This might seem like a crazy question to ask. Upright pianos are extremely common and popular and for many people with limited space are the only option they might have for a piano. In fact, in many parts of the world such as Europe and Asia, upright pianos are the standard type of piano because of smaller homes and limited space. Today we are going to discuss the advantages and disadvantages of buying an upright piano and you can decide if it’s a good fit for you.
Upright pianos do have natural limitations that simply cannot be rectified. The actions are designed vertically and as a result you are more limited with the speed at which notes repeat. The pedals on upright pianos also don’t function as they do on grand pianos (except for the sustain pedal on the right). For more information on this subject please watch our previous video: Upright Pianos Vs. Grand Pianos.
So why doesn’t everyone just buy grand pianos?
There are two reasons most people buy upright pianos: space and budget. Upright pianos are both smaller and cheaper (in general) than grand pianos. So, many people compromise and purchase uprights with the goal of getting a grand piano eventually.
Is this a bad decision? Absolutely not. I encourage students to buy the best piano they can and if that’s an upright piano it is a great choice. Students can progress from beginning lessons all the way to a slightly advanced level utilizing an upright piano and have no problems at all. It’s only when students progress to a level where they will need the abilities of a grand piano (pedals and repetition) that they will be limited by an upright piano.
Another thing to keep in mind is that students (even at a beginning level) will progress faster on a grand piano. This is simply due to the fact that it’s easier to transition from a larger instrument to a smaller one. It’s a lot easier to go from playing a concert grand piano all the time to performing on an upright piano. The reverse is true as well: playing on an upright piano at home will make it more difficult to transition to playing on a grand piano at lessons or in performance.
Ideally everyone would start learning on a grand or baby grand piano. However, you can get a very satisfying sound from an upright piano and it should never be a deterrent from learning or playing the piano. Simply get the best piano you can at the moment and begin from there. Don’t worry about getting something bigger if you can’t afford it or fit it in your home. Eventually you will be able to upgrade your piano but it should not deter you from enjoying it now.
Thanks again for joining me and if you have any questions please feel free to contact us directly: info@livingpianos.com (949) 244-3729