Glossary
ACTION
 The moving parts of the piano, from the key sticks and key frame to the hammers. Action parts wear out with use, but generally can be replaced, even in pianos out of production.
 
CONSOLE PIANO
 Consoles are usually 40" to 43" tall, and generally the choice for home use. Varied cabinet styles and finishes allow the buyer leeway in matching the room decor.

GRAND AND BABY GRAND PIANO
 Pianos in which the strings run horizontally. They come in varying sizes from 4' 10" (apartment size) to 9' (Concert Grand size).

REGULATING
 A component of normal maintenance, and suitable for home use, but separate from tuning regulating is adjusting the Action to make everything work properly.  If it is to continue to play and feel the same way it did when it was new, the pianos Action must be "timed" accurately - and not in just one key but in all eighty-eight. Your piano technician will let you know when this is necessary.

REPETITION
 Ability of a piano or keyboard to play successive notes rapidly, without the key actually returning to rest between strokes.

SOUNDBOARD
 A large wooden diaphragm which is forced to vibrate by the strings, increasing their loudness.

SPINET PIANO
 35" to 40" tall, spinets are the shortest style of piano made today, and suitable for home use.

STEINWAY
 Steinway and Sons of New York and Hamburg, a widely used brand of concert pianos and fine instruments for the home.

STUDIO PIANO
 Being 43" to 47" high, the studio benefits from a larger soundboard and longer strings, which usually result in a better tone. Cabinet styles have simpler lines, in keeping with school, church or institution traditions. These usually cost more than a console or spinet, but are often well worth the difference.

TOUCHWEIGHT
 Force required to depress a piano key to the point of let-off, with the damper pedal depressed.

UPRIGHT PIANO
 Uprights are 48" to 60" tall, and passed their heyday around 1925. They have always been popular because of their depth and richness of tone. They are still made today, and while somewhat expensive, most are excellent instruments.

VERTICAL
 A piano in which the strings and soundboard are vertical.  Uprights, consoles and spinets are verticals.

VOICING OR TONE REGULATING
 The delicate art of altering and leveling up tonal response by adjusting the compression of the hammer head felts. This procedure will restore the proper power and quality of the tone to the piano.