Grand Piano Action vs. Upright Piano Action

Besides the obvious shape difference, what is actually different between a grand and upright piano? 🤔

Spoiler alert: it's the action 😱 Grand pianos allow gravity to do the work while upright pianos have to use more energy and mechanics to strike the string

[synthraofficial]

Ahh... Thats pretty cool! I didn't know this! Thanks!

[Meherin_]

Thank you so much for explaining! I never knew it!

[sharpenednoodles]

Been playing piano for 25 years. Always knew I preferred playing on a grand because of the responsiveness - but never realised it was just due to gravity on the action!

[mrbendel]

Yes that’s the reason I can’t play Prelude / Angry Young Man

[jboogie]

There’s a Japanese man that came up with the idea of adding two springs to the hammer mechanism of an upright piano. Very simple fix, but genius! Now, and upright can almost sound and feel like a grand.

[cjay]

seems like an old issue we could fix with todays engineering. compliant mechanisms could mimic gravity

[InduZarawish]

Thats why my granny pianos key E is like her own front tooth.. Consequences from practicing RushE ...

[Quentiny_]

Hmm plastic mechanical parts are pretty bad and they are unreliable