How to Choose Between Digital or Acoustic Piano
Understand the differences., Consider your needs., Think about the future., Don't forget about investment value., Make informed choices, regardless of which you choose.
Step-by-Step Guide
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Step 1: Understand the differences.
Digital pianos are electronic devices that are designed to sound like an acoustic piano.
They have no strings and no soundboard.
Some have springs instead of hammers.
Instead, they have electronic circuits and speakers.
Here are some of the features which may make a digital piano an attractive alternative:
Different types of piano sounds, such as harpsichord, organ and more.
Instrument sounds such as strings, flute, and percussion.
Built-in rhythm capabilities to accompany playing.
The ability to record performances and interact with other electronic music (MIDI).
Never needs tuning.
Headphones are available for private practice.
Portability and low weight.
If you have a reasonably modern computer you can also run one or more 'software synthesizers'
where your computer generates the sound and you use the digital piano as a silent master keyboard, which offers an attractive and relatively inexpensive ($100-$200) upgrade path for unconvincing sounding digital pianos. -
Step 2: Consider your needs.
With some digital pianos, you can learn a piece by playing lit keys rather than reading music, which is useful for beginners and inexperienced piano enthusiasts.
However, after the novelty wears off, you may want more from the instrument, and most digital pianos cannot offer it.
A majority of electronic instruments lack the tone and touch of an acoustic piano, as well as the feel and the ability to convey subtle emotion and feeling.
Remember that an acoustic piano has strings and hammers, while a digital piano has none.
Having actual strings means that there are thousands of things in an acoustic piano (such as sympathetically vibrating strings) that are difficult to reproduce convincingly on a digital piano. , Realize that beyond a certain level, some piano teachers will not teach students who have learned on anything other than an acoustic piano.
Digital pianos are frequently counterproductive when it comes to technique and dynamic performance.
These skills cannot be practiced on a cheap digital keyboard and later applied to a real piano. , Consider that an acoustic piano will hold its value far better than a digital unit.
An acoustic piano can last 100 years or more, while a digital piano may be obsolete in 5 years.
An outdated keyboard is often difficult to sell.
The technology has improved so much so now; the modern digital pianos by major manufactures, especially the companies making acoustic pianos, are making Graded Hammer action keys with natural weights and without a spring mechanism.
These digital pianos really have the same action as an acoustic piano.
Top digital pianos use the same wooden keys action, hence they are in fact better sounding than most upright acoustic pianos.
Today we have digital pianos, for which the piano sound is sampled from top concert grand pianos with all 88-keys sampled at different velocity levels.
Those pianos incorporate similar wooden keys and the same key length up to the balancing pins of a concert grand piano. , It is often more difficult to choose a digital piano than an acoustic piano.
Top priority should be given for the tone and the touch.
So, a good quality digital piano cannot be purchased very cheaply, because to produce the proper piano action is a costly process for any manufacturer.
Although digital pianos may not have a span as much as an acoustic piano, a good digital piano can work for easy 20 years or more. -
Step 3: Think about the future.
-
Step 4: Don't forget about investment value.
-
Step 5: Make informed choices
-
Step 6: regardless of which you choose.
Detailed Guide
Digital pianos are electronic devices that are designed to sound like an acoustic piano.
They have no strings and no soundboard.
Some have springs instead of hammers.
Instead, they have electronic circuits and speakers.
Here are some of the features which may make a digital piano an attractive alternative:
Different types of piano sounds, such as harpsichord, organ and more.
Instrument sounds such as strings, flute, and percussion.
Built-in rhythm capabilities to accompany playing.
The ability to record performances and interact with other electronic music (MIDI).
Never needs tuning.
Headphones are available for private practice.
Portability and low weight.
If you have a reasonably modern computer you can also run one or more 'software synthesizers'
where your computer generates the sound and you use the digital piano as a silent master keyboard, which offers an attractive and relatively inexpensive ($100-$200) upgrade path for unconvincing sounding digital pianos.
With some digital pianos, you can learn a piece by playing lit keys rather than reading music, which is useful for beginners and inexperienced piano enthusiasts.
However, after the novelty wears off, you may want more from the instrument, and most digital pianos cannot offer it.
A majority of electronic instruments lack the tone and touch of an acoustic piano, as well as the feel and the ability to convey subtle emotion and feeling.
Remember that an acoustic piano has strings and hammers, while a digital piano has none.
Having actual strings means that there are thousands of things in an acoustic piano (such as sympathetically vibrating strings) that are difficult to reproduce convincingly on a digital piano. , Realize that beyond a certain level, some piano teachers will not teach students who have learned on anything other than an acoustic piano.
Digital pianos are frequently counterproductive when it comes to technique and dynamic performance.
These skills cannot be practiced on a cheap digital keyboard and later applied to a real piano. , Consider that an acoustic piano will hold its value far better than a digital unit.
An acoustic piano can last 100 years or more, while a digital piano may be obsolete in 5 years.
An outdated keyboard is often difficult to sell.
The technology has improved so much so now; the modern digital pianos by major manufactures, especially the companies making acoustic pianos, are making Graded Hammer action keys with natural weights and without a spring mechanism.
These digital pianos really have the same action as an acoustic piano.
Top digital pianos use the same wooden keys action, hence they are in fact better sounding than most upright acoustic pianos.
Today we have digital pianos, for which the piano sound is sampled from top concert grand pianos with all 88-keys sampled at different velocity levels.
Those pianos incorporate similar wooden keys and the same key length up to the balancing pins of a concert grand piano. , It is often more difficult to choose a digital piano than an acoustic piano.
Top priority should be given for the tone and the touch.
So, a good quality digital piano cannot be purchased very cheaply, because to produce the proper piano action is a costly process for any manufacturer.
Although digital pianos may not have a span as much as an acoustic piano, a good digital piano can work for easy 20 years or more.
About the Author
Elizabeth Morgan
Experienced content creator specializing in pet care guides and tutorials.
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