP30X certainly has a suitable enough playing experience as well as piano/instrument sounds to make an impressive sounding album. :)

[@qwincyq6412]

I think a lot of the myth and bias comes about because people are not really comparing equivalents. Stu talks about tall uprights but most people experience console height pianos. Heintzman in it’s day produced a 60” cabinet upright with tremendous sound. Steinway made excellent uprights. On the other side of the scale Yamaha sold a drop action piano with a fabric lower panel that was as miserable to play as it was to listen to. But it sold because of it’s price and compact dimensions. Level the playing field and I doubt most people could tell an upright from a grand in a blind listening test.

[@MerriamPianos]

When it comes to dynamic, tonal and resonant potential it is certainly not fair to compare a 44" console upright to a 9' concert grand. I agree that it would be an interesting test to do some blind listening to baby grand and upright pianos that possess the same size and quality of soundboard to see how many players could identify the difference purely from sound. Thanks for tuning in and for sharing your insights! :)

[@mfurman]

I keep asking this question so allow me to repeat it here. I would like to understand if if generally hammer return noise is louder on upright pianos comparing with grand pianos. If we talk about “key return noise”, does it include hammer return noise or is it considered as separate? Thank you, Michael

[@RenyPerucchi]

Stu, do you consider kawai nv5s a professional level upright action?

[@MerriamPianos]

Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! Thanks for reaching out! While I cannot speak on behalf of Stu, the Millennium III NV5S Hybrid Action is based off of the Kawai's top-of-the-line upright action that is featured on their K series professional uprights. With that said, I personally rate it as a professional level upright action. :)

[@viniequinox]

Cada vídeo do seu canal é uma aula , parabéns pelo excelente trabalho! Ganhou mais um inscrito.

[@MerriamPianos]

Thanks so much for your kind words and support! We appreciate the subscription immensely! All the best! :)

[@michelprimeau4531]

Keys are heavier on grand? Never heard that and it's something that can be adjusted. Bluthner upright action is heavier than a lot of grand. Talking of Bluthner, the model S is 57.5in high. That's a soundboard. I heard that some upright have longer keys at the same lenght of grand. I don't know if it's true... Regarding the action, I invite people to try the Seiler SE132, the C.Bechstein Konzert 8 or piano with a Del Fandrich. I think August Foster can be ordered with it. See also Oliver Esmond-White piano action.

[@MerriamPianos]

Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! Given that the key sticks are typically longer on a grand piano versus an upright, it makes sense that they would be heavier. With that said, a heavier key does not necessarily translate into a more difficult or strenuous playing experience. Keep in mind that physics play a vital role in the overall feel of a piano's action. With grand pianos, the hammers fall effortlessly with gravity once a key is released where as the disposition of the hammers on an upright are fighting gravity, which makes the actions less efficient and slower to reset so to speak. With that in mind, grand pianos typically have a much faster repetition speed. Furthermore, the longer pivot length provides the player with a greater feeling of control and response from the action. It is true that there are some manufacturers and models that provide extra long key sticks in their grand pianos, which help meaningfully bridge the gap in terms of the playing experience provided. Also, you have listed some truly incredible upright pianos there. I second the notion for any pianist to test drive an SE132 or Concert 8 if given the chance. Thanks again for sharing your insights! All the best! :)

[@michelprimeau4531]

@@MerriamPianos Now I understand what weight you're talking about. It's the weight after the hammer hit the string and not the initial weight. I've never paid attention to that. I don't play fast repetitive pieces.

