Digital Piano Buying Guide

Looking for a DIGITAL PIANO?

Note: If you want your child to learn to play the piano, it’s always best to buy an actual piano. A good upright or a grand piano will always be superior to a digital. However, if you really must get a digital, here is how to go about finding the one that will be the best until you can get an acoustic instrument:

A keyboard built onto a stand is always a better choice that a loose top on an X stand or table stand. It will be more sturdy. Pedals should look and feel like actual piano pedals, not square boxes. Click here for an example of a good choice for digital piano pedals.

Please purchase a piano with WEIGHTED KEYS and the most realistic, piano-like action possible. Spring-loaded keys and light action won’t feel like a real instrument and will hamper students’ ability to play evenly and quickly. They will also have a hard time developing appropriate sensations of arm weight and finger/hand position. Keyboards on an X stand often wobble around. If you have an unweighted instrument now, please consider replacing it with at least a weighted-action digital like the instruments mentioned below.

How far above the FLOOR? The top surface of the piano’s white keys should be approximately 29.5 inches above the floor. The top of the bench is generally 19-21 inches above the floor and will have to be raised significantly higher with young students. The bottom side of the forearm should be straight across to the tops of the white keys while the student is sitting on the bench. If this isn’t the case, then the student is sitting too low and the bench needs to be raised or the student needs to sit on something to raise him/her higher. Carpet samples work exceptionally well for this! Students who sit at the wrong height aren’t using proper angle of the hand/arm and can run into physical problems from playing. This may result in poor tone quality, on top of physical injury.

Young children who cannot reach the floor will also need a pedal extender box under their feet. The heavier - the BETTER! Click here for the one that I recommend. It is always 50% off.

You will probably also want to buy headphones for your digital instrument! Many of the digitals have a 1/4” headphone jack, so you may also need a 1/4” to 1/8” adapter to use ordinary headphones!

Need an adjustable BENCH? I love my bench that came with my Yamaha Avant Grand! Unfortunately, those cannot be purchased without buying the instrument. Here are some examples of various adjustable artist benches. Click here. This is an example of an adjustable portable bench if you need one to carry to ‘gigs.’ Click here. Do not buy benches that aren’t adjustable. Children need to be seated at the correct height. Most pianos are sold with standard benches which don’t adjust for height. Either replace it with an adjustable bench or use carpet samples to change the height of the child on the bench.

Kathleen’s Suggestions for Digital Instruments:

Top of the line:

Yamaha AVANT GRAND. This is not a keyboard per se. It is actually a digital HYBRID piano. It has a ‘real’ ‘action’ but has speakers instead of strings. There are overtones present and vibration in the keys, just like playing a ‘real’ acoustic piano. Most professionals who have played them can barely tell the difference between these instruments and an acoustic piano! These come in upright version (N2) and baby grand version (N3). MSRP is $19,995 on the N3 and $14,995 on the N2.

Moderately priced digital keyboards:

Yamaha P35 Around $500

Yamaha P155 Around $1000-1500, depending on accessory package

Yamaha DGX-640. This has a 3-pedal accessory that can be attached to the piano, giving a more realistic ‘feel’ while playing. Under $1000

Casio Privia. This is a low-cost option with perhaps the most realistic ‘feel’ in the keys for an instrument under $1000. This is an 88-key digital piano with weighted-action.

Here is a great article about various DIGITAL options in small spaces: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323605404578384472502632956.html

Here is another review of various digital pianos: http://azpianonews.blogspot.com/2012/10/review-yamaha-p35-casio-cdp120-digital.html

Advantages of DIGITALS:

(1)Many built-in sounds (FUN to PLAY!)
(2)Drums/Metronome built-in
(3)Often have built-in recorder
(4)Can be connected to a computer or iPad via MIDI connection (either via USB cable or USB to MIDI)
(5)Never go out of tune
(6)Are more resistant to temperature changes. (Great for your CABIN!)
(7)More portable than acoustic instruments
(8)You can play late at night with headphones
(9)You can transpose your pieces to any key

Disadvantages of DIGITALS:

(1)The keys are too ‘light’ compared to an acoustic instrument
(2)It is difficult for students to learn proper technique on a digital
(3)Low-end digitals lose their resale value much faster than an acoustic piano
(4)It is difficult for students to achieve a beautiful sense of ‘tone’ (sound quality) like they would get by experiencing sound on an acoustic piano.
(5)Instruments without pedals make it difficult for students to learn pedal technique. Pedals on digitals are made differently than those on acoustic instruments and have a different ‘feel’

Questions? call your teacher!