Player Piano for Sale
Live Concerts Played with a Single Finger
A player piano works like any other plus it plays itself. Easily control it from your device to entertain guests and add ambience to any occasion.
100% Functional Guarantee
Free Resources & Support
Piano Warranty Included
Price Match Guarantee
Going Out of Business Sale
Grab once-in-a-lifetime clearance deals on all our upright, grand and digital pianos. The sooner you visit, the better your selection!
Thanks for 18 wonderful years!
What is a Player Piano?
A player piano is any piano with a mechanism that allows it to play music on itself automatically, without a pianist.
Nowadays, digital systems exist that play music from mobile devices wirelessly. No need for paper piano rolls anymore!
A self-playing piano is a great way to add ambience to any occasion.
See one in action in this video featuring a PianoDisc Prodigy II Player Piano.
Get the Most of Your Piano
Afraid your piano might end up collecting dust? Want to make sure it really stands out in your home?
A player piano is an instant spotlight, filling the room with rich live music that even the best speaker systems can’t beat.
Concerts & Recitals at the Touch of a Button
Invite in Gershwin, Debussy, Lang Lang and many other world-famous pianists to play a recital just for you.
With a player piano, you gain access to historic performances and libraries of over 12,000 songs — all from your phone or tablet.
Get More Than Just a Piano
Shop a player piano for sale, and get more than just a piano that plays itself:
- Record and playback your own sessions
- Play quietly through headphones (with silent system upgrades)
- Play the non-piano parts of songs (requires onboard speaker systems and songs with accompaniment)
Player Piano FAQ
How does a player piano work?
Easily! Basically any player piano built in the last 50 years works using a digital system. A mechanism is installed invisibly under the keybed of any upright or grand piano, along with a computer that translates MIDI into playable notes.
After installing this player system, you’ll be able to connect your piano to your mobile device via Bluetooth. And at this point, you’ll have access to thousands of songs that your piano can play itself.
Older player pianos worked with a pneumatic system and paper piano rolls. The rolls were perforated and unwinded across a tracker bar hooked up to the piano’s action. When a hole aligned with a key, air was blown to simulate the exact key press needed.
Player pianos have always been a terrific way to enjoy piano music more often. They accurately reproduce notes, expression and even pedaling. Newer technology has made them even more expressive and convenient to use.
How much does a player piano weigh?
The weight of a player piano varies depending on the piano’s size, build and the player system.
On average, upright player pianos weigh typically between 400 to 1,000 pounds.
Grand player pianos will likely weigh more, ranging from 600 to 1,500 pounds.
For more precise information about the weight of a specific player piano, see the manufacturer’s specs or contact the piano’s dealer.
Additionally, when moving a player piano, hire professionals! They’re no doubt heavy and expensive instruments, and the extra few hundred dollars is worth it to ensure safety.
When was the player piano invented?
The earliest player piano technology came in the form of the pianola in 1895. Edwin Votey, American inventor and musician, developed this box mechanism you’d roll in front of a piano. Once in position, you could throw in a paper roll and use the pedals to play a song without knowing how to play the piano.
Votey later sold this technology to the Aeolian Company who incorporated it into their pianos. These would become the first of the old paper-based player pianos we know now.
Later in the 1970s, this technology went fully automatic in what were called reproducing pianos. These early electronic systems were essentially the first comercially-available modern player pianos.
A decade or so later, Yamaha unveiled their Disklavier player system in 1988. This represented the start of mass-produced commercially-available player pianos — and well, the rest is history!
Dive deeper into the history of player pianos.
Can a player piano be played manually?
Yes, a player piano can be played manually like any other traditional piano.
Modern player pianos have an electro-mechanical system that allows them to play themselves automatically. However, this feature can be turned off, allowing the piano to be played by a pianist as well.
There are really no downsides to having a player system installed!
How much does a player piano cost?
The cost of any given player piano varies depending on brand, size, system — and other typical factors that influence a piano’s price.
A new grand player piano can start around $30,000 where a new upright player piano begins more around $16,000.
If you’re considering a used player piano for sale, you can find options starting in the $5,000 to $10,000 range.
As far as how much a piano player system installation costs, this can range from about $5,000 to $11,000 depending on your piano, labor costs in your area, and the specific player system model.
Of course, these are all very rough estimates based on our own player pianos for sale near Chicago. See our listings above for our current prices — and contact us or your local dealer to find out the cost of installing a player system on your piano!
How do I get more music for my player piano?
You have several options for getting more music for your player piano, depending on the type of system you own:
Buying Music: Most digital player pianos allow you to purchase and download music directly from their app or website. Most songs are under a few bucks — pretty reasonable for live renditions of favorite songs!
Streaming Radio Stations: Many popular player systems also have radio stations. The complimentary PianoDisc radio station is a huge plus to that system in our opinion.
Music Subscriptions: If you’re interested in a wider variety of music, something like the Yamaha Disklavier Radio might interest you for a monthly fee. Similarly, you can access a curated selection of QRS Music Library for a yearly subscription — or the entire thing with an active warranty.
Sourcing MIDI Files: Many websites offer MIDI files of various genres that can be compatible with your digital player piano. You can even try converting music into some player piano formats yourself.
Read our Guide to Getting More Music for Your PianoDisc System for more tips and ideas.
Why Buy a Player Piano at Family Piano?
Founder and head tech Alice Alviani (upper left) with vice president Linda Charboneau (right) and president Brendan Alviani (at piano).
Pianos You Can Trust
Every piano in our showroom is in the best condition it can be and backed by a warranty. Our piano technicians tune and service each piano when it arrives, while it’s here, and before it’s delivered to your home.
Stress-Free Shopping
Buying a piano should be fun! So we never get pushy or use sales tactics to “close deals.” Instead, we focus on education. Even if only curious about piano, we’d love to give you a tour and let you play as much as you want!
Worry-Free Ownership
Taking care of your piano can be daunting. That’s why we include a warranty with every purchase, and have a digital technician on-staff. And if you ever have any piano-related questions, advice is just a call away.
Lowest Prices Guaranteed
Every piano in our showroom is clearly labeled with the lowest prices you’ll find in the Chicago area. And if you do find a better price, we’ll match it – and still give you our unbeatable service and guarantees.
Experts You Can Rely On
Since opening in 2006, we’ve become the best-reviewed piano stores in the area. Our staff is full of piano lovers, and we have the largest team of techs in the Midwest.