For many aspiring pianists this is one of the biggest questions to answer; how can I choose the best home digital piano for my needs? Is there one clear-cut answer to the question?
Absolutely not! That being said, by taking into account a number of essential factors it is more than possible to make a great choice.
So whether you are just starting out on your journey to musical magic or you are already well along the piano path, allow us to provide you with a clear and concise guide to choosing the best home digital piano for your needs.
Consider Your Space Restrictions
Would you love to be the proud owner of a stunning digital grand piano? Truth being said, who of us wouldn’t love it?
However, there are very few among us who actually have the right home space for such an instrument.
Grand pianos and even baby grand pianos take up a significant amount of room, on top of that they just do not look right crammed into a space that has little room for anything else.
Remember, a grand piano is about being exactly that ‘grand’, if your home does not have a large grand room, you are likely going to make a poor decision if you bring home a digital grand piano!
So now you know you need to opt for an upright digital piano, however, should you only consider the standard 88 key models?
That all depends on where you are at on your musical journey. If you have already been playing for some time, you already know that an 88 key is your only option.
However, if you are just about to embark on your journey and you are struggling to find space in your home for a standard size piano you may wish to consider a digital choice that comes with 61 keys.
Do keep in mind though, that if things go well and you continue to learn and progress, you will need to upgrade your digital piano to an 88 key model at some point.
Consider Your Budget
The price of digital pianos varies rather significantly. You can start at a few hundred dollars and go right up to the thousands and then some!
Much of the idea of choosing the best home digital piano for your needs is about knowing your budget and sticking to it.
A digital piano that has set you back a lot more than you anticipated and planned for is not going to produce as sweet a tune as one that remained in the budget!
If you are just a beginner you certainly do not need to pay through the roof for your first digital piano, unless you have money to burn that is. This is especially true if you have decided to ‘give it a go’ to see if you take to it.
It is much better to buy a reasonable, yet not an elaborate instrument in the early days to decide whether this really is the instrument for you.
If you become sure that you are about to become a budding pianist you will also be in a better position to know what other features are important to you in a digital home piano.
Consider What Technology You Will Use
Are you one of those people who hate technology? Are you still being dragged along in our technical and digital age?
If you are, you may not need to give to much concern towards how technology-compatible your digital piano is.
However, if you love the idea or hooking up your piano, recording your compositions and the list goes on, you need to ensure that the piano you choose will allow you to cash in on all of these features.
In fact, this is where digital pianos can vary rather significantly. Some models are all about producing a beautiful piano sound and don’t care too much for all of the other bells and whistles.
Such models tend to take on a closer appearance to a traditional piano and are often viewed as appealing pieces of furniture in the home.
On the other hand, there are digital pianos which are designed to be as versatile and flexible as possible.
They may offer a large array of tones to choose from, endless technology possibilities and a wealth of features that will keep you discovering new things about your instrument all the time.
For most of us, we very quickly fall into either one category or the other. Either we are excited at the idea of having a digital piano that offers every bell and whistle going or the thought fills us with sheer dread.
Only you know which category you fall into so make sure you stick to this when you are looking for the best home digital piano for your own musical needs.
Consider When And How You Plan To Play
You may already know that digital pianos come with a variety of key types. In general, these are as follows:
– weighted or semi-weighted keys
– hammer action keys
– synth keys.
Let’ take a closer look at each of these key types to help you decide which one would be a good choice for you.
Keys that are weighted or semi-weighted tend to be a great all-around choice. These keys are designed in a way that when you touch them they have the feel of a strung piano, in other words, a piano you don’t plugin!
Such choices are great for pianists who have been used to playing on such a piano and are now moving into the digital age.
In fact, I was one of those people! After spending years playing a traditional piano I knew it was time to step over to the digital side, but I was doing so dragging my heels behind.
Choosing a piano with weighted-keys helped the transition to feel much more smooth and natural. In fact, it did not take me long to start to appreciate the many benefits that come with digital pianos over their traditional counterparts.
Like the way you can stick the headphones on if you have the notion to play in the middle of the night, or the fact that you never need to pay someone to come and tune your instrument.
Then there is the fact that is it much easier to transport a digital piano and the list goes on and on.
So we know that weighted and semi-weighted keys are a great all-arounder but what about hammer action keys and synth keys? Well, we could say that the hammer action takes things a step further.
Mechanical hammers are used to create an even more sensitive and realistic response which some players will likely greatly appreciate. The synth keys give no resistance when playing.
While this is not ideal for everyone it can be great for experienced pianists who play in a group.
How can you know which of these key types are right for you? One of the best ways is to play a piano which offers each type. Take yourself down to your local musical instrument store and ask to have a go on each type of digital piano.
Don’t worry, you don’t need to buy from the store, all you are doing is having a little test to see which feels best under the fingertips.
88 Key Piano Keyboard, Electric Digital Piano
88 Key Piano Keyboard, Electric Digital Piano takes over this slot, the nearest current equivalent still shipping from Amazon US. 🎹- The digital piano with 88 SEMI-Weighted Keys simulates the real touch of playing the piano. Half-weighted keys reduce the sense of strength than full-weighted keys, for more sensitive touch response to suit different playing styles, suitable for beginners. 🎹The 88 keys music keyboard piano with 1000 kinds of timbres, 1000 rhythms, 150 demo songs and dual keyboard function, satisfying various styles of performance, nice for teaching and practice.
What I like
🎹The 88 keys music keyboard piano with 1000 kinds of timbres, 1000 rhythms, 150 demo songs and dual keyboard function. 🎹This piano keyboard is equipped with a sustain pedal, a music rest, and a power adapter.
What I don’t like
The listing does not publish usable dimensions, so check the footprint against the space it has to fit. Warranty cover is not spelled out in the listing.
Pros:
- 🎹- The digital piano with 88 SEMI-Weighted Keys simulates the real
- Half-weighted keys reduce the sense of strength than full-weighted
- 🎹The 88 keys music keyboard piano with 1000 kinds of timbres
- 🎹This piano keyboard is equipped with a sustain pedal, a music rest
Cons:
- Dimensions not listed
- Warranty terms unclear
YAMAHA P71 88-Key Weighted Action Digital Piano
The Yamaha P71 is an 88-key digital piano with weighted action, which is what separates it from a light, unweighted keyboard. The weights under the keys replicate the feel of an acoustic piano.
The keys are touch sensitive, so the harder you press, the more the note responds. A sustain pedal and power supply are included, and 88 keys covers the range of standard repertoire.
It suits a student who wants an acoustic response at home without an acoustic piano in the room, and anyone who wants the same feel at a desk as in a studio.
What I like
Weighted action with touch sensitivity gives a feel a plastic-keyed board cannot match, which makes daily practice more productive. Eighty-eight keys means whole pieces rather than trimmed arrangements.
What I don’t like
This is a bare instrument, so a stand and any pedal unit are separate purchases. The weighted keys also need a firmer touch than beginners expect, and that takes a week to adjust to.
Pros:
- 88 fully weighted keys
- Touch-sensitive response
- Sustain pedal included
- Power supply included
- Acoustic-style key feel
Cons:
- Stand and pedals bought separately
- Weighted keys take adjusting
- Piano sound only, no arranger styles
Cons:
- Stand and pedals bought separately
- Weighted keys take adjusting
- Piano sound only, no arranger styles
