Top 10 Mistakes When Buying Digital Pianos

A digital piano is a great thing for a student or even a serious pianist who requires options that digitals offer. There is a lot of variety, which can leave room for many mistakes, especially for a beginner. Choosing between things like the keyboards "action", onboard sounds, accessories, complicated features, and of course price point; can make this simple purchase seem more and more complicated. You don't want to overspend but you also want to be sure you are buying an instrument you love, and one that has features that are well suited for YOU. Take a look and listen so you can avoid these 10 mistakes when buying a digital piano.

00:32 - Skip Intro
01:13 - #1 → You Wanted an Acoustic Piano
02:31 - #2 → You Picked the Wrong "Action"
04:46 - #3 → You Spent Too Much Money
06:08 - #4 → It's Too Complicated for You
07:33 - #5 → You Spent Too Little
10:18 - #6 → You Bought a Synthesizer or Workstation Instead of a Keyboard/Digital Piano
11:22 - #7 → You Bought A Keyboard Without Speakers
12:38 - #8 → You Didn't Consider Portability
14:11 - #9 → You Didn't Consider Accessories & Ergonomics
17:00 - #10 → You Chose the Wrong Number of Keys

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[JoeBlowUK]

5 years ago, my mother, who'd owned an acoustic piano all her life, had a minor stroke. She was devastated when she found that she could no longer play her piano. So she sold it, as it was too painful to see it and be reminded that she couldn't play it. 5 years later, her memory and finger coordination has returned quite a bit. I have just purchased a Yamaha P-125a, with the matching base unit and 3 pedal set. She is absolutely delighted with it, to the point that she cried tears of joy when it was delivered. I built it up and turned it on. She sat in front of it, wondering how she would cope, with one of her favourite pieces of music sheets on the music stand. She looked at the music, placed her hands on the keys and played it beautifully! She's 85 years old, but she's still got it!

[dschad]

I am so glad I ran across this. Best unbiased, sincere commentary I've seen while I'm researching acquiring an electric piano as a secondary to my acoustic piano.

[gregj]

Can't believe that George Carlin and Will Wheaton are this good at Piano help

[robbert]

Great video! Small tip, if you start the chapters with 00:00, the chapters will also appear in the timeline of the video itself.

[perro]

I do electric guitar and the experience I gained is similar to this. You can very easily become a guitar collector and have to face the fact that more or better guitars will not make you a better performer. Or expensive skis or golf clubs. You can pay serious money, but it will not necessarily make you better. Top of the list should be sound, action (weighed keys) and portability. But I think the first fundamental choice would be piano or keyboard. Lots of keyboards can do very respectable piano sounds but not the other way around.
Thinking about it a bit more. Buy the best you can afford to get. Short of selling a kidney or soul to the devil. Save for however long it takes to get it. The logic behind it is that if you buy something cheap, you will not feel bad about putting it down and let it gather dust in a corner or attic. There are 1000s upon 1000s of violins, flutes and Spanish guitars out there because parents buy them for their kids, but they just don't appreciate them. It is actually a recognized principle in Economics if you care to look it up. The other reason is that if you still suck after hours of practice you can't blame the keyboard/piano you still need even more practice.

[chrismartin]

The most important item to consider is the keyboard action as this will really impact your ability feel the keys…I started at the age of 8 on an out of tune 100 year old upright..now 50+ Years later I use a roland with all the sound benefits but .primarily think about the Action..whether you are spending 100 or 500…try them in your shop before you buy..take into account the whole reasons why..and the potential future use…

[sariel]

I can't afford an acoustic piano so a digital piano is a lifesaver.

[DoURock]

I am a guitarist, I have a lot of guitars. Every time I went to a local music store, which was often, I would end up in the keyboard room. I played all of them. Sure the $4000 keys a sounded great, but I’m not that good of a player yet and a lot of the features I would have to learn about and don’t understand -yet. So I wanted something with weighted keys that sounded like a piano. I opted for the Yahama DGX 650. Not perfect, but for someone learning it’s very good. I got the attached pedals for a little extra great add on. I like the suitcase setting which is like a Fender Rhodes and surprisingly emulates pretty close. I also like the EClav to play Stevie Wonder stuff. Very happy with my choice and when I’m ready to move up it’s probably going to be a Korg.

[suefauziyah]

Most helpful point for me was #3- reminder that digital technology is always advancing so whatever I buy today will be outdated in a few yrs. I honestly hadn't thought of that! So, how long can I realistically expect a piano just under $1000 to last? (leaning towards Roland RP-102 or FP 30X with frame) An iPhone at that price would be outdated in a matter of years, I was really hoping for longer use from my new piano!

