Piano Man - A Beginner's Guide To Learning Piano

Location

There's a great variety of pianos out there that differ in size and length which becomes a problem if you have limited space to put it. If your space is extremely limited then perhaps a keyboard would be a better choice as they're a lot smaller. You'll also have to think how the piano is going to get inside your house; they don't break apart and will need a wide entrance.

Budget

How much you are willing to spend is the factor that largely determines if your future piano will be brand new or second hand. There's nothing wrong with buying a good condition as the average lifespan of a piano is upwards on forty years if kept well and tuned occasionally.

Commitment

Your own level of commitment will dictate how much money you should spend. If you want to practice often and are committed to learning, then a piano is definitely a better choice than a keyboard. If you are taking it up as a part-time hobby and don't know how often you'll play then perhaps it's not worth spending the money on a piano, and instead buying a keyboard.

Upright

An upright piano is often known as a vertical piano for its height. It is the tallest of all the types of piano, and can be 50 to 60 inches in height with an approximate length of 58 inches. They are quite an old style of piano that continues to be popular to this day, appearing in many homes across the globe.

Grand

Grand pianos are often referred to as horizontal pianos. They vary in size greatly and can be anywhere from 5feet long to 9feet long. A grand piano is more powerful than an upright piano but they are also much larger and awkward. They are thought of as a professional piano and are used for concerts and such. They have a much more powerful and richer sound than any other piano but they are the most expensive of all.

Electric / Keyboard

Many of these models are designed specifically for the home with portability and size in mind. They do not match the quality of a normal piano but they are much cheaper, more storable and a lot easier to maintain. As they are electronic, they do not have tiny little hammers and strings inside them, meaning they will never need tuning. In fact they have no upkeep costs bar their initial purchase payment.

It is a good idea to keep it away from radiators as the heat will gradually start to expand the wood, and make the piano go out of tune. I would also recommend you don't push the piano tight up against a wall because the sound won't travel properly. If you leave an inch or two between the piano and the wall, it will sound ten times better as the sound is not trapped.

The wood of the piano should be cared for as any other wooden surface by dusting and polishing it. Every now and then you should open the top of the piano and dust the strings and hammers inside as a build up of dust can affect its sound. If anything was ever to fall inside the piano, be extremely careful taking it out as the hammers and strings are very fragile and brittle.

As odd as it sounds, buying a sheet for your piano is something I highly recommend, especially if your piano is near a window at all. Over time, your keys will gradually start to turn a yellowish colour as a result of fading due to sunlight. This can be prevented quite cheaply with a cloth or sheet.

It is not uncommon for someone to tune their own piano but the whole process is quite difficult and even I would not attempt it. Before attempting to tune your piano you should try and clear any other people out of the room. This will allow you to fully concentrate on the task ahead and it will also let you hear the pitch of the notes better. Don't forget that it will be quite a time consuming process as there are so many keys on a piano and each one requires a lot of attention.

You will need a few tools to attempt this yourself; rubber wedges to mute the strings, a tuning hammer to tighten or loosen the strings and an electronic tuner that tells you the right pitches. The idea is that you play the note and the electronic tuner will tell you if the pitch is too high or too low. If it is too low, use your hammer to tighten the string and then the wedge to mute the string. Rinse and repeat till the electronic tuner tells you that you have the right pitch.

This is a long process and needs quite a skilled hand, so I would recommend that you seek professional services before attempting this on your own.

Metronome

A metronome is an electronic device that clicks and sets the tempo for a song. It measures time in BPM (Beats Per Minute) and can be adjusted to however many BPM you wish. It helps with counting and timing by playing along with the clicks, and is highly recommended for all beginners. They can be bought in most good music shops for a reasonably cheap price.

Keyboard Pedals

If you have a keyboard, it will probably not come with any of the pedals a piano has. Not to worry though, as you can buy these from local music shops. They connect to the keyboard using a jack socket somewhere at the back and usually run off the keyboards power supply.

Keyboard Amplifier

An amplifier is just like any other amplifier for any musical instrument, mainly the guitar. It will again plug into a jack socket somewhere at the back of the keyboard and will act as a large speaker, amplifying what you play over the room or surroundings. They do not run off the keyboards power supply and will require their own power source.