12 Best Piano Brands for Every Kind of Pianist (w/Sound Clips!)

When you are in the market for a piano, the possibilities of piano brands can seem endless. Yamaha or Kawai? Digital or acoustic? If you want to end up with the perfect piano for your budget, skill level, and musical goals, this guide is a great place to start. Any one of these 12 popular piano brands will offer you an excellent choice. The 12 Best Piano Brands for All Pianists This Japanese brand is recognized worldwide for its excellence and versatility. They build sturdy, high quality pianos and offer good digital options, as well. Their pianos are known for having a signature bright sound, yet there is still a roundness to the sound. Yamaha is an innovative brand that is constantly improving and creating new models to meet a variety of needs. One of the coolest features you can find on a Yamaha piano is its silent piano option. The feature allows you to play an acoustic piano but hear the sound through headphones, so you can practice at any hour without disturbing others. Many well-known musicians endorse Yamaha including Alicia Keys, Elton John, and Chick Corea. Its U1, and slightly larger U3, upright models are well-loved acoustic pianos that stand the test of time. Its CLP series is a popular digital option. Yamaha also sells concert grand pianos. Their prices are fair for the quality, and they are a reasonable option for anyone looking for an upright piano. Quality and history come together to form Steinway & Sons, a favorite piano maker of many musicians. A German immigrant in New York City started Steinway, and it remains there today. Steinway is a classical pianist's dream. Many famous pianists endorse the brand including Lang Lang, Mitsuko Uchida, and Martha Argerich. Steinway offers different sizes of grand pianos, which are often selected based on the size of the concert hall they are used in. Due to its long history, you can find many vintage Steinways for sale. Steinway's grand pianos are their most well-known models, but their price range makes them a better choice for the most dedicated and serious pianists. Luckily, they've also created two lines of pianos for those with a more limited budget: the Essex (entry level) and the Boston (mid-level). Kawai is another one of the Japanese piano brands that offers pianos at a reasonable price range. They are durable, well-made pianos with several unique features, including longer keys for increased technical ease and the use of different materials in their construction, like plastic and composite. Their digital pianos were the first to be built with wood keys, offering the experience of an acoustic piano's keys. Kawai upright pianos and digital pianos are good options for intermediate pianists who want a fairly priced, durable option. Artists playing Kawai pianos include Joe Yamada and Steven Curtis Chapman. If you care about tradition and history when shopping for piano brands, you will value Bsendorfer. Established in 1828, the pianos have a rich and luscious sound. One innovation is the addition of keys beyond the typical 88. This piano maker is best for connoisseurs and serious pianists who are ready to invest in a well-crafted piano, as their pianos are among the most expensive in the world. Their grand pianos are the bulk of their production, with a few upright pianos offered as well. This northern Italian piano maker creates only the finest grand pianos. Its various models include creations made from unique materials like red elm, ebony, and even gold leaf. Fazioli pianos are truly works of art, and their price range is very high for this reason. While it's a relatively young piano brand (started in the late 1970s), Paolo Fazioli's dedication to his craft quickly established his reputation in the piano world. Herbie Hancock, Matteo Fossi, and Lucas Wong all treasure Fazioli pianos. This piano brand is perfect for a serious pianist who is ready to invest in a piano for life. Bechstein pianos have a long history, with endorsements from composers like Franz Liszt and Claude Debussy creating a worldwide demand. Vassily Primakov, Kit Armstrong, and Michael Dalberto are all well-known pianists who enjoy playing these gorgeous and elegant pianos. The German pianos are ideal for concert hall performances as well as recording studio work. There is also a line of high quality upright pianos. The price range of the Concert pianos is high, but Bechstein has created three other piano brands to suit a variety of needs. Beginners can explore the Zimmerman and W. Hoffman brands, while advanced players should look at the C. Bechstein Academy brand. Blthner is a Leipzig-based, German brand that achieved acclaim in the time of composers like Brahms, Mahler, and Wagner. It also grew in popularity with The Beatles' music. These pianos have stood the test of time. Blthner currently makes a wide variety of models including uprights and grands. Many artists are fans of Blthner pianos, including Rima Chacaturian, Billy Childs, and Ying Feng. Blthner pianos are best for those who value tradition and creativity. The pianos create a memorable sound and are long-lasting. Known as the piano with the "golden tone," the price tag reflects the quality of the brand. This Massachusetts-based brand is a stalwart in the industry, making several models of grand pianos and a professional upright model. Their pianos are especially well-built and made to last. Mason & Hamlin made several innovations in the design of their pianos, including the crown retention system, used in the soundboard. These pianos are a good choice for anyone interested in purchasing a quality vintage piano. The pianos are on par with Steinway in performance, and their price tag reflects this. Artists playing the timeless pianos include Brian Culbertson, Jarrod Radnich, and Rod Tanski. Want to have your