In part 1 of How to Buy a Digital Piano, I talked about the importance of actually trying out a digital piano before you buy it. I also discussed the value of learning how to evaluate the sound of a digital piano.
Now in part 2, I’m going to share with you more insider tips on how to buy the perfect digital piano.
You’ll find out what you should be looking for in a digital piano’s keyboard action. I’ll discuss why it’s critical to determine who the end user is and finally I’ll reveal why it’s vitally important to know exactly where you’ll be playing your digital piano after you buy it.
Digital Piano Action is Important
Finding a piano with the right action is critical because how the keyboard feels ultimately determines how the piano will sound as you express yourself through the keyboard. You want something that feels comfortable to you – not too heavy but not too light. The keys should feel light enough that they are responsive but heavy enough that they are slightly challenging to play. Find a good balance between both ends of the spectrum by avoiding the extremes of being too easy to play and too hard to play.
The feel of a real piano is influenced by the hammer mechanism which when depressed with enough force strikes the strings in the piano and makes a sound. Digital piano companies have tried to simulate this with varying degrees of success. The least expensive digital pianos have what’s called “semi-weighted” action. These are very easy to play but don’t feel very authentic.
You should be looking for keyboard action that mimics what you find on a real piano with action that is heavier in the lower registers and lighter action in the higher registers. In most cases, the quality of the keyboard action gets better the more you pay.
Watch out for digital pianos that have noisy keyboard action. If you are playing the piano late at night you don’t want the sound of the keys waking up people or causing excessive noise. When you try out the piano be sure to listen to the sound of the keys with the volume turned all the way down. The more expensive digital pianos have quieter action – so you may have to pay a bit more for a quiet keyboard.
Determine Who the End User Is
It’s very important to determine exactly who will be using the digital piano. A digital keyboard for a child taking classical piano lessons and practicing at home may have different requirements than what a teenager or adult would prefer who likes to play popular music.
You should also consider whether you’ll be using this keyboard for music production. If so then you’ll want to make sure it has a modulation and pitch wheels and fully MIDI compliant. Of course someone just looking to play piano wouldn’t need all those bells and whistles. Figuring out what you want to use a digital piano for will go a long way in helping you determine the right model to purchase.
Where Will You Be Playing?
People who play digital pianos do so in all types of places. Where you are playing will determine what kind of digital piano is best for your needs. For many pianists the home is where they’ll be playing, so portability is not that big of a concern.
However if you are playing for a living or playing for a church or in a club you’ll want to make sure you digital piano is portable. If you plan on taking your piano with you be sure to invest in a good roadworthy case.
In part 3 of How to Buy a Digital Piano I’ll reveal why it’s important to know what kind of music you’ll be playing and I’ll share with you some insider tips on how to buy like a pro.
-Chris Braun
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