Roland FP-30 repeated notes.

[jamesyur]

Hey, I have a Rolan FP-30 and I have just listened to La Campanella on piano and was intrigued by the repeated notes. I attempted to do them but it didn't really work and was extremely inconsistent so i'm just wondering if it's simply how the digital piano works compared to a grand/upright or if my technique is just dreadful... thanks!

[lelle]

I have a high end digital (Kawai CA 79) that handles repeated notes fine. I don't know how the Roland FP-30 compares. But in my experience digital pianos can enable comfortable repeated notes, assuming it has a high quality action. If it doesn't you may run into trouble with notes not sounding etc.

[j_tour]

I think I decided against an earlier response, but now that the great *lelle* has responded, I have more confidence to say what I was going to say.

I still use a Yamaha P80 as my main stage piano:  single note trills?  It's been as fast as I can manage.  And I do use a lot of single note trills not just in rep but in improvising:  it's fun.

The Rhodes piano?  Yeah, it can be a bit sluggish to come back, the hammers.  That's a great example of conception outstripping the ability of the machine.

But IMHO you really would have to be going Mach 1x10^6 to outpace even the twenty+ year old Yamaha graded hammer action. 

I'd guess technique problems before blaming the equipment.

/* edit:  So, what exactly is the problem?  FWIW:  I'm not a speed demon, although it meets my needs,  but this comes up a lot in my own playing.  I more or less put the forearm parallel to the keyboard, and just drill 3-2 or 3-2-1.  Maybe 4-3.  It depends on exactly the context.

I find the Yamaha action adequate.

BUT, no, it's not the same as a real action.  I've just got used to it, is all. */