own custom-built piano? Australian brand Stuart & Sons builds pianos with high-quality materials and excellent craftsmanship. Custom orders can be placed directly with the piano makers. The pianos come in concert grand and studio grand sizes, with either 97 keys or 102 keys. Choices of materials include Tasmanian Huon Pine and Tasmanian Sassafras. These pianos are unique works of art and as such, are best for those with a high budget who want a piano full of personality. Casio is an electronic keyboard maker known for producing lightweight and compact keyboards that can go anywhere. Their price can not be beat. The portable models are popular, but Casio also offers more advanced arranger keyboards and space-saving, discreet console pianos. Their pianos offer many fun sounds that can transform your music making. This brand comes from Japan, and is popular with many singers, pop musicians, and stage performers. Rachel Sage, Larry Dunn, and Kyle Morrison all use Casio keyboards. Casio keyboards are best for young beginner pianists, those with interests in rock, pop, or metal, and pianists who enjoy experimenting with unique sounds at the piano. Korg is another one of the many Japanese piano brands that dominate this list. This modern, digital brand offers a wide range of models, from beginner to more complex. Korg is known for its technological advancements and their ability to produce a wide variety of piano sounds. Korg offers many versatile digital pianos in a very reasonable price range. The C1 Air model is a good option with technological advancements like Bluetooth. Artists who use Korg digital pianos include Richard Clayderman, Herbie Hancock, and Tom Coster. Roland, also from Japan, offers both digital and acoustic pianos in a moderate price range. They are aesthetically-pleasing pianos that are recommended for a variety of needs. Whether you are a beginner looking for a digital piano or a more serious pianist looking for a well-made acoustic, Roland has something for you. The F-120 is a popular model for a beginner looking for a digital piano. Jim Brickman, David Benoit, and Marcus Johnson all play Rolands. How to Find the Best Piano Brands For You Whether you are a beginner or advanced pianist, there are some guidelines you can follow to make the process of choosing a piano easier. Before you decide, spend some time considering the following factors. None None How much room do you have for a piano? None Answering this question will help you choose between a digital and acoustic piano, since digital pianos can take up much less room. It can also help you decide between an acoustic upright piano or an acoustic grand piano. None None Do you prefer digital or acoustic pianos? None While many prefer the feeling of striking an acoustic piano's keys, these pianos do come with some additional upkeep. And do not forget to factor in the cost of annual tuning, which is essential for acoustic pianos. None None What is your budget for a piano? None Setting a budget will help you narrow down your options. Your budget will affect whether you buy new versus used, digital versus acoustic, or one piano brand over another. None None What are your goals with playing piano? None Just because you are a beginner who does not 88 keys right now, does not mean you wo not in the future. Likewise, after a few years you might feel unsatisfied with a cheaper keyboard that does not have weighted keys. Think about investing more so you can keep enjoying your piano over the years. Or if you are just trying out piano, start small and upgrade once you are more committed to playing. Lastly, always try a piano in person before you buy it. Choosing a piano is a very personal decision with many factors unique to each individual, such as the feel of the piano. Trying different piano brands in person is the best way to gain insight into the right piano for you. If you still need help deciding between the many piano brands that are available, try seeking advice from an experienced piano teacher. Now that you've explored all of the best piano brands, start improving your playing skills in the free piano classes at TakeLessons Live. There are daily classes available for every kind of pianist. Here's to your new piano!

1. Did anyone see that the gunmen bought clips off ebay?

He bought TEN ROUND magazine on EBay. If he had any brains at all, he could have gone to the local gun store and gotten high capacity magazines. If price was the issue, the website below has much better deals. I think this issue is ANOTHER example of how the Liberal media is so anti-Second Amendment, they will publish anything that puts guns in a bad light. Next you can expect Harry Reid to present a bill to ban the same of ammo and magazines on the Internet

2. How old is too old to wear bow clips in your hair?

I am 17 and remember being in middle school trying to grow up and look older. but i now have friends who wear clips like that and get so many compliments on them because of how cute that they are. you should wear them if they make you feel confident and pretty dont worry so much what everyone else thinks. Oo and another idea is a fun skinny headband. I bought a set at walmart they are solid bright colors with stars on them and i love them.

3. How do radio shows pull up sound clips so quickly?

The 360 systems instant replay is a morning show favorite. It has hot buttons that they can store audio on and fire instantaneously. Many computer automation systems like the RCS NexGen have built features that can be accessed with a touch screen. They create a wall of carts or boxes that can be loaded with audio and given different colors and names for finding them fast. There are a lot of free apps and software available for you on the internet that will perform the same function.How do radio shows pull up sound clips so quickly?.