Steinway Model D‑274 — the concert grand piano

Design and key characteristics

The D‑274 measures approximately 274 cm in length and is substantially wider and heavier than smaller grands; this size supports a large soundboard and long strings that contribute to deep bass and sustained tone. Typical features include a careful combination of parts and materials—spruce soundboard, laminated rim, cast iron plate, and a precision action—that together produce clarity across registers and strong projection in loud passages.

• Length: around 274 cm (9 feet).
• Sound: powerful bass, singing treble, wide dynamic range.
• Construction: multi-ply rim, solid spruce soundboard, metal plate and high-grade felts and hammers.
• Playability: responsive action designed for precise control at concert level.

History and development

The Model D evolved through late 19th- and early 20th-century refinements in scale design, materials and factory techniques. Steinway, founded in the 1850s by German‑born piano maker Henry E. Steinway, centralized many advances that improved stringing, plate design and action reliability. Though the basic proportions of the D‑274 date from the 1880s, ongoing adjustments in voicing, machining and materials have kept the model in contemporary concert use.

Uses, importance and contexts

The D‑274 is employed throughout major concert venues, conservatories and professional recording studios. Its size and projected sound make it suitable for solo recitals, concerto performance with orchestra, and situations where a piano must fill a large acoustic space. Many leading performers select the D‑274 as their primary concert instrument, and it frequently appears on commercial recordings and in high‑profile competitions.

Variants, makers and notable facts

Steinway produces concert grands in two main factories—historically identified by location—and both manufacture versions of the Model D with similar specifications but small differences in voicing and finish. Company and industry estimates indicate the D‑274 has a dominant presence among concert grands worldwide. Because of its size and weight it is impractical for most private homes, but prized where space and acoustic requirements allow.

For more detail on Steinway's history and the D‑274's role in performance practice, see materials published by Steinway & Sons and accounts by leading concert pianists.