I have always wanted to play piano.. and I am finally going to buy one and learn.. and I haven't got the first clue what type of piano I should get.. and what would best suit me.. so if anyone could give me any information for a beginner piano player.. well soon to be piano player :-) Thanks,
Bethany.

First question is...... what is your budget?

Agreed, your budget is the first consideration.

A top quality grand about 6' or larger could serve you for the rest of your life, but they start at around $20,000 and go much, much higher. A student-grade vertical piano good enough to serve you through a year or so of instruction and study can be had for as little as $2,000 used.

Tell us how much you want to spend and you will get specific advice.

Well see that's the thing.. I don't have a job.. I'm 17.. So something cheap, but will do the job.. Nothing fancy.. I just want to learn to play :-) Thanks,
Bethany.

A Kawai or Yamaha beater vertical is the first thing that comes to mind. These pianos were well built and an old one can still have a lot of life in it if it was well maintained. A good one that you can afford will probably not be much of a looker on the outside. You need to find someone in your area with some playing skill who will help you check out used pianos.

I know what it's like to have more time than money to spend. The most productive thing you can do is persuade somebody in your area who is knowledgeable to help you in your search.

A post on a different thread had a good suggestion.
Find a dealer you like and take a piano playing friend if you want a second opinion. Ask the dealer if you can try some of his inexpensive trade-ins that are likely still in the warehouse.

The price will be right and after you find some you like, bring an indepenent tech on to look at them for you.
Many of these are still useable pianos but aren't worth the dealers cost to prep or repair and make look pretty.

It is a short term solution. But in a couple of years you will have a better understanding of what you like and can look more clearly for your move up piano.

The other option is classifieds but you miss out on the dealers knowledge and have to listen to very biased private sellers who find nothing wrong with the one they are SELLING? Also it is hard to compare when you have to travel between each one.

An inexpensive keyboard might do for a while but an acoustic piano - nearly any acoustic piano -would be better. There are a whole lot of pianos sitting around in people's homes not being played; perhaps you can latch on to one of those.

My folks tried for years to give away Grandma's spinet - never the end-all of pianos but it was a decent thing before it sat outside in the shed for a couple of years. Now it's trash, and it would have been much better donated to someone who wanted to learn to play.

An ad in the paper might be useful:

"Starving student needs nourishment that can only be provided by a piano - will you loan me yours?"

Keep a bit of money aside to have a tech evaluate whatever piano you find - some will not be worth the trouble of moving even if they are free. If you are diligent in your search, I'll bet you find a suitable piano in fairly short order.

Good hunting!