Types of piano

What is the difference between a digital piano, an acoustic piano and an electronic keyboard?

Here are the main differences between the three options available.

Electronic keyboards are often the first choice for beginners, as they are affordable, smaller and lighter than an acoustic piano. They are typically smaller than a full acoustic piano in that they tend to have approximately 61 keys (4 or 5 octaves) whereas a full acoustic has 88 keys (6 octaves). Keyboards are portable, able to provide a wider range of sounds and have the ability to interact easily with computers via MIDI or USB connections.

When playing an electronic keyboard you will notice that the keys are slightly smaller and easier to press than a traditional piano. This may take some getting used to for a pianist that has been playing on an acoustic piano. The reason that the acoustic is heavier is because they are triggering the hammer that hits the string and makes noise, whereas a keyboard does not require this action to occur.

Digital pianos are a mix between an acoustic piano and an electronic keyboard. They allow for a greater variation in sounds because they allow for sound modification. They are larger than a keyboard and are usually the same length (88 keys) as an acoustic instrument.

The sound quality of a digital piano is often better than a keyboard because they typically have built in speakers, but this also reduces the portability in comparison to the keyboard. Digital pianos tend to have “weighted keys” which make them feel more like an acoustic piano when playing.

Most digital pianos have a MIDI output which allows you to connect them to a computer via an inexpensive interface, this enables you to record and edit your playing and add additional parts, as well as control other instruments.

A well-maintained, high-quality acoustic piano can sound amazing – but make sure you know what you’re taking on. Acoustic pianos are heavier than digital pianos, as the cabinet contains the weights, hammers, strings and soundboard that together create each note (by contrast, digital pianos recreate sound electronically, meaning there are fewer moving parts inside). You’ll need to keep an acoustic piano maintained and tuned (while a digital piano shouldn’t need any upkeep), and it can only make one sound, compared to a digital model that offers an array of sounds – pretty important if your child fancies exploring different genres. Perhaps the biggest difference of all is that everyone in the house can hear you play an acoustic piano, whereas a digital piano’s headphones output means you can practise any time you like.

Do I choose a digital piano or an acoustic piano?

If your answer to any of the following questions is a YES, then it would indicate that your needs are more suited to digital piano rather than an acoustic.

• Do you want to put your piano within a metre of a radiator? (Acoustic pianos have soundboards and other parts made from wood, these will crack if dried out.)
• Do you want your piano upstairs? (Moving an acoustic upstairs is costly, difficult and there is a risk of damage to the piano and surroundings.)
• Do you want to play at night or other times without disturbing family or neighbours? (Digital pianos have headphones for silent playing.)
• Do you want to avoid tuning and maintenance costs? (Acoustic pianos can cost over £100 a year to tune)
• Do you have less than £1500 but still want a good instrument? (Cheap pianos are sold more on their furniture value rather than their musical value.)

What are the benefits of a digital piano?

One of the great advantages of a digital piano over an acoustic model is the extra features enhancing learning and making playing more fun. While enlisting a qualified music teacher gives you the best start for establishing good techniques and avoiding bad habits, the innovative features found on digital pianos can help make learning more fun, enjoyable and productive.

What kinds of digital piano are there?

Digital pianos come in four basic formats:

• Upright
• Stage
• Portable
• Grand models

Instead of insisting on every last bell and whistle, consider what you want to achieve as a player and choose a piano that ticks your boxes. If you’re teaching yourself to play, you might enjoy a model that lets you jam along with intelligent onboard rhythms or comes pre-loaded with a song library. If you want to improve fast, look out for the keyboard split function and built-in recorder. If you want to harness the power of apps and access content from the web, make Bluetooth a priority.

Digital upright pianos – Roland has upright and premium upright models
An upright piano is designed to sit up against a wall, these pianos are more suited to home and practice use and they are built to be aesthetically pleasing and resemble the appearance of an upright acoustic piano.

Digital stage pianos or Portable Pianos
Also known as a ‘portable piano’, a stage piano is designed for use with a live band. While stage pianos share some of the same features as digital pianos designed for home use and electronic synthesizers, they have a number of features which set them apart. This type of digital piano normally makes no attempt to imitate the physical appearance of an acoustic piano, rather resembling a modern synth or music workstation. A distinguishing feature of most stage pianos is a lack of internal loudspeakers and amplification – it is normally assumed that a powerful keyboard amplifier or PA system will be used. Stage pianos usually provide a small number of sounds (acoustic piano, electric piano, and Hammond organ).

