Piano Terms (Terminology)

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acoustic piano - the name that describes a piano with a soundboard and strings: upright, grand and baby grand pianos

baby grand piano - the smallest type of grand piano

boudoir grand piano - a medium sized grand piano

celviano - Casio's brand name for their range of AP digital piano

clavinova - Yamaha's brand name for their range of digital pianos: Yamaha CVP and Yamaha CLP models

conservatory piano - a medium sized grand piano, often found in the conservatory of large homes

digital keyboard - another name for an electronic keyboard

digital piano - a piano that produces sound electronically

electric keyboard -  another name for an electronic keyboard

electric piano - another name for a digital piano

electronic keyboard - a much smaller version of the digital piano but the keys are very light

electronic piano - another name for a digital piano

grand piano - an acoustic piano that sits on the floor horizontally

hammer - the part that hits the piano strings to produce and acoustic piano's sound

horizontal piano - another name for the acoustic grand piano

iron frame - the iron frame is found in upright and grand pianos, it holds the tension of the strings

keybed - the part of an acoustic piano that holds the piano keys level

keyboard - a much smaller version of the digital piano but the keys are very light

music keyboard - another name for an electronic keyboard

musical keyboard - another name for an electronic keyboard

over damped - describes an old fashioned upright piano that has "dampers" above the hammers, an inferior system to the modern piano

overstrung - all modern pianos are overstrung; the bass strings cross over the treble strings. This produces a better sound becuase of the increased length

piano keyboard - another name for an electronic keyboard

piano tuning - the art of making the twelve semitones of the piano sound equal. Also known as equal temperament.

portable piano -  also commonly called "stage piano". These pianos are designed with portability in mind, they have heavy keys like a piano and all the musical instrument sounds of a digital piano

privia - Casio's brand name for their lightweight revolutionary digital pianos

stage piano - also commonly called "portable piano". These pianos are designed with portability in mind, they have heavy keys like a piano and all the musical instrument sounds of a digital piano. Used mainly by travelling musicians

tuning - the art of turning turning pegs on an acoustic piano to produce the correct sound

tyros - Yamaha's famous brand name for their top of the range keyboard

under damped - all modern acoustic pianos are under damped. This system is more reliable than the old overdampers. The underdamping system stops the note immediately after releasing the key

upright piano - a vertical acoustic piano that is designed to stand up against the wall. The upright piano takes up far less room than a grand piano

vertical piano - another name for the acoustic upright piano