Salamander Grand Piano is a grand piano instrument that is distributed free. It is a recording of a Yamaha C5 grand piano, and the author is Alexander Holm. It is often named as a staple of free piano instruments, and it is a candidate as a base for ballads, singer-songwriter pieces, lo-fi, music for video and more. However, it is not a “plug-in”: it is a collection of sound data (samples). To play it, you need separate playback software that supports the SFZ format. This page covers how to get it, the format and what to watch for.
Disclosure: this site uses affiliate programs. Whether the plug-in is free, and its features and supported formats, were checked on the maker’s official pages around 2026-10-16. Terms of distribution can change, so please check the official page before you download.
How to get Salamander Grand Piano
- Open the official download page, the SFZ Instruments official Salamander Grand Piano page (free).
- From the “Download” table, choose the one that suits the sound quality and size you want. The official table lists two: 24-bit, 48 kHz (about 1.18 GB) and 16-bit, 44.1 kHz (about 394 MB).
- Extract the downloaded file to an easy-to-find place on your computer.
- Load playback software that supports the SFZ format (a sampler plug-in) in your DAW (recording and production software).
- From the playback software, open the Salamander Grand Piano settings file (extension sfz) and play the keys to check the sound.
The official page did not show any request to register an account.
What is Salamander Grand Piano?
According to the official page, the recording is of a Yamaha C5, made with two microphones (AKG C414) set up about 12 cm above the strings in an AB arrangement (placed apart, left and right). The recordings are in WAV format at 48 kHz and 24-bit, with 16 velocity layers (levels of how hard the key is played). The notes are recorded every minor third, starting from the lowest A.
It is also explained that the release sounds are included: one layer per semitone for the hammer noise as the hammer returns, and three layers every minor third for the release of string resonance (the sound of strings you are not playing ringing in sympathy). The official page also says that versions converted to sfz version 2 format (ARIA extensions) and to FLAC are in a repository of the same organisation.
The page that distributes it belongs to “SFZ Instruments”, an organisation that collects and publishes free instruments in SFZ format.
Main features of Salamander Grand Piano
- A grand piano recorded at many strengths (per the manufacturer): A Yamaha C5 recorded at 16 velocity layers. It is built so that the change from soft to hard notes can come across naturally.
- Release sounds are included (per the manufacturer): The hammer sound and string resonance are held as separate samples. The tail when you let go of a key may sound more realistic.
- A choice of two sound qualities (per the manufacturer): You can choose between 24-bit, 48 kHz and 16-bit, 44.1 kHz. One way to use it is to try the smaller 16-bit version first.
- Published free (per the manufacturer): The official table gives the licence as CC-BY-3.0 (a licence that lets you use it as long as you show credit).
- Distributed in SFZ format (per the manufacturer): SFZ is a format that describes in text how samples are played. Several kinds of playback software support it.
Who Salamander Grand Piano is for
- People looking for a full-fledged grand piano sound for free
- People who want to compare how different piano instruments sound, starting with a free one
- People who already have playback software that supports the SFZ format (or who will look for one for free)
- People who want a piano as the base for a solo piano piece or a quiet song
On the other hand, people who want the ease of “it plays as soon as it is installed” or of turning knobs in a settings screen to shape the sound may be better served by a piano instrument distributed as a plug-in.
Tips for using Salamander Grand Piano
- At first, use a MIDI keyboard or the on-screen keys in your DAW and play slowly, comparing soft and hard notes. You may be able to hear how the tone changes across the 16 velocity layers.
- Piano low end can pile up and get muddy. In the mix, it may help to tidy the unneeded low end a little with an EQ.
- Add reverb (an effect that adds ambience) a little at a time. If you overdo it, the piano can become harder to blend with other instruments.
- If CPU or memory load is a concern, one option is to try the smaller sound quality (the 16-bit version).
- If you distribute songs or samples, check the licence credit requirements described below.
Things to know before you download
- You need playback software, not just the instrument: What the official page offers is the distribution of samples. Prepare SFZ-compatible playback software separately. Whether your DAW or sampler can load SFZ needs to be checked in that software’s official information.
- Licence: The official table gives the licence as CC-BY-3.0. For details of the conditions, such as showing credit, check the original text of the licence.
- Size: The official table lists two, about 1.18 GB and about 394 MB. Mind your free disk space.
- Supported operating systems and formats: Because this is a distribution of sound data, supported operating systems depend on the playback software. The official page includes a note about a package for ArchLinux.
- Always get the files from the official download page.
FAQ
Q. Is it really free?
The official download page shows no purchase prompt or price, only a table of downloads. The licence is given as CC-BY-3.0. The official page did not show any pointer to a paid version.
Q. Is it a VST or AU plug-in?
No. What the official page offers is sample data in SFZ format. Whether you can use it in VST or AU format depends on whether the playback software supports it.
Q. Can I stream or sell songs I make with it?
The official table gives the licence as CC-BY-3.0. Please check the original text of the licence for the conditions of use.
Salamander Grand Piano is available from the SFZ Instruments official Salamander Grand Piano page (free).
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