| So you've decided to go with a digital piano instead of | | | | down. Listen to how long it takes for the note to |
| an acoustic. Congratulations, you've made the first | | | | "disappear." Did it disappear similar to how an acoustic |
| decision. But this is just the first step. Choosing a digital | | | | piano note would? |
| piano can be overwhelming. There are so many digital | | | | 4) How does it sound through headphones? If you're |
| pianos on the market today you have to make sure | | | | going to be playing through headphones to not disturb |
| you get the one that is right for you. You don't want to | | | | the neighbors or family members, make sure it sounds |
| pay for features that you will never use, and you don't | | | | good in your headphones. |
| want to leave out features that are important to you. | | | | 5) Does it sound like an acoustic piano? You have to |
| This article will help you make the best decision. | | | | hear both an acoustic and digital piano to see how |
| What's important to you? | | | | close they sound to each other. If you can't tell much |
| What do you want to do with the digital piano that you | | | | of a difference that's a good thing. |
| couldn't do with an acoustic? Portability may be one | | | | Polyphony |
| important feature. If so, go with a "stage digital piano." | | | | Polyphony is the number of notes that can be played |
| These are portable unlike the digital pianos in cabinets, | | | | at once on the digital piano. Mine has 32 note |
| or digital grand pianos which are stationary. | | | | polyphony, but some digital pianos go up to 128 and |
| If you are just beginning to play go with a digital piano | | | | beyond. We only have 10 fingers, but using the sustain |
| that feels like an acoustic. This is important so you'll be | | | | pedal, you can hold out numerous notes. Thus, you |
| use to the feel of a "real" piano when playing at your | | | | need more than 10-note polyphony. You don't want to |
| instructor's house or in a public place such as a church. | | | | lose notes when holding the sustain pedal because |
| I'd also recommend not spending too much. You may | | | | your polyphony is too low. |
| decide that piano playing is not your thing after a while, | | | | If you get 32 note polyphony you'll probably be ok. Plus, |
| and you don't want to spend too much money until | | | | newer digital piano models use advanced algorithms to |
| you're sure you will stick with it. There are affordable | | | | determine which notes to drop off if the max |
| (less than $600 or $500) digital pianos that feel like | | | | polyphony is reached. This means that in the rare |
| acoustic pianos and sound decent enough for the | | | | event you exceed your polyphony max, the keyboard |
| beginner. | | | | will determine which notes could be dropped without |
| How does it feel? | | | | anyone noticing. |
| Most digital piano owners want the feel of an acoustic | | | | If you are sequencing or doing different voices over |
| piano. Many have weighted keys that mimic the | | | | recordings on your keyboard you may need more |
| hammer striking action of acoustic pianos. But they can | | | | than 32 note polyphony since each new voice will |
| feel different from one digital piano to another. So try a | | | | contribute to the maximum amount of notes your |
| few out. There's no sense in going into the details of | | | | keyboard will play at once. Of course, if you are doing |
| each way the manufacturers simulate an acoustic feel. | | | | more advanced techniques such as this, you are |
| The quick and dirty explanation will suffice. | | | | probably already aware of this and would choose a |
| Acoustic pianos use a hammer striking mechanism. | | | | keyboard with higher polyphony. |
| You hit the key, it causes a hammer to strike the | | | | Design and Display |
| strings. Some digital keyboards use hammer simulating | | | | Design is important if it will function as a furniture piece |
| mechanisms to emulate this feel. These are | | | | as well as an instrument. Very important for rooms |
| weighted-hammer action keys. These digital pianos | | | | that get a lot of traffic. If your piano will be in a room |
| feel the most like acoustic pianos. The next closest is | | | | that gets little traffic, this probably won't be an issue. |
| simply weighted-action keys. The keys have a weight | | | | Also, make sure the buttons are set up in a logical |
| in them to simulate the resistance an acoustic piano | | | | fashion. You want it to be easy to use. Make sure |
| key would have, but it doesn't include the | | | | none of the buttons could be accidentally hit while |
| hammer-striking system. Finally, there are non-weighted | | | | playing the keyboard. This could change your settings |
| keys. These are like your typical synthesizer or church | | | | in the middle of a performance. How embarrassing! |
| organ. They feel nothing like an acoustic piano. | | | | Get a good look at the digital piano and the layout. See |
| Play an acoustic to get the feel of it, then you'll have | | | | some videos of digital pianos [ Notice which ones have |
| something to compare when finding the right feel for a | | | | designs and button formats that are appealing to you. |
| digital piano.In addition to the feeling of the keys, don't | | | | You also want to make sure you have a good LCD |
| forget the feeling of the pedal. Many digital pianos will | | | | display screen. It helps you know which features are |
| come with a cheap pedal that doesn't look or feel like | | | | being used. My digital piano does not have an LCD |
| an acoustic piano pedal. The cheap pedals can pose | | | | read out. This was frustrating at first when setting the |
| some difficulty and frustration to the player because | | | | metronome to a specific beat. However, a quick look |
| they will sometimes move as your foot presses them. | | | | through the instruction manual solved this. Plus, since it |
| This can be very annoying. It's worth investing in a | | | | is a feature that is used often, I soon memorized it and |
| pedal that is heavy and will be stationary. Make sure | | | | no longer needed to consult the manual. |
| that if your digital piano does not come with one, that | | | | The point is, if you want to make sure you get to use |
| the manufacturer sells one that is adaptable with your | | | | all the features you paid for, it's easier to do that with a |
| piano. | | | | well organized LCD display. If you want to save |
| Also, some digital pianos will support multiple levels of | | | | money and get one without an LCD (like I did), then |
| pedaling to simulate an acoustic piano. On an acoustic, | | | | read your manual closely to learn how to manipulate |
| you can get different levels of sustain by pressing the | | | | the keyboard buttons to achieve the desired result. |
| sustain pedal more or by pressing it less. Some digital | | | | Bells and Whistles |
| pianos will mimic this. The cheaper ones may only | | | | What other features are you looking for in a digital |
| have on/off sustain pedal, which means you press and | | | | piano? Many come with extra bells and whistles, some |
| it's on. There's no half-way point. | | | | you may need, some you won't, and some that you'll |
| How does it sound? | | | | think are "cool" at first but never use. |
| Digital piano manufacturers use different techniques to | | | | Most will have multiple instrument sounds, or voices. |
| sample sounds. The digital piano plays the recording of | | | | You should get over at least 10 different voices with a |
| the sampled sound. Since the manufacturers use | | | | typical digital piano. You can also get: |
| different techniques, the pianos all sound slightly | | | | - Recording capabilities |
| different. If you want one that sounds like an acoustic, | | | | - Keyboard splitting ability (half of the keyboard plays |
| play an acoustic in the store and immediately compare | | | | one instrument while the other half plays another) |
| it to the digital piano you are considering in the same | | | | - Voice layering (plays two instruments at the same |
| store. | | | | time) |
| Some questions to keep in mind: | | | | - Metronome |
| 1) How many speakers does it use and what size are | | | | - Pre-recorded songs |
| they? Typically, the more the better. | | | | - Teaching techniques (such as silencing the left-hand |
| 2) How strong is the amplifier? Stronger is usually | | | | part of a pre-recorded song so you can learn it while |
| better. Even if you don't need it to play very loud, the | | | | the recording continues playing the right hand part) |
| quality of sound will be better if the amplifier does not | | | | - And other features... I hope this has helped in your |
| have to strain itself. | | | | search for the right digital piano. |
| 3) Listen to the note decay. Hit a note hard and hold it | | | | |