Most of these questions are ones that I’ve heard time and time again during my own sales appointments. So I think this will be a great starting point for anyone looking to buy their first digital. In fact, I can guarantee you’ll have an easier time when you go in for your own sales appointments.
I did try to be as thorough as possible while keeping it all easy to understand. But of course, if you have any questions on absolutely anything, reach out to me at brendan@familypiano.com!
What is a Digital Piano?
We think of digital pianos as any piano whose sound comes from a speaker and has a non-traditional but still weighted action. Very vague definition — and there is a ton of grey area — but it rules out acoustic pianos (which don’t rely on speakers for sound), stage pianos and synths (which usually don’t emit sound), and keyboards (which have “piano-style” actions).
- Less expensive
- Lighter weight and easier to move
- Ability to play silently with headphones
- Easy recording
- Variety of sounds and rhythms to fuel creativity
Understanding Digital Actions: The “Touch”
A piano’s action is the physical mechanism that you use to play the piano. It starts with key-presses and ends with sound. As just mentioned, digital pianos pretty much want to pretend to be an acoustic piano. It’s a hard feat since you’re trying to fit the experience of 10,000+ moving parts into a package that’s smaller and less expensive to produce. Different manufacturers go about this in different ways. Generally, there are compromises in feel when compared to acoustic pianos, but we have seen the technology get much better over the years. Just a decade ago, I’d say most piano teachers were telling their students not to get digitals. But now, I think most teachers would agree that learning on a digital piano is just fine.How good a digital piano actually feels depends on a number of things. I’m going to get a little more technical now and introduce some common kinds of digital actions. If you look at a digital piano’s description, you’ll likely see manufacturers use some of these words.
No Let-Off
- Most Yamahas (unless stated otherwise)
- All Casios, including their high-end Grand Hybrid series
- Kawai ES and KDP series
- Roland Go Piano series
- Kawai CA and CN series
- Most Rolands, including their RP, F, FPx, DP, HP, RD series
How Digital Pianos Generate Sound
To generate sound, digital pianos typically work from samples. Manufacturers will extensively record acoustic pianos, and then plug those samples into a digital piano’s computer. That computer then processes information based on your playing and the piano’s settings to determine the specific sound that comes out of the speaker. Most companies have a few generations of sound technology they use. Kawai, for example, offers Progressive Harmonic Imaging, Harmonic Imaging XL and SK-EX Rendering throughout their CA Series pianos. To keep it simple, the main differences between sound technologies can be summed up to how smart the computer is and how the samples were recorded. For instance, polyphony basically refers to how many tones the piano can handle at once. And while it’s unlikely you’ll press more than ten keys at any one time, the computer needs to keep processing each note sustained, layered, decaying, etc. For mostly solo piano needs, 128-note polyphony should be enough. But if you want to get into advanced repertoire and tons of layering, you’ll likely want 192 or 256-note polyphony. Thankfully digital pianos are getting so good that 192-note polyphony is found in even base models these days.Piano Reviewer dives further into polyphony over on their blog: What is polyphony on a digital piano?
In terms of sampling — it’s a little more complicated. Manufacturers capture sounds using a ton of different methods and technologies, and they’re all a little different. Kawai’s SK-EX Rendering uses pretty sophisticated samples recorded with their flagship 9’0 concert grand piano. And Roland’s SuperNATURAL engine actually doesn’t even use samples — they use modeling. Most are very transparent about their processes, and if you’re into audio production, it is interesting information.
Now obviously, everyone’s end goal is kind of the same: the more realistic a digital piano’s sound is, the better. Acoustic pianos offer a lot of nuance tonally, and digital piano manufacturers want to mimic that as closely as possible. Sampling and computing technologies are getting pretty good. But as mentioned earlier, a digital objectively still sounds “digital.” Companies like Kawai are getting more creative, even offering wooden soundboards in select models to try and bridge the gap. Really though it’s up to your ears which digital sounds the best and most realistic. One final thing to add is that pretty much all digital pianos will have ways to adjust the sound. This can include choosing from multiple piano sounds/samples, adjusting reverb/environmental factors, and even tweaking one of many specific variables in the algorithm themselves. So while the piano is designed to sound great when you first turn it on, you CAN optimize the sound to your ears. Beyond that, some digitals even have line outs for hooking them up to bigger speakers. Mostly that’s meant for performing at louder levels, but even at the same volume as smaller speakers, the larger ones will sound richer and cleaner.
