[2] Vertical design, with the soundboard oriented toward audience, allowed to produce full sound in а smaller-sized instrument.

The idea of a vertical placement of strings is very old: clavicytherium, an upright version of the harpsichord, was known as early as 1480.

The development then shifted to Vienna, with Christian Ernst Friederici creating the first pyramid piano in 1745.

After a hiatus, the uprights experienced a renaissance in Austria in the early 19th century (Seuffert, Wachtl, Bleyer) with significant contributions by Christoph Ehrlich in Germany.

The instruments featured two to six pedals, controlling the piano, sustaining, bassoon-register, and sometimes "janissary" (drum and bells) functions (Friederici also used hand stops).