Baby grand pianos are a smaller version of a traditional grand piano. They are typically 5’ to 5′ 7” in length (from the tail to the keyboard). High-quality baby grand pianos, such as the popular Yamaha C1X hold their value extremely well, especially with care and regular maintenance.
Many clients consider a baby grand piano if they love the look of the grand piano but don’t have space for a full-sized grand. The soundboards of a baby grand piano also tend to be longer than traditional upright pianos, giving them a better sound quality than many vertical piano options.
What to Consider When Buying a Baby Grand Piano
Choosing a quality baby grand piano is about more than just esthetics. Considering things like tone, playability, and value can ensure your new piano lasts and is a purchase you are happy with for years to come.
Determine Your Piano Budget
The first thing to consider when shopping for a baby grand piano is your piano budget. Having a budget in mind allows you to go in to a piano store knowing what you’re able to spend on a new piano. It can also determine whether a new or used baby grand piano will be the best purchase for you. If you have a tight budget, you may be interested in our blog about how to afford a piano on a budget.
The cost of a new baby grand piano typically starts around $13,000, while a used baby grand piano can be as low as $4,000. The benefit of purchasing a piano, especially if it’s a high-quality brand such as Yamaha, Bösendorfer, Steinway, or Kawai, is that the piano will hold its value for a long time. If you purchase new, you can expect the piano to last 50-70 years in most cases. For used pianos, as long as they are well-maintained, you can typically get several years or even decades out of them before their components wear down.
Explore Different Sizes of Baby Grand Pianos
The rule of thumb with buying the best piano possible is to purchase a quality brand with the longest soundboard you can afford (and place in your home). For instance, a 5′ Yamaha GB1K Baby Grand will have a lesser sound than that of a Yamaha GC1 5’3″ Baby Grand, which has an additional 3″ of soundboard to produce a more resonant tone. Even within a single brand, you can find variations, such as comparing the 5’3″ Yamaha GC1 to the 5’3″ Yamaha C1X, the quality of which emulates the iconic CFX concert grand piano. With this in mind, you’ll often find better sound from a larger used baby grand piano of a quality brand than a brand new, smaller baby grand piano. After you determine your budget, it’s wise to play a range of baby grand pianos, used and new, to get a feel for the sound and resonance you enjoy best. More experienced piano players are more likely to be pickier about the piano sound than beginner piano players–if you’re not confident in your musical ear, it can help to bring along a friend or family member who has experience with pianos.
Consider Financing Options
Don’t take the sticker price at face-value when shopping for a new baby grand piano. There are usually financing deals or trade-in options that can save you some extra money. If you work with a reputable piano dealer, they’re likely to be upfront with these options, but it never hurts to ask. A little extra savings can help you get a higher-quality piano that you’ll likely be happier with for the longer term.
Play a Variety of Demo Songs
If you’re an experienced piano player, you probably already have a checklist of how you’d like your piano to play. For instance, if you’re an expressive player, the nuanced responsiveness of the piano keys will make a huge difference in whether you enjoy playing your new baby grand piano or are disappointed each time you sit down. If you like classical performance pieces, you may be looking for a piano with a brighter tone, or if you like more moody modern dramatic pieces, you may be looking for a sound that is deeper and more resonant. The best advice when shopping for a new piano is to play many pianos and to play a few different song styles to really get a feel for how the piano feels and sounds. If you’re still new to playing the piano (or are shy about playing in front of others), your piano salesperson will have a full repertoire of demo songs they will happily play for you.
Don’t Forget Maintenance
To maintain its value, regular maintenance like tuning, dusting, and polishing is a necessity for your baby grand piano. The national average for a piano tuning is relatively inexpensive, costing between $100-$200 and is recommended annually. Keeping the strings, hammers, and soundboard clear of dust and keeping keys clean and polished will help hold the performance ability of the piano components, thereby increasing the long-term value of the instrument.