[@davidalarconquinones87]

Stu I love your videos and thanks for all the time you and Merriam music puts in helping us learning more about pianos. However it is not accurate to say that you have to invest more in a grand piano to have the same quality in an upright. The projection of sound and the touch plus many other things will make a grand piano better than an upright even if you pay same price. For example a Estonia l190 costs the same as a Grotrian high end upright and the Estonia will win hands down. Even if you buy a August Forster medium grand, it will give you more than a Bossendorfer upright. And it will cost less. Grands are simply better than uprights

[@MerriamPianos]

Hi David! Brent from Merriam Music here! Thanks so much for your kind words and for supporting our channel! While there is certainly some weight behind the notion that a grand piano will provide a superior musical experience given the responsiveness of the touch and sonic experience gained by having the sound propagating throughout the entire room from virtually all directions, I believe Stu was referring to something more objective and specific. More specifically, I believe this was in reference to the quality of the materials used as well as the amount of factory preparation, regulation and voicing a piano receives. With that said, there are a number of other factors that determine the retail price of a piano, including the country in which the instrument was manufactured in. To that point, there are some exceptions to the general rule as you have pointed out with the Estonia grands, which present amazing cost-to-value. Thanks again for tuning in and for your insights! We appreciate it! :)

[@davidalarconquinones87]

@@MerriamPianos thanks Brent for your response. Love all videos 🙏🏻🎹

[@CHEVILLY100]

I am a musicologist, and my piano is a Steingræber & Söhne 130T upright. I don't need a grand piano. Greetings from Orléans, France.

[@MerriamPianos]

Greetings from Canada! Thanks for tuning in and supporting our channel! Happy playing! :)

[@C4offi]

A beautiful video

[@MerriamPianos]

Thank you! We're glad that you enjoyed it! :)

[@farrukhgulamaliyev9948]

Prokofiev wrote his compositions on his upright piano)) even pieces like suggestions diabolique.

[@MerriamPianos]

There are some incredible upright pianos out there and it is not completely uncommon for some players to prefer them over grands for the tonal immediacy they possess given the fact that player is facing the soundboard directly essentially.

[@farrukhgulamaliyev9948]

@@MerriamPianos Yes! Thank you for your video! It's very helpful. People need to hear this! There are so many misconceptions about uprights!

[@jamesnewberry2945]

You should be of the Discovery Channel nice job as usual !!

[@MerriamPianos]

Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! I agree!!! An "all things piano" show hosted by Stu Harrison would be amazing!!! :)

[@andreasvouzikis1426]

Review the new Kawais CN201- CN301, soon....

[@MerriamPianos]

Hi there! Kawai just announced the CN201 and CN301. You can certainly expect some thorough review and demo videos the second we receive our first shipment of these new models. :)

[@elizabethvhwong]

In HK, we need silent upright piano with grand piano handfeel for examinations.

[@MerriamPianos]

A grand piano touch is certainly the optimal piano feel for most players, especially when playing advanced repertoire! Thanks for tuning in! :)

[@newyorkfilharmonik110]

I played a Bechstiein upright and it was the loudest upright I'd ever played.

[@MerriamPianos]

The dynamic and tonal capabilities of the Bechstein uprights are immense, particularly the Concert 8 if you ever have a chance to play one. :)

[@JoeLinux2000]

Roland LX-708. Upright with voice of a 9 foot grand.

[@MerriamPianos]

The LX-708 is undeniably an incredible digital piano! :)

[@Erainia]

same could be said about the Kawai ES120, Yamaha P45, CP88, or any other digital piano with the sound of a 9 foot concert grand though haha just in a smaller form factor even than upright!

[@mfurman]

@@Erainia The built in sound of any cheap piano does not have much to do with the sound of a grand piano and especially the more expensive ones. You are also forgetting how bad the action of cheap digital pianos can be

[@mfurman]

I am assuming that you are not referring to the built in sound. Perhaps with a good piano sampled library and on the headphones

[@Erainia]

@@mfurman this is completely and egregiously, factually incorrect? Where have you heard this information?

