This is because when a piano key is pressed down, it triggers the hammer action to lift in order to hit the strings to create the sound.Ĭonversely, portable (non-weighted action) keyboards generally have ON-OFF sensors under the keys to trigger the sounds. The keys on acoustic pianos feel heavier to play compared to portable keyboards.
You should feel a significant difference in the weight and response of the keys. Have you ever played on a portable, light-weighted keyboard and then immediately played a piano? If you haven’t, I recommend that you try it next time you are at a music shop. Having fewer keys mean that your child will eventually run out of keys to play and they won’t be able to play music that contains top end or low end notes – because the keys just simply aren’t there! Beginners start off using only a few notes to begin with when they start learning the piano or keyboard but as your child progresses, the range of notes they use will inevitably extend. Smaller keyboards generally have 61 notes or 76 notes, mostly without weighted keys.
What does this mean?”Ī full size piano or full set of keys refers to a piano (acoustic or digital) with 88 notes. Many piano teachers will recommend the fully-weighted 88 note pianos because a majority of music examination boards will set these specifications as minimal requirements to take their exams.
Question #1: My child’s piano teacher said “Buy a full size piano with weighted keys. I hope it will clear up some of the questions that you may have before purchasing your child’s first piano. So I’d like to share my experience and knowledge as a Conservatorium graduate, a piano teacher, and a music store sales person. The questions above are reasonable & valid questions. Should I just buy a small keyboard first? What does this mean?Ģ) Should I buy my child an acoustic piano or digital piano? What’s the difference?ģ) I don’t know if my child will continue playing. Contributed by Hiyori Matsushima for the Roland Australia Blogĭuring my years of working in music retail, selling both acoustic and digital pianos, some of the most asked questions asked by parents (wondering aimlessly in the shop) were:ġ) My child’s piano teacher said “Buy a piano with full size, weighted keys”.