[ionatanapula]

Couldn't emphasize number 9 enough!!! Keep in mind when shopping for your first digital piano, to look out for piano's compatibility with accessories you might already be interested in! In the end, this might make a cheaper keyboard, far pricier than one you might have previously preferred.

[cheviot]

lovely little video, I've been playing on a semi-weighted for a couple months and really progressing, I gave myself a budget around £600 pound and after all the deliberating I actually just decided to get the FP10, for £360. People complain about the keys having a lot of weight which I cant imagine being to much a problem as I have strong arms and your first statement really resonated when thinking about my semi-weighted, I really don't feel as if I'm gaining as much muscle as I would with a heavier keyboard

[patricklangston]

Thanks to this video I went and looked for a weighted keyboard and bought a yamaha kx8 for $100, guy even included a sustain pedal lol... got it set up with yousician on NY computer. A steal for my needs. I'm liking it way more than the springy keys!

[thesoccertrotter]

I got the kdp110, best value for the money. 40w speakers (20x2). You get triple touch sensor for more sensitivity. Had 88 samples for each key. Wireless bluetooth app connectivity. 1199$

[bho]

Thanks so much for sharing. Recommending instruments to musicians or beginners is an expertise that's always been overlooked. Especially if you live in small towns or small cities, it is extremely easy to get the wrong instrument in your first purchase. I remembered when YouTube and internet was not a thing, I spent so much time figuring out what are synthesizers, workstations, stage pianos, electronic keyboards, etc. If I had the right recommendation and info by then, I would have better quality instruments with less money spent.

[robertweiss]

You answered my biggest question, I love my acoustic piano so don't plan to switch. I also have a keyboard which I take when on the road. It doesn't sound or feel like a piano but at least I can play, and keyboards are cheap, especially second hand.

[shandur]

Excellent discussion. A must for anyone considering buying a digital piano. Much appreciated.

[eddyvideostar]

Ironically, even the acoustic piano is not a panacea: They vary in touch, sound, and maintenance. A great e-piano can be more satisfying than a rinky-dink acoustic. And when your piano ennui sets in -- you can liven your mind with an electric, tweaking with various sounds and effects. Having the option to branch out into various forms of pop music will shunt forth faster the desire for progress.

[Scotlanz]

I just got a Kawai ES110 after learning on a Casio Privia for a while. The Kawai blows the Casio away. If I upgrade in a few years it'll be a top of the range Kawai.

[benjaminbrown]

As a working pianist I do play both. Great great points here. To add to your points. A car will never bee a plane and a plane will never bee a car. I always relate this because when you drive a car, it is going to have a totally different feel than a plane. Well, a digital piano will never sound exactly like the acoustic piano. It doesn’t matter how advanced they get in technology. They will always sound different. The other thing to remember to is that when you play an acoustic piano, you are getting the actual feel of the action and you can feel what is going on under your feet and hands. As you play it you can hear also harmonics that you are hearing from the resonating sound board behind the strings in the piano. All this is the original sound capabilities that the piano has. The sound is not sampled or modeled. I.k. The digital piano has a completely different way of playing. The action is totally different yes we have weighted keys or musical terms G.H.S. Graded standard hammer action. So when you get on a digital yes. It feels like an acoustic but it is not. Once you start playing it the gel of the action is completely different. You have to adapt your skills when you play a digital. If you can play both it is very nice because you have more in your musicial language. You don’t just have one way of playing or style. Well, don’t get me wrong. Their is many many styles on acoustics that you can do of course. But when you play an acoustic and a digital you have to put on your thinking cap a bit. You are creating more and producing music where as on an acoustic piano you are more like the performer. When you play both it is really neat to bee able to say “this piano can help me and assist with music and I can do things that I can’t do on an acoustic.!!! I say that when I come back from work all the trim. I can play or perform some piece of music on the job but when I get home and play it on the digital I can arrange it and do things that I would never bee able to do on the acoustics. When you play a digital piano you are constantly having to change things and lower and raise the volume and expressing with the instruments. With the acoustic piano you are having to stay focused on your piano but you are not having to worry about everything else. Their is less you have to control on the acoustic piano. Yes. You need to bee expressive of course but it is in a different way.

[christophercrimmins]

Something worth mentioning to newbies is that an upright or baby grand is not a replacement for a concert grand. Both in touch and sound. Ppl may think that practicing on an upright is a better option than some of the more premium digital pianos but imo it certainly is not. The touch for instance is obviously differrent on an upright and imo would make for a harder transition to performing on a concert grand than a premium digital like the kawaii ca99