[@Svarthok]

The third best thing about this channel is the beautiful hair of Stu Harrison :)

[@MerriamPianos]

What are one and two? ;)

[@teitelez9086]

Great video, but you didn’t dispel myth 6. You just discussed why it’s true. Still good info 👍

[@MerriamPianos]

Thanks for tuning in! We're glad you enjoyed it. As Stu illustrates, Myth #6 is not exactly a myth as it is quite true. However, I suppose we could say that the notion that the statement "all grand pianos provide better control than upright pianos" is a bit of a myth when discussing upright and grand pianos that belong to different price categories. For instance, despite the benefits of gravity/physics, an entry-level grand piano that is sub $10K probably won't feel as rewarding and responsive as say something like a C. Bechstein Concert 8 upright piano. The quality of design, materials and regulation are certainly important factors. Thanks and hope this helps clarify things a bit! :)

[@Josef-o6o]

For 12 years I have been struggling with a C.Bechstein upright piano. (price: 15.000 Euro) It has a silent system with hammers that are prevented from sounding by a rubber bar. This will extend the path from the hammer to the string, even in acoustic mode, because this strip takes up additional space between the hammer handle and the string: with pianissimo-play, the hammer starves often on the way to the string. No tone, at all! I've already removed the contacts in the keybed, because these also mean resistance when playing softly and calm. Nevertheless, the piano plays tough and the action is too stiff for my delicate hands. This is no pianoforte, it is only a forte. By the way, we, my wife and I never used this bullshit silent system to spare the sleep of the neighbors . Its share of the price was 10%, i.e. 1500 euros. Never buy a Silence system, never!!!

[@MerriamPianos]

Hi there, I am sorry to hear that you have experienced issues with your Bechstein upright and silent system. A lot of the success of the a silent system relies on the technician's installation. It is actually quite a process to fit a silent system within an upright piano in a way that does not negatively impact the musical performance and playing experience. I would recommend seeking out another technician to inspect the instrument. It may be salvageable. Best of luck!

[@SuperMerlot]

you just woke up and went straight to shooting this video

[@MerriamPianos]

Pianos 24/7. That is our mantra here.

[@eyedocnikhil]

A good upright like schimmel C126 plays and sounds much better than a kawai GL 10 or yamaha GB 1

[@MerriamPianos]

From a material quality and craftsmanship standpoint, considering a higher-end upright over a lower end grand is definitely worthwhile for some players. With that said, there are a number of things to factor in as well. It is undeniable that the grandiosity and aesthetic that a grand piano brings into a home or music room is important to some piano shoppers. Thanks so much for tuning in and sharing your insights! :)

[@eyedocnikhil]

@@MerriamPianos thanks for the elaborate reply... But I'm still confused with upgrading to grand piano as my schimmel feels and sounds much better than lower end Kawai and yamaha grands while the other grands like shigeru or all category 1 pianos are very costly and space consuming too... But one day I would definitely like to visit Merriam music although you people may not deliver pianos in India...

[@josephwald1991]

So all the 'myths/misconceptions' are basically correct, generally speaking

[@MerriamPianos]

Thanks for tuning in! I wouldn't say all of them are correct. For instance, the notion that grand pianos are always the preference over uprights is not necessarily true. We have many top level players that actually prefer the sonic experience of an upright piano over a grand piano. This is due to the fact that the player is in close proximity to the soundboard and gets to experience all of the sonic feedback from the instrument more immediately. There is also the point that you can get a higher quality piano (with superior materials and craftsmanship) in an upright form for the same price as lower tier grands. These are certainly factors worth considering depending on what your priorities are. :)

[@QalinaCom]

My house's corridors and doors are so narrow, the decisions was easy-a 61 keys keyboard LOL

[@MerriamPianos]

Sometimes the logistics and circumstances make things an easy decision! ;)

[@EdPin_]

Expirinece speaks... 😉

[@MerriamPianos]

Thanks for tuning in! :)

[@Stargalaxy21]

Nothing inspires me (to play) like a beautiful black grand piano (Fazioli concert grand is at the top of the list but slightly out of my league😆). No offense but for me an upright has about the same appeal as a chest of drawers.