Features: Not Just Bells & Whistles
These days, features have become somewhat standard. You can expect most digitals to have a headphone jack, different tones and rhythms, recording capabilities, some useful outputs, and a certain level of customization. Most companies tend to design two types of pianos: ones that are more basic and ones that are fairly feature-rich. And while some people will say they don’t need all the “bells and whistles,” there are up-sides to having a fuller feature set. Voices or Sounds – Most basic digitals have between 10 and 30 higher-quality voices to choose from, whereas more feature-rich ones have between 200 and 700 sounds (of both high and middling quality). Personally, I like having lots of fun voices to choose from It allows a certain level of creativity that I wouldn’t get just playing the same piano tone every time. It’s kind of like having more colors on a paint palette. Rhythms – Many basic digitals have no rhythms at all, limiting you to just a metronome. Feature-rich ones tend to have hundreds to choose from, often with accompaniment features so you can feel like you’re playing with a full band. This can be much more motivating than a basic metronome, and again, is likely to fuel creativity when playing. Admittedly, you can get third-party rhythms to play along with, but it’s a little less convenient.
Jeremy See has a very thorough walkthrough of the Casio PX-S3000’s voice and rhythm features. Accompanying your playing like this is easy and available on pretty much any digital piano!
Recording – Basic models can record one track, which works for most people just learning to play. Full-featured models can typically record 16 tracks, but at a certain point, it is more efficient to manage the recording process from a real computer. If you don’t already have a computer with a DAW, perhaps you’d consider composing from a digital piano, but that’s entirely a personal preference. Customizability – Basic models allow you to tweak the sound in a few ways, but with feature-rich models, you can adjust maybe 10-20 variables. It’s hard to really explain this since they vary from model to model and manufacturer to manufacturer. And it may even sound overwhelming. But if you spend 30-45 minutes customizing your sound, you can usually save that as your default sound for every time you turn on the piano. This is a nice feature that helps you develop your ear and personal preferences, and I do recommend it often. Kawai’s Virtual Technician is probably the most sophisticated I’ve played with if you’re interested in seeing an example. Headphones – Being able to play silently with headphones is one of the best things about digital pianos. It’s a standard feature, and I don’t think I’ve ever seen a digital piano that didn’t have at least one headphone jack. These days, most will even come with two headphone jacks: either two for duets and teacher-student sessions — or one jack of each kind ie. smaller 3.5mm and larger 1/4″. Inputs /Â Outputs – There are a ton of different inputs and outputs — or I/O as you may see it notated online. But here are a some of the most common ones.
- Audio-In – Generally 1/4″ lines that make it so the digital piano plays music from a different source. This can be nice if you’d like to play along with music, especially with headphones or while plugged into a Zoom set-up.
- Stereo Out – Also 1/4″ lines for the most part. These are a must-have if you ever want to play out, where you’ll need to plug into a PA or some other sort of amplification. If you have a nice sound system at home, you can buy a digital piano with smaller speakers and Stereo Out (saving money), and plug the instrument in.
- MIDI Connectors (5-Pin DIN) – These used to be the standard for connecting keyboards to computers for music production. However, they’re kinda old-school now, and I’ve never heard of a customer using them. Some models will still offer them just in case, and mostly you see them on older digital pianos.
- USB To Host – Otherwise known as USB Type B — or even printer cables — these are the new standard for connecting your digital piano to a computer. They basically replaced MIDI Connectors, and they look like a little house.
- USB Flash Drive Port – This slim rectangle is for inserting thumb drives, flash drives, USB sticks, whatever you want to call them. Very handy for getting your recordings off your digital. And in some models, you can even use them to load new tones and rhythms in!
Bluetooth
While technically a form of I/O, I have a special section for discussing Bluetooth because it’s kind of a complicated topic. Some instruments will have one type of Bluetooth, the other type, both types, or neither. Bluetooth Audio – This is the type most folks are familiar with, and that you have on your phone. You can transmit audio from your phone or tablet into your piano, just like you do with a Bluetooth speaker. And yeah, it allows you to use your digital piano as a speaker. This is very convenient if you want to use your headphones AND play along to a YouTube video or song, all at the same time. Bluetooth MIDI – This does NOT involve audio at all. Your digital cannot function as a speaker without Bluetooth Audio. Instead with this version, the device and piano transmit data back and forth. Mostly this is to control the piano or get information about how/what the piano is playing. This is incredibly useful for:- Manufacturer Apps – Most manufacturers makes their own apps that work with their own models. These are useful for changing the piano’s sounds, rhythms, settings, etc. Compatibility can be a concern so make sure to keep an eye on that. Some apps are better than others, and some even have more features beyond control. In some cases, they can be game changers. For instance, I know Drew often recommends Rolands just because of their app, Piano Partner 2.
