Help buying Digital Piano/Keyboard

[nuro]

Hi all, i'm new to these forums so i'm not sure where i should post this or how, but i'll do my best. I should probably put in a bit of my 'history' or background in to make it easier for people to help me out here.

I'm currently a 19 year old University student with very little to no musical experience. I am on a low budget and even though i have felt like learning the piano for a long time i have never been given the chance. I thought i may as well take charge here and do something i've wanted to for a long time and buy a piano to start learning on!

This is where the problems arise however. As i stated i have almost no musical experience whatsoever. I dont know what on earth i'm supposed to look for in a new piano. If anyone could point me in the direction of some 'base specifications' it'd be great.

As the title suggests too, i'm looking mainly at Digital Piano's/Keyboards. My main reasons for this are due to money and my lifestyle, which causes me to move a lot. The main thing is though that if i am going to take the time to learn this i dont want to be 'disadvantaged' by a low-quality keyboard or something, so that when i do eventually play on a better piano i'm no good.

That may not even be possible, but as i said i have no experience with music.

Well, i hope somebody can help and i'm sorry about the length of this. I'm reasonably nervous about this whole endeavour, it's something i've wanted to do for a long time but the fact that i have so little experience with music coupled with the costs involved worry me. I'd really aprreciate any help readers here could provide.

Thankyou all in advance.

[timothy42b]

My opinion:

At your level you will not be able to tell any difference between a digital with weighted keys and a high quality acoustic piano.  You won't be able to tell for years, and maybe never. 

However the cheapie keyboards without weighted keys will be pretty much useless, you won't make progress even in the beginning. 

There is a difference between stage digital pianos which are on stands to be easily moved, and home digital pianos which look a little more like furniture.  The actions are the same. 

You probably would be happy with any of the Yamaha P series (P60, p90, P120), or maybe the Casio Privia series. 

At least that might give you a starting point for your search.

[nuro]

Thanks a lot for your help, i appreciate it! I'll have to check out some of these in-store and budget accordingly.

[nic hughes]

Hi, just to add to the previous post - both Yamaha and Casio make some great stage pianos.  I'd go for perhaps the new Yamaha P70 as its got some great features and is a good price - cheaper than the P60!  I'd say graded hammer action (where the weight is graduated over the keyboard to replicate the feel and touch of an acoustic piano) and in-built speakers (they don't all have them!) would be two key features.  Stage pianos offer portability over Clavinova types which have built-in stands. Have a look at the P70 here https://www.dawsonsonline.com/live/rhtProd.php5?dept=0&cat=2&subcat=2&page=1&prodId=00054942

[thetrojanhorse]

Roland HP 101 is perfect for what you are looking for.  Wooden case, portable, weighted/hammer action.  MUCH higher quailty than Yamaha.

Trojan

[ziuu]

Im also in the same boat...I was wondering would playing on a piano touch keyboard (weighted keys) would have the same feel as playing on an acoustic piano?

The Casio Priva PX-400CS Digital Piano seems to have good reviews....but im wondering would have the same feel as an acoustic piano?

If I progress on the Privia keyboard would I be able to play on an acoustic piano just as easily?

Thank You

[knabe31]

Hi, I purchased a Yamaha p-60 and am very happy with it. I can take it with me where ever I go and practice with headphones so I don't disturb anyone. It has great sound and I love the weighted key feel. It seems just like a real acoustic piano. Hope this helps, good luck.

[oceansoul]

However the cheapie keyboards without weighted keys will be pretty much useless, you won't make progress even in the beginning.

Hey. Don't you say that. I still don't have a good digital piano, I have been practicing in a cheapie keyboard, very small keys, non-sensitive, not weighted, 4 octaves, and I've been progressing.
It is not that difficult to do it on an accoustic (I've tried a good Steinway). The weight changes alot, but it's not hard to adapt. But at the start I almost can't ear a thing. lol
I've tried a Roland HP-101 and I think it's good, but not that good. It's much better than this damn keyboard (that isn't even mine), but I think the weight at the lower keys is the same at the higher keys and that the weight isn't high enough. When one should practice, I think one should practice at something with a heavy weight. Do you guys think that the difference between the HP-101 and HP-102 is very high? Do you think a Yamaha CLP-115 is better? Or is better a Yamaha CLP-150? Well, I will have to try them out.

Nuro, if you have access to a cheap keyboard right now, you should start practicing right now. You could start by chords, I guess.

Let us know when you buy something, and tell us about how things are progressing.

Bye for now,
          OceanSoul.

[humblemonkey]

I too have been looking at buying a digital: next year I will be in a small flat (not on my own) so purchasing an acoustic is not really an option.

I have been looking at Kawai digitals. They are accredited by the Trinity Board for use in examinations. Does this mean they would be a pretty safe bet?

[ksnmohan]

Hallo humblemonkey,

Ofcourse - the Kawais are good. In the Kawai Music Schools in Singapore, I find lots of students learning on the  Digital/Electric and of course Acoustic models.

So are the Yamaha CLPs - many on this Forum own them.

There is also Roland -  I see it has a considerable following among the Forum members.

Finally Casio -  is not bad - but anyhow the general choice is usually one from the first three.

Prof K S (Mohan) Narayanan
Musiclogist, Composer, Teacher
Chennai, India