[@MerriamPianos]

That is certainly fair! It is a deeply subjective matter of course. There are some players that prefer the musical experience of an upright over a grand and vice versa. The most important thing is to find an option that inspires you. :)

[@Zoco101]

This is an excellent video. But what's the difference in price between a C. Bechstein 50" upright and a Kawai SK3 grand? It's true that grand pianos are more practical on stage, while uprights are more practical in the average home. I think that Stu implies this. Grands are always prettier, and just having sufficient room to house a grand piano properly is a domestic status thing on its own - that's before you even buy the grand. I doubt that most modern music is particularly enhanced by a good grand (over a good upright) but I can see how the best grands help top classical musicians to express themselves better. My take from all this is: Don't buy a cheap grand if an upright costing the same or a bit less can do the job (because the upright will be more satisfying) and don't buy a cheap upright if a digital piano costing the same or a bit less can do the job - because the digital piano will be more satisfying. PS I have found many upright pianos with heavier actions than small to mid-sized grand pianos. Maybe it's the way they are used. I suspect that grands get played more often.

[@MerriamPianos]

Hi Mike! Brent from Merriam Music here! Thanks for the kind words and for taking the time to check out the video and write in! The sticker price between the Bechstein Concert 8 upright and Shigeru Kawai SK3 grand at our showrooms is a few hundred dollars (with the Concert 8 being the slightly more expensive instrument). While the idea of an upright costing more than a grand seeming peculiar to some, there are a multitude of reasons why some piano customers go this direction. Firstly, there are a number of situations where advanced players want the absolute best possible musical experience, but have a very limited space to work with. Furthermore, there are some players that actually prefer the musical experience from an upright over a grand, particularly from the player's perspective as you are closer to the soundboard, which some find gives them a more rewarding, nuanced and connected playing experience. Of course, there are many players that would argue the exact same notions in favour of a grand, so, as you can see, it truly is a subjective experience. Beauty is in the "ears" of the behold in this case. ;) With that said, from a purely scientific/physics standpoint, gravity favours the grand piano design and provides it with a faster repetition and more responsive touch. This is due to the hammers falling effortlessly with gravity, creating a faster reset, as well as the fact that grand piano key sticks are longer. The longer pivot length gives the player enhanced control and sensitivity, which, in turn, leads to enhanced expressivity. However, even some of these assertions I'm making can, to some, fall into the realm of subjectivity. Thanks again for tuning and all the best! :)

[@Zoco101]

@@MerriamPianos thanks, I appreciate the full reply. I did suspect that the Bechstein is marginally more expensive, but well worth it I'm sure.

[@joelyao7680]

I thought he will talk about myth number zero: grands have a richer sound than uprights.

[@MerriamPianos]

That is a very subjective matter of course. There are many players that prefer the tone and immediate sonic feedback of playing an upright. On the other hand, there are many people that prefer the sonic experience that a grand piano provides.

[@joelyao7680]

@@MerriamPianos of course! Thanks for your thorough reviews. I learn a lot from your videos. I had a traumatic experience with a Cristofori upright in a music center where I was taking lessons. But as you said, each instrument is unique!

[@zvelekva]