Stage pianos often have a heavier, more robust body, which is better able to withstand the stress of heavy touring. Unlike digital pianos designed for home use, they do not have a fixed stand or fixed sustain pedals. Instead, they are designed to be used with a separate portable stand and portable sustain pedals.

Digital grand pianos
A classic grand piano gives a room presence. However, the traditional acoustic beauty can come with high-maintenance issues. They need to be tuned, are susceptible to changes in climate, and moving them is cumbersome.

Roland’s top of the range digital grand pianos offer the same silhouettes and sounds, yet are easy to move and never need tuning. Unlike traditional grand pianos, the volume can be controlled from soft background music all the way to concert volumes. Some models even offer virtual surround sound and digital “player-piano” capabilities, complete with moving keys. The action of the keyboard simulates the feel of a true acoustic grand with amazing accuracy.

5 Things to know before you go to a piano shop

The only way to truly find your perfect piano is to try them out. You really can’t beat going into a music shop and trying a few side by side, but once you’re in the store which areas should you be testing and what questions should you ask?

Having done your initial research, you should go to a store and try a few side by side. The only way to find out how a piano will perform for you is to try it. This video will show you how to test a piano in store. We will also explore some of the questions that you should ask.

Things to know before buying a new piano…

1. Who is it for?
Before you get to the store to buy a new piano you should be clear on who it is for. Is the piano for you, your children or is it for the whole family? Is it possible that someone in the family will use the piano in many years to come? This clarifies the decision regarding the quality of the instrument. Improved quality offers the advantages of better tone, touch, and features that will be appreciated over time. As with most things, the more money you spend, the better the product you receive.

2. The tone – Does it inspire me to play?
When you get to a store to buy a new piano, the first thing to evaluate is the tone of the instrument; what sounds best to you? The best way of doing this is to select the three or four voices or sounds you think you’ll use most. Make them the standard for comparison as you compare models.

You should try at least two or three instruments in your price range to determine which sounds best to you. If you plan to use headphones at home, be sure to try out the pianos using headphones. This can make a tremendous difference to the sound. If possible, bring your own from home, but also ask for headphones to try at the store.

3. The sound – How are the speakers?
For those times when you are not using headphones, a digital piano with a good quality amplifier and speaker system is a must. Entry level digital pianos will normally have two stereo speakers, and the better sounding digitals will have four or more speakers. The benefits of this are sometimes only really apparent when you sit at the piano, so when you buy a new piano, get the salesman to play for you!

4. Evaluating the touch of the piano keys
Aside from sound, the most important element in the selection of a digital piano will be the feel of the action. A good action that feels right is vital to the development of a good piano technique. What feels right is largely subjective – a bit like comparing a car with light steering and one with heavy steering. You can drive them both without crashing but one will feel better to you.

The surface of the key is less subjective. Entry level pianos have a shiny plastic surface whereas the more upmarket pianos will use a synthetic ivory substitute that not only looks more natural, it will offer better grip. Make sure you try both types.

The overall touch is not the total picture. You have to make sure that when you play the piano the touch translates into expressivity. A piano may have a great tone, but if the action doesn’t live up to the tone you may not be able to play expressively, so check how wide the dynamic range is.

Also check how easy it is to control. You should be able to press a key down slowly and not hear anything at all. Equally, you should be able to get a very bright sound when playing fortissimo. Compare this dynamic range on different pianos – the wider, the better. Crucially, all of the shades in between should be easy to control. You can check this by repeatedly playing the same note from a soft whisper to a bright fortissimo.

5. Ease of Use
All of the amazing capabilities of the modern digital piano are of little value if you can’t figure out how to use them. Importantly, you should be able to access them quickly while playing. So think about the location, spacing, grouping, and labelling of the controls.

Also worth considering is the placement of connections you’ll use often. If you frequently switch back and forth between speakers and headphones, you’ll want to make sure the headphone jack is easy to locate. It should be accessible by sight or feel, and make sure the cord will be out of your way when plugged in. Also, if you’ll be using a USB memory device, make sure the USB port is easy to get to and not on the rear panel which is awkward if the piano is against a wall.

Finally, you should check the warranty period. Today’s digital pianos are very reliable but things do go wrong just as they do on an acoustic piano. That being said, many of the Roland digital pianos come with an unbeatable 10 year warranty!