How To Choose A Digital Piano

What is the digital piano?

Pianos are sophisticated instruments with up to 12,000 distinct pieces, the majority of which are constructed of organic materials such as wood and steel. They have a rich tone and feel to them, with weighted keys that allow for both expressive and boisterous playing. Keyboards are all electrical, all plastic, and only sometimes contain the full 88 keys that pianos have.

Enter the digital piano: although many offer the most excellent keyboard functions, the finest ones are designed and manufactured to emulate the touch, tone, appearance, and feel of an acoustic piano. While most types are portable and set on a stand, the pricier ones have elegant cabinets that look wonderful in your house.

How to choose a digital piano

If you are a beginner, to choose the best beginners digital piano, you need to first consider the following characteristics of this type of piano before buying:

1. Sound

This may seem obvious, but you must pay special attention to the sound of your chosen digital piano. We have a few things to look out for, including the speakers and the internal sound library.

The speakers are your digital piano’s significant sound output, and you will most likely depend on them while playing. As a result, you must ensure they are of good quality and loud enough to meet your requirements.

Although headphones are always an option, internal or external speakers are required if you wish to perform in front of family and friends.

Digital pianos can come with a variety of tones. They’re also not simply piano sounds. Many digital pianos have dozens, if not hundreds, of sounds, such as electric pianos, organs, strings, clavinets, and harpsichords, to mention a few. Some digital pianos have sound effects like clapping, rain, and explosions.

While piano tones are often the center, additional instrument sounds may be a terrific way to enhance your performance and explore new genres and instruments.

2. MIDI Connectivity

MIDI connection has opened doors and offered previously unimaginable possibilities. As a result, if you want to produce and compose music, we propose a digital piano with a MIDI connection. This lets you connect your digital piano to your preferred Digital Audio Workstation (DAW), record yourself playing, and utilize thousands of freely accessible plug-ins.

As a music producer, MIDI connection is essential, and it is one of my top priorities when shopping for a new digital piano. Because plug-ins enable you to employ millions of high-quality sounds, it opens up a new world of creativity. You may also use your digital piano as a MIDI controller, assigning specific keys to a drum machine and creating your rhythms and drum loops.

Nowadays, most digital pianos and keyboards have a USB MIDI connection. However, since some entry-level models lack this capability, double-checking is always a good idea.

3. Polyphony

Polyphony is another term you’ll come across when looking for a digital piano. The amount of notes that may be played concurrently without being cut off prematurely is referred to as polyphony.

You want to express yourself without having specific notes cut off too early. To do this, you must verify that your digital piano has sufficient polyphony.

Whatever composition you’re playing, you should be alright if you have at least 64 notes of polyphony. In most situations, entry-level keyboards feature a lower polyphony count, which is suitable for novices.

Overall, Axreview recommends not emphasizing this feature much unless you intend on layering many sounds on top of each other or playing with backing recordings.

4. Keyboard

The keyboard on a digital piano will play a significant influence on your decision to purchase it. It should be of high quality and feel authentic to the touch. Choosing a keyboard that meets these requirements will be determined by some variables, including the critical actuation mechanism employed in your instrument.

Most digital pianos have a fully-weighted hammer action keyboard that mimics the feel of an acoustic piano. The keys are often graded, meaning the lower register keys are somewhat heavier and progressively get lighter as you travel up the keyboard.

However, not all weighted keyboards are made equal, and it’s always a good idea to go to a music shop and try as many possibilities as possible to ensure you like how the keys feel and react.

Cheaper portable keyboards are a whole other animal. They often have less than 88 keys and do not attempt to recreate the feel of an acoustic piano. The keys are often unweighted or semi-weighted, resulting in a lighter keyboard that feels significantly different from an acoustic piano.

Weighted keys are essential to learning to play the piano or perform classical music.

5. Adaptability

Depending on your planned usage for your digital piano, you may choose a lightweight model. For example, suppose you’re a gigging musician who plans on transporting your digital piano from performance to show. In that case, you should look for a small digital piano that’s lightweight and simple to transport.

If this is the case, a cabinet-style digital piano may not be for you because they are challenging to assemble and disassemble and are heavy.

6. Features 

You want to get the most bang for your money on the instrument of your choice, regardless of your budget. That means you must also pay close attention to the available features so you can determine whether they are worth the cost and meet your needs.

For example, live musicians will want to be able to switch between sounds as quickly as possible while on stage, whereas beginners will want a ‘lesson mode’ option to hone their skills.

Other features to consider include the availability of a recording and playback option. This is useful when you want to listen to your compositions or monitor your progress. Check to see whether your preferred digital piano can be linked to apps or if it comes with any companion applications.

7. Additions

Given the relatively high cost of digital pianos, one should look for a model with many extras. Although many music stores sell piano “bundles,” we’re just talking about what comes with purchasing the digital piano.

Many digital pianos, for example, have to sustain pedals when bought. This saves you money on purchasing another sustain pedal.

Other variants, such as cabinet design digital pianos, contain built-in piano stands and, in some cases, 3-pedal boards, precisely like an acoustic piano.

FAQs

What is the price of an excellent digital piano?

As a general guideline, you should spend between $400 and $1000 on a digital piano for beginners and advanced players to study and practice. A high-quality instrument for more skilled players and stage usage will typically cost between $1000 and $3000.

How long does a digital piano last?

Digital pianos have a lifespan of 20 to 50 years. High-end digital pianos are more structurally sound. They employ higher-quality electrical components, solid plastic, more robust metal, and piano keys that can sustain significant wear and tear. Low-cost digital pianos may have different longevity, but they can survive for many years with proper maintenance.

Are low-cost digital pianos worthwhile?

Yes, it would be best if you got a digital piano because of its low cost and adaptability. Digital pianos are less expensive than acoustic pianos, and many have weighted hammer action keys for a genuine touch. Many have a wide range of tone samples, effects, and production options.

Conclusion

Knowing how to choose a digital piano will help you understand the properties and criteria to buy the most suitable digital piano. Hope the above information has been helpful to you. Hope you will soon choose your own digital piano.