Grand Piano Guide: Buying, Care and Service in Singapore

Grand Piano Sizes

For Singapore homes, baby grands (149–160cm) and parlour grands (160–180cm) are the most practical choices. A 180cm grand requires significant floor space and height clearance for the open lid.

Why the Grand Action Is Different

The grand piano action uses gravity to return the hammer to its resting position — unlike an upright, which uses return springs. This gravity-return mechanism allows for faster repetition and more nuanced dynamic control, particularly at soft dynamics. It is why professional pianists prefer grand pianos for performance.

The grand action also includes the repetition lever (répétiteur) — a secondary lever in each key's action that allows the hammer to reset without the key returning all the way to its top position. This enables rapid repeated notes (trills) that are much more difficult to execute on an upright piano's spring-return action.

Grand Piano Care in Singapore

Grand pianos require the same climate care as uprights, but their larger soundboard area makes them more sensitive to humidity changes. Specific care points:

• The lid should be closed when not playing to minimise dust on strings and soundboard
• The felt key cover should be used to protect keys but removed when not needed in humid weather
• Grand pianos on casters should have the casters locked to prevent movement on polished floors
• The grand piano action can be removed for service — unlike an upright, the entire action slides out for regulation, voicing and repair

Grand Piano Tuning in Singapore

Grand piano tuning requires the same frequency as upright tuning in Singapore — at least twice yearly. However, concert grands used in hotels, performance venues and recording studios typically require more frequent tuning. We offer regular maintenance contracts for venue grand pianos.

See our Grand Piano Service page for details on tuning, regulation, voicing and repair for Singapore grand pianos.