There have been major developments in the recent years that have paved way for the development of modern pianos. Due to the vast nature of features, functions and controls, it can be challenging to make a choice of what will best suit your needs. Most people are faced with the task of having to choose between investing in a digital piano or a regular piano. This is an ongoing debate and not many people are aware of the differences between digital pianos and traditional acoustic pianos. Some arguments have been favoring the use of regular pianos as the best instruments for beginners. On the other hand, we have people who believe digital pianos are a better option.
To clarify once and for all, we’ve decided to take a deeper look at digital pianos vs regular pianos with an aim of finding out the major differences, pros and cons. On this basis, we shall make comparison between the two types of pianos based on the following factors.
Sound Quality
Sound is one of the fundamental features for any type of piano. Quality regular acoustic pianos are known for their space, warmth and resonance that is unique to acoustic pianos and cannot be possibly replicated by digital instruments. However, if you’re looking for a piano that incorporates different types of built-in sounds such as organs, drum kits, violin and trumpets among others, you’re better off with a digital piano. In summary, the sound from a well-tuned and high quality acoustic piano is superior than that of a digital instrument. However, a high quality digital piano can produce almost a similar quality acoustic piano sound.
Feel of the Piano
It is not easy to replicate the feel of a high quality acoustic piano. The weight and feel of each key of an acoustic is quite unique and distinct. Of late, digital pianos are quickly catching up and becoming better at presenting this feel. If you want the best feel in a digital piano, you should buy one with 88 fully weighted action keys which is actually a similar number to that of an acoustic piano. Cheap keyboards have light, thin and plastic keys which don’t produce good quality sound when pressed. Avoid learning on cheap and unweighted keyboards as it will adversely affect your playing skills when you advance to higher quality digital or acoustic pianos.
Maintenance
When it comes to maintenance, a digital piano takes the lead over an acoustic piano. Acoustic pianos are made using materials such as wood, leather, cork and felt. Over time, these materials experience wear and tear. Also, the strings of an acoustic piano go out of time as they continue to age and so an acoustic piano needs to be tined at least once every 6 months. Acoustic pianos are easily affected by climatic changes such as temperature changes as opposed to digital pianos that can withstand different kinds of environment and at times, rough handling. For a digital piano, all you need is to just simply wipe it and switch it off when not in use.
Cost
If you want to invest in a regular acoustic piano, the initial investment is higher not forgetting you will spend significantly to maintain an acoustic piano. On the other hand, digital pianos are cheaper to buy and maintain. While you can get nice digital pianos for as low as $1,000, upright acoustic pianos cost a whopping $20,000 and above.
Portability
Nowadays, portability has become a key factor when shopping for a piano. If you’re keen on having a portable keyboard, a digital piano is a better choice. Digital pianos are generally lighter and compact compared to regular acoustic pianos. For acoustic pianos, most of them have to be dismantled into smaller parts for storage. On the other hand, digital pianos are customized for stage performances and can fit well in your car.
Volume Control
A traditional piano outputs a certain volume depending on how hard you strike the keys. On the other hand, digital piano volume is easy to control over a wider range and you can opt to plug in headphones to and keep the volume to yourself. Additionally, a digital piano allows you to easily add other sounds such as brass, percussion, drums and woodwinds among others.
Recording Abilities
Many digital pianos enable you to record your performance which is a great thing especially when you’re learning how to play and wish to review your progress. Recording and sequencing is key if you plan to come up with your own songs.
Based on the above factors, you should now be in a better position to determine whether a digital piano or regular piano is the best alternative for you. Bottom line is your choice of piano should depend on your needs and what you wish to achieve with your musical instrument.