- Games – Games like Simply Piano are pretty much “Guitar Hero” for piano. Although some can work based on sound, they’re more accurate when they receive direct input from your digital piano.
- Composition Apps – With programs like Notion, you can literally play the piano and watch as the music notes appear on the screen. This makes it so you don’t have to write down your own compositions. It’s amazing.
- Recording – GarageBand and other DAWs can receive MIDI information via Bluetooth, and this essentially captures your playing. What’s cool too is that MIDI doesn’t actually contain sound so you’re able to pick the virtual instrument you want within the DAW. And from there, you’re working towards making a song really easily.
The Different Kinds of Cases & Styles
How the piano looks can impact the functionality and price of the instrument. These are the main styles, and a note on finishes as well. Slab (w/ Stand) – What most people think of when we say “keyboard.” It’s just the keyboard, which makes it easy for bringing with you to places. You can almost always buy an official stand and pedal board to go with it so it looks nice at home, even if it doesn’t look much like a traditional piano. I strongly recommend getting a slab-style digital if you’re planning on playing outside your house too.
Roland FP-30X: a popular “slab” digital pianoÂ
The same FP-30X slab on an x-stand — perfect for portability
The FP-30X slab on its stand with the pedal board — great for home
Home Consoles – These aren’t portable compared to slabs, but they usually have better speakers and look more like a traditional upright piano. A cover for the keys and a pedal board is pretty standard too. Most digitals in the mid- and upper-end tiers land in this category.
Yamaha Arius. Very popular console digital piano. Note the key cover, pedal board, and back post. Very common in console digitals which aren’t meant to come off their stand.Â
Roland LX-708. Pretty high-end console digital piano. You’d probably think this was an acoustic upright if I didn’t point out otherwise! Extreme example of a console digital looking like an acoustic.
Baby Grand – These typically cost substantially more than the “console style” equivalents, but they look stunning and typically have nicer features. If you have the space for a grand-style, it’s definitely worth considering. Part of the thing with this category though is that they compete with pretty nice acoustic pianos in terms of price. So you have to really consider what you’re looking for in a piano when looking at these. For reference, these pictures show off the Kawai DG30 Digital Grand next to a Baldwin Acoustic Grand we recently sold. We don’t really use the term “baby grand”, but I would say the DG30 looks pretty “baby.”
Specialty Styles – Some models, like the Roland DP-603, fold into a desk. We don’t really have a name for this or other unique styles so we’ll call them specialty styles. Useful, cool, distinct. Technically they might to fit into other broader categories, but I thought it’d be helpful to mention that not everything fits into a neat box.
Finishes
These are the main finishes in the industry. They’re all mostly a satin or matte finish, unless otherwise stated. Not all models will come in all finishes, and there are some alternative finishes available too.
- Black
- White – typically as pure of a white as possible.
- Rosewood – dark, but with some reddish-brown wood grains
- Polished Ebony – this is the “shiny black” that a lot of folks like. It’s a harder, more durable finish and it looks elegant. Tends to add $400-$700 to the price of the instrument.
- Red or Blue – sometimes available on certain stage pianos or keyboards.Â
The Most Important Accessories
 Others may feel differently, but these are the bare minimum essentials depending on your style of digital piano. In the spirit of honesty, I haven’t linked any of these to products in our shop either. Just true and sincere suggestions for you to consider! And I’d also highly suggest a traveling bag if you’re going to be moving your slab digital around often.ÂBenches
Folding X-Style – Most basic variant, and the minimum we recommend. It’s important to be at the right height to develop technique, and most chairs sit too high. These will do that, and they’ll support an adult no problem. “Regular” – Most digital benches are designed to be slimmer than regular acoustic piano benches so it doesn’t look too massive in front of the digital. Most will have a padded top, some will open up and have storage. Good options tend to be between $80-$200. Adjustable – Some benches have knobs on the side so you can adjust the height to exactly where you want it. All these have padded tops, some will have storage. $150-$250 is typically where you’re at with adjustable benches.
Casio’s AR bench. X-style folding bench that we include with all digitals.
Yamaha bench. Sturdier than the x-style, but at the cost of adjustment.
Yamaha adjustable bench. Comfort and customization. The best.