Final Thoughts
Cost-effective, space-saving, and with minimal sound compromise, a baby grand piano is a great addition to any home. If you’d like more information about a specific baby grand piano model or would like help finding the right piano for your family, please reach out! Our piano experts are happy to help.
*This article was originally published in March 2022 but has since been updated for content, quality, and accuracy.
You may also be interested in...
14 Favorite Christmas Piano Songs of All Time
Christmas music is perhaps the fastest way to evoke the spirit of Christmas in our homes and workplaces. Whether we’re children still learning the lyrics or adults filled with nostalgia, Christmas music is the source of warm, joyful emotions that move our hearts. Over...
What Are The 4 Types Of Upright Pianos
There are 4 different types of Upright Pianos in the world. If you are an expert in the world of pianos or just started playing, we are here to inform you of the different types of upright pianos, their purpose, and the best one out of the group. #1 The Spinet Piano ...
Mistakes to Avoid When Buying a Piano
Music makes the world go ‘round. Investing in instruments makes music and its creation an easily accessible part of daily life. Adding regular practice to your daily routine has so many benefits that extend into other aspects of life, like improving cognitive...
How Often do you Need to Tune a Piano?
A piano is an investment. Proper care of your investment, which includes things like dusting and polishing in addition to professional tuning, ensures the longevity of your piano and maintains the quality of sound it produces. One of the most common questions we are...
What to Look for in a Piano Teacher
Searching for a piano teacher is about so much more than cost and location. You want to choose a teacher who fits your learning style, teaches the type of music that interests you, and works well with your personality. Your (or your child's) piano teacher will have a...
Benefits of Buying a Digital Piano
What are the benefits of buying a digital piano? If you’re like us, you probably grew up with an acoustic piano in y our home and always dreamed of having the same for your family. It’s no wonder why—the classic feel of an acoustic piano, when it’s a new grand piano...
Best Time of Year to Buy a Piano
When is the Best Time to Buy a Piano? While owning a piano is great any time of year, there are certain times of the year that may offer additional perks and discounts for buying a new or used piano. Just like any other retail business, piano stores cycle through...
Tips for Selling Your Old Piano
When it’s time to sell your piano, you have several different options. Most piano stores will accept your old piano in good condition as a trade-in. You could also sell privately or work with a consignment store to sell. The most important thing is to do your research...
Is a Piano a Good Investment?
High-quality pianos can come with notable price tags, so many in the market want to ensure that this large purchase is an investment that will hold its value. With proper care, a piano will depreciate only slightly; in some cases, notable brands have even appreciated...
Piano Buying 101
There’s more than a price tag to look at when you’re considering purchasing a piano. This new fixture will undoubtedly bring music and joy into your home, but it comes with additional considerations such as future maintenance and your purpose of purchase. Think to...
Best Family Piano 2018
The results are in, and the best family piano of 2018 is hands down the Yamaha CVP-701! This digital piano is the perfect combination of real piano touch and feel, fun and engaging features, and a realistic piano sound that will satisfy even the most disbelieving...
6 Pianos to Look for at our Piano Sale This Weekend
The Piano Gallery of Murray is having a HUGE piano liquidation this weekend to make room for some holiday stock! We love the opportunity to host sales like this since it means we can get even more amazing pianos into homes of people in our Utah community....
8 Reasons Summer is a Great Time to Buy a Piano
Sitting beside a pool full of summertime visitors, you may be missing out on some great piano deals. While many people may not think of buying a piano over summer vacation, savvy shoppers know that summer is one of the best times to buy a piano. Not only are there...
Guide: How to Define the Sound of a Piano
Are you looking to purchase a new or used piano and wondering how to describe the piano sound you want to find? Or perhaps you are selling a used piano and unsure the best words to describe the sound of your piano? This guide can help! What words describe the sound...
15 Questions to Ask When Buying a New Piano
15 Questions to Ask When Buying a New Piano It can be exciting to buy a new piano for your household! If it's your first time buying a piano or if you're preparing to find the best piano for your needs, this list of questions to ask when buying a new piano can help!...