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"Please explain why some digital pianos have 88 keys and some less"

Hi Graham

Please could you explain why some digital pianos have 88 keys and some less.
I'm a beginner and don't know what I should buy? I have read your 7 Things
you Must know and have found it very helpful.

Thanks
Bryan

Reply/ Hi Bryan

Most digital pianos have 88 keys. This is the same
number of keys that an upright piano has. Although
some older upright pianos have 85 keys.

There some digital pianos that have 76 keys. But
these are really more like keyboards than digital
pianos... their key touch is much lighter than
a typical digital piano.

I recommend going for a digital piano with 88,
fully-weighted keys.

The piano you get should also have touch sensitive
keys (minimum 4 levels). This allows you to play
4 different volume levels on each key.

A progressive hammer action is also worth getting.
Although not essential.

Yours pianistically,

Graham Howard

--

"My fingers slide off the keys of my Yamaha Clavinova"

Dear Sir,
 
please can you explain why when I have my piano lesson on a modern Yamaha upright piano with plastic keys I have great difficulty getting my fingers to slide on the keys however when I play my own piano with ivory keys I have no problem at all.
 
I have just purchased another piano with ivory keys and again my fingers can slide smoothly. My teacher says that no other pupils complain of her keys being sticky, can you offer an explanation?
 
Yours sincerely
 
Duncan Rye

Reply/ Hi Duncan

This is the first time I've heard of this problem.

I don' t know the exact answer, but It could be
a number of reasons.

Maybe your piano teacher's keys are dirty?

Maybe a sticky drink had been spilt on them
and they haven't been cleaned properly?

Maybe the sweat from hands is causing the
problem?

These are only suggestions.

If this becomes a real problem for you,
maybe you will have to get a teacher
to visit your home?

Personally, I do prefer playing on a piano
with ivory keys. The feel is much nicer than plastic. 

Yours pianistically,
Graham Howard
UK Pianos

Further comments/

Hello Graham,

thank you for your reply, I have tried washing my hands thoroughly and hand
creams but nothing seems to help. I have suggested to Elizabeth, my teacher,
that it could be fear of her that is perhaps making my hands sweat!

Best regards

Duncan Rye

--

"I do not know how to get the ink off the keys without damage"

To the answer person,
I found you on line and am hoping you can help me. I have a Acrosonic built by Baldwin and it is quite old.
My daughter unbeknown to me decided to learn to play the piano from a beginners book she found. To help her, in her opinion, she marked the keys by number and note with a permanent marker pen. Needless to say I was/am quite upset but do not know how to get the ink off the keys without damage.
 
On a couple of other sights it said to use nothing but white toothpaste,which I tried on one key and it did take most of the ink off. I do not want to use it on the other 14 keys if I will ruin them. I have called several piano stores and no one so far can tell me what to do. So here I am on line again looking for HELP.
 
I would be deeply greatful for a professionals  advice,
 
Sincere Thanks,
 
Mrs. Hale

Reply/ Hi Mrs Hale

This is a common problem I have come across.

It really depends if the keys are ivory or plastic.

You should read an article I wrote earlier this year.
It explains in detail how to clean your keys:
http://www.ukpianos.co.uk/piano-keys-learn-how-to-clean-them.html

Yours pianistically,
Graham Howard
UK Pianos

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