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Should I have a home with a piano?
If you’re reading this guide, you’re probably about to buy your first piano or Keyboards. Maybe your child has started taking piano lessons, or you’ve taken up playing the piano yourself. There are many different types of keyboard instruments, and it can easily feel a bit overwhelming to make sense of it all – that’s why, with this guide, we’ll try to give you an overview of what to look for when buying your first piano.
Which piano is the right one for you?
We’ll start with a brief overview of the different types available. They all have different advantages and disadvantages, so it’s a good idea to decide which type you’re aiming for.
Digital piano: the goal here is essentially to imitate an acoustic piano. That means the piano sounds are the main focus, and the keys are weighted so they feel like the keys on an acoustic piano. There are rarely many sounds, and they’re typically limited to piano, electric piano and strings. Matching legs and pedals can be purchased as add-ons, so the instrument looks stylish and elegant.
Stage piano: covers a wide range of digital pianos. They can have weighted or non-weighted keys and often good piano sounds. They usually have more different sounds than a digital piano. They’re typically designed to sit on a standard keyboard stand.
Keyboards: also covers a range of different instruments. The keys will almost never be weighted – they will usually have what’s called synth action, where the keys are pressed down very lightly, which for example makes it easier to play fast. On the other hand, it doesn’t feel as natural for playing piano. A keyboard has a lot of different sounds, often including piano, synthesizers, guitar, sound effects and drum sounds. Many also have built-in rhythm boxes that you can play along with.
Synthesizer: a synthesizer or synth is an instrument category in its own right. They can be digital or analog, polyphonic or monophonic (a monophonic synth can only play one note at a time), and an entire guide could be written about synthesizers alone. Here we’ll limit ourselves to saying they’re great instruments, but most probably aren’t an obvious choice as a beginner instrument (with a few exceptions).
Midi-keyboards: are keyboards with no built-in sounds. They send MIDI signals, which you can use to control a synthesizer, computer or other sound generator.
What does it mean..?
By now, quite a few terms have already flown across the table that you may not have come across before. There are a few concepts that are very useful to keep in mind when buying a piano:
Action/weighting: 100 years ago, there was only one action – the one from an acoustic piano/grand piano. There, the keys are physical mechanisms that set vibrations in motion in the piano’s strings. As digital pianos have become more and more widespread and the technology has improved, manufacturers have tried to emulate the feel of an acoustic piano. Basically, there are two types of keys – weighted and non-weighted – where the weighted ones are made to resemble an acoustic piano. However, there are many sub-categories. Hammer action, for example, gives the feel of the hammers that pluck the strings; waterfall action emulates the feel of an organ, etc. In general, you can say that if the piano is going to be used for playing piano music – classical, accompaniment or similar – it’s a good idea to go for weighted keys.
Polyphony: simply means how many sounds the piano can play at once. As a beginner, it’s not something you need to think much about, but it’s nice to know what it means when you read specifications.
USB/MIDI: Many pianos have a MIDI output. MIDI is used to send what you play as data, so for example it can be sent into a computer or control music equipment that doesn’t have built-in keys. If you have a Mac with Garageband, for example, you can connect the keyboard via USB and use MIDI to control the software instruments that come with the program. And there are loads of other great software instruments you can dive into.
Other features: many Keyboards and pianos have several other great features worth keeping in mind. This could be integration with iPad, where you can select sounds or access teaching materials. Many pianos also have a recording function, so you can save what you play and listen back to yourself. A few of Yamaha’s Keyboards even have built-in lights in the keys that work together with a learning tool, so the piano shows you where to place your fingers. It’s also important to decide whether you want an instrument with built-in speakers.
How much does it cost?
Like so many other things, Keyboards and pianos come in many price ranges, and the more you spend, the better the sound and feel. In general, we don’t recommend buying too cheap – it will take away from the enjoyment of playing, and you might as well start by buying something that can be used for many years – it’s simply a better investment.
So what should you choose?
Some of the biggest players are Yamaha and Roland, but there are also alternatives – with the big brands, you rarely go wrong in terms of quality. We hope this brief overview of types and features has helped you feel better prepared to choose. If you’re unsure, you’re of course always welcome to contact us – we’re ready to help via email, Facebook and phone.
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Artesia PE-88 Digital Piano |
Roland GO:KEYS GO-61 Keyboard |
