Should You Learn on a Keyboard or Digital Piano?

The keyboard and digital piano market is certainly much larger today than the acoustic piano market. The reasons for this are mainly due to the available space in the modern home, advances in technology that allow you to record your own music on your digital piano or keyboard, and the useful feature of being able to play with headphones.

 

Graham Howard – Author and Piano Advisor.
Email for piano advice: grahamhoward@ukpianos.co.uk
or Call 020 8367 5107

 

– – Grand Pianos – –

In an ideal world it is best to learn on a grand piano.

The grand piano produces the best sound, has more weight to the keys which strengthens the fingers more, and has a faster repetition due to the superior horizontal piano action which relies more on gravity than the upright.

The disadvantages of the grand piano are mainly the space they take up and the high price tag.

 

– – Upright Pianos – –

The upright piano is the next best thing to learn on.

Much less space is required than a grand piano, prices are cheaper and the sound of the tallest uprights are almost identical to the grand piano.

 

– – Digital Pianos – –

The digital piano comes next in line.

The sounds are recordings from a grand piano and the touch, although lighter than a grand or upright piano, is pretty realistic.

The main advantages of the digital piano are:

•        Cheaper to buy

•        Easier to mover around

•        Lots of different instrument sounds to play around with

•        Can be used with headphones

•        Takes up less room than an upright piano

•        Easy to record your own music

•        No tuning required

 

Disadvantages:

•        New improved models are brought out every 2-3 years

•        They wear out very quickly if played a lot

•        The touch is not quite heavy enough

•        The sound is easily identifiable as electronic

 

– – Keyboards – –

Last in line is the keyboard.

The keyboard is not the best thing to learn on.

Advantages are:

•        Much cheaper to buy than any other type of piano

•        Easy to carry around

•        Takes up limited space. Easily storable

•        Record your own music

•        No tuning required

 

Disadvantages:

•        The keys are way too light

•        Only 61 keys instead of 88

•        Poor sound quality

•        Harder to play dynamics

 

– – Conclusion – –

If your budget is tight, then a keyboard will do for the first year of playing only.

Practicing on a keyboard is ok if you are mainly learning the notes and the theory of music. After one year you will need to upgrade to either a digital piano or an acoustic piano.

 

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