[SSFSX17]

I personally prefer Uprights, and let me tell you why :

Upright pianos are far more suitable for playing modern music. Because we want to sing to the Lord a NEW song, we should be preferably using instruments through which these new songs can be played! Not to mention that you can play jazz and other cool contemporary stuff really well on upright pianos.

Grand pianos, on the other hand, don't agree with me too well. I can't dig into the keys with my fingers the same way I would with an upright, not to mention that they tend to have a dull feeling. Even though they are a lot louder, and many professionals use them, I would take an Upright over a Grand any day. The only songs that I have ever heard sound good on a Grand were Classical songs, which I don't care much for.

[Nate]

Well... it may just be that I've never played a good upright ... but I MUCH prefer grands. Most uprights tend to have a much brighter sound than grands. I actually prefer that dullness. I think it works a lot better for soft songs. (which is what I play most of the time) Also, I like the action on grands better... I like to have some resistance. All the uprights I've ever seen have so light a touch that I start to wonder if there's actually anything under those keys or not!! Soo.... we've got two completely different opinions now... anyone else care to throw theirs in?

[Nate]

Actually, I prefer BABY grands most of all. I played a really nice one on mission trip two years ago... it had a really great touch. Not too soft, not too hard... and the sound was wonderful!

[jmlouie]

I have never actually played a grand. But in my opinion I think for modern music Uprights and Baby Grands are best. I've seen Ben Folds play both types and you all know what type of killer jazz type grooves he can play.

Of course the original symphonic jazz is going to be played on a Grand. I think the only reason that a Grand will not sound good is becuase it was never really used for modern music and our ears are not used to it. Kind of like using Opera style singing... it's not bad, it just is not sonically appropriate.

[Basszilla]

Originally posted by jmlouie
Kind of like using Opera style singing... it's not bad, it just is not sonically appropriate.

Don't tell that to Nightwish. They're a progressive metal band with opera vocals. It's not really my cup of tea, but it's interesting.


Kevin

[N.tm]

Depends on the individual piano, and how old it is (and how well it has been maintained, etc). Really new pianos, whether upright or grand tend to sound brighter than older pianos.

In my experience baby grands or full grands tend to have a heavier touch than uprights (sometimes to the point where it just isn't fun to play), but it isn't the case all the time, and sometimes the reverse is true. One of the lightest-touch pianos I've ever played was a Yamaha baby grand we looked at before buying our upright - that particular piano was also the loudest piano I've ever heard.

I've played a full length grand only a couple of times, and it sounded awesome (well, the tone did, my playing isn't in the awesome category), and had a nice touch. The bass notes had so much clarity you could play a full triad type chord (e.g., GBD) low down and it still came out really clear.

I prefer our upright piano to our church's baby grand - both the tone and the feel are nicer on our piano (both pianos are Yamahas).

Another point to consider is that the room a piano is in can make a big difference to the tone.

I think the only reason that a Grand will not sound good is becuase it was never really used for modern music and our ears are not used to it.

A lot of modern music (in the rock or pop category) was recorded using either a full grand or a baby grand.

N.™

[quokin]

grands look more professional

[perhaps]

Originally posted by KeyboardFreak
Actually, I prefer BABY grands most of all. I played a really nice one on mission trip two years ago... it had a really great touch. Not too soft, not too hard... and the sound was wonderful!

yeah i play them a lot for conservatory stuff
theyre beautiful
your fingers just glide along the keys and even if you play a wrong note it still sounds like an angel singing

ok, so not like an angel singing but you get what i'm trying to say hehe

[AdStrums4Jesus]

Uprights. Does anyone know of a good place to look on the internet for a good deal on one? I shudder to think what someone would charge for shipping on ebay...