I am looking into buying a piano. I'd like to buy a good used one. Does anyone have any advice on what to look for? I just want something to play for fun at home and maybe, when I have kids, they can take lessons.
Allison from TN
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I bought a used piano at a school auction. Personally I don't play a piano, but, I learned that is what you want when going to buy a used piano. Someone to play it, get what the tone sounds like, even if it is out of tune. They know, where you don't. They had so many pianos at the school auction, I just picked out a couple of the "pretty ones" to bid on. Then I heard one of the rougher pianos sound out in a beautiful melody before the auction began, as an interested bidder played it....the sound was so pretty, but, it looked rough. But, that is the one I bid on and bought for $100. It is a Hamilton piano, and today it still sits in my house, and has gone through 3 kids with piano lessons. My first two kids are playing in churches now, and my son is learning, and making wonderful progress, he just got "The Entertainer" as an assignment, and the school auction piano still plays on beautifully. I'm so glad I got a chance to hear the "rough looking piano" before the auction began, I think it will be around when my grandchildren come! I love my "rough" Hamilton piano. It still sounds good.
Check out your local University Music department, sometimes they will sell their practice pianos. I am hoping to get one too (one day!) My five year old really wants to learn.
I ran across an estate sale that had a player piano with rolls for 400, you could also play it on your own. I cried because even if I could have afforded it, I couldn't fit it in my apartment at the time!
I have been playing piano for 27 years. I have been teaching piano lessons
for 16 years. There are so many options when buying a piano. You need to consider
how much you are willing to spend and what the piano will be used for. If it's just
for yourself and kids, you won't need anything elaborate. Have someone play
the piano for you or play it yourself to make sure you like the way it sounds and the
way the keys react to your touch. Look inside the piano to see that the hammers
(look just like little hammers) are in good shape and that the felt is in good shape
also. Look inside for any broken pieces inside too. Use the pedals to make sure
they are in good working order. And play all 66 keys to make sure they are in good
working order. Perhaps you could even call a piano tuner to look at the piano with
you. Usually after a piano is moved it should be tuned, if the tuner has time and knows
you'll be a customer, he/she may help out. Or a college music student may consider
helping you.
Good luck and have fun. I have young students who just love the piano. It is so'
beneficial for kids and adults to have an outlet.
Have fun
A piano has 88 keys. Some bad cheaper models come with less keys, so have 88 for sure.
You don't say if you want an upright or a grand - baby grands can go for cheap sometimes. Also, check your local paper. MANY people want to toss pianos, because they tend to take up a lot of space.
Something else: Check that there is no RUST on the string.
I suggest that you do not get a used piano. I did that several years ago.I had to spend too much money on it. I gave it away, got a new Korg Digital piano-DP.2000C. It has everything on it; several different sounds, even a drum beat so you can keep time with it. I have enjoyed it for 20 years,no trouble at all. It cost just a little over a thousand dollars way back then, they might be on sale now with hard times these days, call & shop around for best price. You will be proud you did. I taught myself & my daughter to read music & anybody can do it,go to a store that sells music books, get the first book on music, learn to play all the songs, then get the next one, that's what teachers do. If they can do it we can also do it, good luck. Hope this helps.
Glinda was right - it's the sound that's important. Don't be as concerned about how it looks. A "pretty" piano that sounds terrible won't give you as much joy as a "rough looking" piano that plays beautifully. Look for a piano tuner/technician you trust who also buys and sells pianos. They know whether the piano is in workable condition or not. My piano tuner found me a beautiful Yamaha upright piano that was 10 years old, but had hardly ever been played. It was like new, but with a much lower price tag. The best piano I've ever owned. And be sure to have it tuned at least once a year to keep it in shape. By the way, I highly recommend Yamaha uprights - never heard a bad sounding one.
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I am thinking about buying an electric piano. I can play some, but need more practice. What is the best kind to get?
By ruthie
The first thing I considered when buying an electric piano was the size of the keys. I have big hands and I needed a keyboard with keys that where the standard size of a traditional piano.
Another consideration is portability, do you want an electric with a permanent stand or do you want one you can move around on a stand that easily comes apart and goes back together. A third consideration is bells and whistles.
Do you want a keyboard that can be almost any instrument, one that can record while you play and can burn to a CDW when you are done or one that can do wild special effects. Maybe even all three. The fourth thing I would consider is your price range. The more features you add the higher the price. And it can get pricey unless you find a model you want that has been returned or is being sold used by the original owner.
The best thing to do starting off is go into a store and start looking, take notes, play a few on display and see if you like how they feel. Some keyboards are stiff while others are very pluckey. You get different responses from the sound based on how you play them or the type of songs you are playing. When a salesman comes up to you ask him questions. Tell him the type of keyboard you are interested in if you have an idea. Get his opinion. Take notes.
Eventually you will find what you would really like and what you would settle for starting off. Then you make your plans for purchase.
Oh yeah... if you have friends or meet people that play on electric keyboards ask them what they look for in a keyboard or what has always attracted their attention with different keyboards they play. That can be valuable info as well.