Just to qualify my comment below I'll start by saying that I have completed my studies at one of the top 2 ranked music colleges in the world + have extensive performing experience at the highest level + 20 odd years of teaching experience at all levels. TLDR; Never, ever buy an upright piano. There are so many viable alternatives out there that an upright piano needn't ever be a consideration. Why? No matter the "quality" of the upright - ignoring the unavoidable boxy sound (after all it's basically a soundboard inside a plywood box) - the spring based action is simply not fit for purpose. However, apart from being kind of useless, in addition it's actually harmful to your physique (the two factors are inextricably linked). The upright piano action will cause you tension and all sorts of skeletomuscular issues. This can and probably will result in health issues in the long run. Don't forget that uprights were invented as a cost/corner cutting exercise, i.e. they're flawed by design, especially when it comes to the action. So taking that into account, as you can see it's not a beginner or advanced player issue. Irrespective of your skill level, why would you expose yourself to that when there are so many other solutions? To start with, if space and neighbours are not an issue, you will easily find a decent, affordable second hand grand piano. The £100-200 extra that you need to pay a tech to check it out before you buy will be well worth it. Grand pianos that are actually worth buying are by definition higher quality instruments than an upright piano. They are infinitely repairable/worth repairing, easier to work on and techs will generally have far greater levels of experience/skill repairing or maintaining grands than uprights. Next you have the hybrid grand pianos. These are a new technology, so there are very few second hand ones available. Thus they are currently a pricier option, but still within reason. As far as I'm concerned the jury is still out as to whether they are truly able to replace the grand piano (I've had mine for almost 5 months now and I'm still deciding:). However I can confirm that because of the authentic grand piano action (in my case completely authentic, including the dampers) they don't cause physical issues. Plus they offer the best silent practice experience currently available. The last option is ofc a digital piano. By the way that includes everything that doesn't contain an authentic grand piano action, i.e. Casio and Roland don't make hybrid grands, they just call them that, but they are in reality simply a version of a digital piano. Admittedly I have not extensively used digital pianos, but I would assume that the ones that have a weighted, gravity based action should not cause physical problems, which is key. Lastly a short anecdote to illustrate why I went to the trouble of writing this essay of a comment. Namely, I have a new student who shortly prior to starting lessons with me went to the Yamaha store and bought a brand new U1 with a silent system, even though space or noise are not a concern at all. They paid considerably more than the average 15-25 year old Yamaha C2/C3 usually sell at auction/privately for and exactly as much as they would've paid for a 5 year old Kawai GX1 sold at auction at the exact same time they made their purchase (this particular piano was not only in literally brand new flawless condition, but was also an exceptional sample to boot). Simply put, they allowed themselves to be guided by the Yamaha salesperson....not a good idea!

[@MerriamPianos]

Hi there! Thanks for tuning into our channel and for sharing your insights and experiences! While there are undeniably objective benefits to a grand piano over an upright piano (repetition speed, responsiveness, tone, etc.), no two piano shoppers are the same. Not every aspiring piano player wants to deal with digital instruments or configuring VSTs. Of course, a lot of that is due to a misconception that both are extremely difficult to navigate. Despite that fact, some piano shoppers simply don't want to even entertain the idea and also don't have the floor space to dedicate to a grand piano. The popularity of upright acoustic pianos is not without necessity. On that note, I think most experienced piano players and teachers will always make a strong argument pushing players to consider grand pianos whenever possible. Thank you once again for sharing your insights and experiences! :)

[@G91YS]

Thank you for this comment. I went and bought a new Schimmel C121 that I love. I play grand pianos at music school but I actually like the touch of my piano better. Plus matte black is sexy.

[@zvelekva]

@@G91YS If you like it you like it. My comment reflects my experience/conviction and I wanted to share it for many reasons, some of which is explained in the anecdote at the end. I would've genuinely felt guilty, knowing what I feel I know and not having commented on the issue. However, anyone who reads my comment should decide for themselves if it resonates with them.

[@G91YS]

@@zvelekva In an ideal world I would have got an Estonia grand piano but since I lacked the space and money I chose a nice German upright. Maybe one day... ;-)

[@mfurman]

You seem to completely ignore the fact that most people, especially older ones who already downsized) do not have the space at home for any grand piano. As a matter of fact, I cannot even bring an upright piano to my living room that is on the second level of my house (up rather narrow and winding stairs). Reality of our living clashes with your (understandable) ideas. I read your post with great interest though because my teacher constantly suggests that I should practice on acoustic piano and I simply have to rent piano playing time. Thank you Ps. What is the hybrid digital piano you have, if I may?

[@area49g12]

Am I watching a homeless person talking about pianos, did he just walk in from the street ? He does seem to know a lot about pianos though, lol

[@MerriamPianos]

Boring hair = boring life. Stu is a walking encyclopedia of all things pianos and one heckuva player! We are all lucky to have access to his talent and knowledge!

[@QalinaCom]

@@MerriamPianos So much talent and so much hair for one person-I am jealous LOL

[@alexmcmurtrieSits]

Great and informative video. Thanks Stu. Like the new hairstyle.

[@MerriamPianos]

Hi! Brent from Merriam Music here! Thanks for tuning in! I will certainly pass along the kind words to Stu on your behalf. :)