Piano or keyboard: Which one should you buy?

So you have decided to learn to play the piano or keyboard – great! But now you are faced with a dilemma: which instrument is best for your needs? 

Pianos and keyboards both have their advantages. Some people will always want to stick to a real acoustic instrument, while others prefer the portability of a keyboard because of the lower price. It’s best to try out different instruments in person before making your decision. To figure out which instrument is right for you, consider what you want your instrument to do for you, not just how it looks or feels when you play it.

This article will help you answer that question and also give you some helpful tips on what to look for in an instrument. Read on if you want to learn more about buying a piano or keyboard!

Here are some reasons why you should buy a digital piano/keyboard:

Digital keyboard

1. Digital keyboards are more affordable.

Digital keyboards are much cheaper than an acoustic piano. Even with just a few hundred dollars, you can easily find a keyboard to get started playing right away.

2. Keyboards are compact.
The keyboard is a great option for those who do not have the space or budget to accommodate a real piano.

They are portable and lightweight, so they do not take up too much space when not in use, making them ideal for small apartments! Plus, it’s easy to take with you, both at home on your desk and in public spaces.

3. Keyboards are low maintenance.
This means you never have to tune them, which is a huge relief! Keyboards also have more features and offer additional sounds that are not just found on the piano keys – be it instruments like bass or guitar, so your child can play different types of music while learning how each one works best for them.

Acoustic Piano

1.  Real sound
There is nothing that beats the sound of a real piano. There is a level of resonance and tone quality that is hard to reproduce on a digital keyboard. Go into a piano store to test and hear it for yourself.

It looks expensive
The piano looks expensive and luxurious. It is stylish and blends in with its surroundings to add a touch of sophistication that will fit into any room – modern, classic or traditional.

2. Real-touch action
One of the key factors of a great piano is a great ‘touch’ quality. This refers to how the piano feels on the fingers when you are playing. A great touch quality is one that isn’t too tough or light. It also allows for different degrees of tone production depending on how hard or soft you strike the key. The complex mechanism of an acoustic piano’s touch is one of the reasons pianos are expensive.

3. Wide dynamic range
Dynamic range is a musical term referring to the volume range of an instrument- how soft and how loud of a sound the instrument can produce. An acoustic piano has a larger dynamic range when compared to a keyboard because an acoustic piano is made up of real strings and hammers. A digital keyboard’s dynamic range is limited to the speaker quality and also how many pre-recorded volumes the keyboard maker has installed into each key.

4. Full-size keyboard
An acoustic piano is an instrument with the maximum 88 keys for sure. If you buy an acoustic piano , you will always have the full set of notes to play from. As you progress in your piano journey, you will need more notes than just the middle C area. For this reason, I recommend students buy a full sized acoustic piano straight away from the start.