Piano

The piano is a musical instrument that can be played by Sims. It is available as an object in The Sims, The Sims 2, The Sims Life Stories, The Sims Pet Stories, The Sims Castaway Stories, The Sims 3: Late Night, and The Sims 4.

The Sims
The Sims base game has an upright piano available for purchase. The Sims: Livin' Large and The Sims: Hot Date each include a grand piano, and The Sims: Superstar includes a piano-style electronic keyboard. All pianos increase the Sim's fun motive and improve the Sim's creativity skill; as the Sim's creativity skill increases, the quality and difficulty of music played increases as well. Both children and adults can play a piano.

A list of all songs that can be played on the piano can be found here.

If a piano is placed in a restaurant which uses a Gastronomer Restaurant Podium, it will spawn an NPC pianist. Sims cannot play the piano while the pianist is playing it.

Chimeway & Daughters Piano
Fun: 4

Room: 3

+ Creativity skill

Pianomatic AbsoluteSound Keyboard
Fun: 4

Room: 5

+ Creativity skill

It clearly is a tribute to the famous Yamaha CP-80 electric grand piano, much featured in lots of '80s hit records.

Liebefunkenmann Piano
Fun: 4

Room: 6

+ Creativity skill

Bachmeier Grand Piano
Fun: 4

Room: 7

+ Creativity skill

The Sims 2
In The Sims 2, pianos work much as they did in The Sims, except that they will occasionally need to be tuned. Tuning a piano builds Mechanical skill, and Sims with high Mechanical skill will have an easier time tuning a piano. The repairman also tunes pianos.

The Sims 2: University expansion pack adds the "Perform..." option, which allows Sims to play for tips. When this option is used, the piano can be played individually, or together with the bass, guitar and/or drums. Sims performing on a piano will also improve their creativity skill, but not as quickly as if they were just practicing, and will receive larger tips (up to §100 per person per tip) for higher skill. Pianos can be played by Sims from child age onward, though children will not be able to perform for tips.

Each piano in The Sims 2 has a Fun rating of 10. The only difference between the two is that the Bosenklavier Model B has an Environment rating of 6, whereas the Chimeway & Daughters Saloon Piano has a rating of 3.

Chimeway & Daughters Saloon Piano
+ Creativity skill

Bosenklavier Model B
+ Creativity skill

The name may be a reference to Bösendorfer, an Austrian piano manufacturer. Klavier means piano in German.

The Sims 3
The piano returns in The Sims 3: Late Night as in earlier games, but now appears as both a grand piano and a portable keyboard. The piano now has its own associated Piano skill. Pianos can no longer be played by child Sims.

If a piano is placed in a lounge, a pianist will be spawned. Sims cannot play the piano while the pianist is on it.

Prudence Pennypincher's Portable Piano
Fun: 2

+ Piano skill

Schnadahupfl Virtuoso Grand Piano
Fun: 2

Environment: 8

+ Piano skill

The Sims 4
Pianos return in The Sims 4 and function similarly to previous games. Children can again play the piano.

Tickle My Ivories Grand Piano
Fun: 3

Environment: 3

+ Piano skill

Classical Genius Antique Piano
Fun: 3

Inspiring Décor: 6

+ Piano skill

Must be unlocked by reaching level 7 of the entertainer career while in the Music branch.

DigiRAD Keyboard
Fun: 3

+ Piano skill

+ Singing skill