Stands
If you’re getting a “Slab style” portable keyboard, you’ll want something to put it on. These are the most common and usual options: Table – Usually not optimal, because it’ll often be at the wrong height. Plus, the keyboards often have speakers pointing down, which sound terrible right up against a hard surface. X Stands – The most portable and the cheapest option typically. BUT, they’re not as stable and while adjustable to an extent, often can’t get low enough for proper playing at a seated height. We sell these for $25 to $45. Z Stands – Aren’t quite as portable, but are often seen at gigs because they’re MUCH more stable and you can usually get them to the correct height. We have some in the $65 to $120 range. Official Stands – Specific to the slab you buy, and made by the manufacturers. Often consist of 2 side panels and a back panel. Very stable and they look great for the home. Not practical for gigging with. Usually $120 to $300, depending on the manufacturer and style.
A keyboard on an X-Stand. Easy to set up anywhere.
Two keyboards on a Z-Stand. Ideal for studio-use.
A Roland FP-60X on its manufacturer stand in-home.
Pedals
Also relevant if you’re getting a slab-style keyboard. In full honesty, I will mention that 99% of players only use the damper pedal. The other two are nice for certain songs, but not at all necessary for a beginner.
Basic Pedals – You’ll get these with most entry- and mid-range slab-style digitals to be used as dampers. They look like little plastic squares, similar to sewing machine pedals. I recommend getting the pedal meant specifically for your digital piano since polarity can be an issue.
Weighted Pedals – Nicer single pedals with a more realistic weight. These will allow for more nuanced use compared to the basic pedals. They are sometimes even included with nicer digitals. Please note that there are two “polarities” with damper pedals. If you have the wrong polarity, the pedal will do the opposite of what you want it to: un-sustaining when you step on it and vice versa. Different manufacturers wire their pedals differently so again, be careful. Casio pedals for instance will NOT work correctly on Rolands. There are also universal pedals with polarity switches — those can work with any digital piano.
Pedal Boards – All three pedals, usually to connect to the digital piano’s official stand. It stays in place, and the pedals usually have a nice weight and feel to them. Similarly, there are portable three-pedal boards for taking with you. They don’t connect to the stand, but it’s the best way to bring full pedal functionality to a gig or studio.
Basic. Feels a little cheap, but very portable.
Weighted. Feels more acoustic, but it’s heavier.
Pedal board. 3 pedals. Attaches to the stand.
Portable pedal board. 3 pedals. Widely compatible.
A Few Tips on the Buying Process
Payment
Digital pianos (and other standardized products) usually have a minimum advertised price (MAP) set by manufacturers. This means it’s very likely you’ll find the same price for a given model between all dealers. It’s good practice to check a couple just so you’re sure the price they’re offering is MAP. But it’s otherwise pretty hard to “shop for price” online.
The other price you might see is the manufacturer suggested retail price or MRSP. Honestly: it means nothing. Some retailers use this for marketing purposes, but I have never ever heard of someone paying MSRP for any product.
Financing tends to available for purchases over $1,000. Mileage will vary a ton on this though so check with your dealer. For reference, we can typically do 6 months 0% or a mid-range rate of 4.99% to 9.99% for up to 84 months. Whole process takes about an hour in-person, and we work with a few partners too.
Specials and rebates do happen from time to time. I’d say most major manufacturers offer at least a yearly rebate. Mostly these get better with the more money you spend though. So if you’re just trying to get an entry-model slab, you can comfortably buy the digital at MAP and be happy. Although it never hurts to ask the dealer — they may have their own promotions too.
Delivery
If you’ve got a minivan, SUV, or hatchback with seats that fold down (or a pick-up truck), you can probably take home the digital of your choice, if you make sure to clear out your vehicle ahead of time for nothing additional out of pocket. Depends on the dealer, but usually we don’t have an issue as long as we help the customers strap in.
If you’re taking home a smaller console or slab-style digital, they can typically even fit into sedans if the front seat can be folded forward or backwards. The smallest car I’ve ever fit a slab-style digital into is a BMW Z4 Coupe.
Depending on where you live and the piano’s cabinet-style, delivering a digital shouldn’t be too expensive. We usually just ask for $100, but it’s such a rare arrangement since 90% of deals fit into the customer’s cars.
I’d strongly recommend using professional piano movers if stairs are involved in the move and/or if the digital piano is heavy or expensive. You’re not going to want to risk damage. Because it’s roughly the same amount of driving and time, the cost for moving a digital is about the same as for an acoustic upright piano. In the Chicagoland area right now, that’s about $250 for a simple standard move. Definitely an extra cost to account for, and the piece of mind makes it worth it in my opinion.
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