Piano Terms Terminology

Find all the latest piano terms here.

acoustic piano – the name that describes a piano with a soundboard and strings: upright, grand and baby grand pianos

baby grand piano – the smallest type of grand piano

boudoir grand piano – a medium sized grand piano

celviano – Casio’s brand name for their range of AP digital piano

clavinova – Yamaha’s brand name for their range of digital pianos: Yamaha CVP and Yamaha CLP models

conservatory piano – a medium sized grand piano, often found in the conservatory of large homes

digital keyboard – another name for an electronic keyboard

digital piano – a piano that produces sound electronically

electric keyboard –  another name for an electronic keyboard

electric piano – another name for a digital piano

electronic keyboard – a much smaller version of the digital piano but the keys are very light

electronic piano – another name for a digital piano

grand piano – an acoustic piano that sits on the floor horizontally

hammer – the part that hits the piano strings to produce and acoustic piano’s sound

horizontal piano – another name for the acoustic grand piano

iron frame – the iron frame is found in upright and grand pianos, it holds the tension of the strings

keybed – the part of an acoustic piano that holds the piano keys level

keyboard – a much smaller version of the digital piano but the keys are very light

music keyboard – another name for an electronic keyboard

musical keyboard – another name for an electronic keyboard

over damped – describes an old fashioned upright piano that has “dampers” above the hammers, an inferior system to the modern piano

overstrung – all modern pianos are overstrung; the bass strings cross over the treble strings. This produces a better sound becuase of the increased length

piano keyboard – another name for an electronic keyboard

piano tuning – the art of making the twelve semitones of the piano sound equal. Also known as equal temperament.

portable piano –  also commonly called “stage piano”. These pianos are designed with portability in mind, they have heavy keys like a piano and all the musical instrument sounds of a digital piano

privia – Casio’s brand name for their lightweight revolutionary digital pianos

stage piano – also commonly called “portable piano”. These pianos are designed with portability in mind, they have heavy keys like a piano and all the musical instrument sounds of a digital piano. Used mainly by travelling musicians

tuning – the art of turning turning pegs on an acoustic piano to produce the correct sound

tyros – Yamaha’s famous brand name for their top of the range keyboard

under damped – all modern acoustic pianos are under damped. This system is more reliable than the old overdampers. The underdamping system stops the note immediately after releasing the key

upright piano – a vertical acoustic piano that is designed to stand up against the wall. The upright piano takes up far less room than a grand piano

vertical piano – another name for the acoustic upright piano