1. Introduction
The debate between keyboard and digital piano is an age-old one that has been going on for decades. While both instruments are capable of producing beautiful music, there are some distinct differences between the two that should be considered before making a purchase. In this article, we will discuss what sets a keyboard apart from a digital piano, as well as the pros and cons of each instrument.
2. What is a Keyboard?
A keyboard is an electronic musical instrument that produces sound when its keys are pressed. It typically has 61 or 76 keys and is powered by batteries or an external power supply. The sound generated by a keyboard can be adjusted using its various knobs and buttons, which adjust the volume, tone, and other parameters of the sound. Keyboards are often used in pop music, rock music, jazz, and other genres of music.
3. What is a Digital Piano?
A digital piano is an electronic musical instrument designed to replicate the sounds of an acoustic piano. It typically has 88 keys and can be powered by batteries or an external power supply. Digital pianos usually have weighted keys that simulate the feel of an acoustic piano’s keys. They also come with additional features such as built-in speakers and headphone jacks for private practice sessions. Digital pianos are often used in classical music, jazz, and other genres of music.
4. Key Action and Touch Sensitivity
One of the major differences between keyboards and digital pianos is the key action and touch sensitivity. Keyboards typically have unweighted keys that do not offer much resistance when pressed down. This can make them easier to play but can also limit their expressive capabilities as they cannot accurately replicate the feel of playing an acoustic piano. On the other hand, digital pianos usually have weighted keys that respond to pressure from the player’s fingers and offer more resistance when pressed down. This allows for a more realistic playing experience that closely mimics playing an acoustic piano.
5. Number of Keys
Another difference between keyboards and digital pianos is the number of keys they have available to play with. Keyboards typically have 61 or 76 keys while digital pianos usually have 88 keys (the same number found on most acoustic pianos). This means that digital pianos offer more range than keyboards, allowing players to access notes beyond what would be possible on a keyboard with fewer keys.
6. Polyphony and Voices
Polyphony refers to how many notes can be played simultaneously on an instrument without any notes cutting out or being dropped out due to lack of processing power or memory space in the instrument’s processor/memory chip set up (this is known as “voice stealing”). Keyboards typically have lower polyphony than digital pianos; however, some keyboards may come with additional voices (such as strings or organ sounds) which can increase their polyphony capabilities if needed for certain types of music production or performance styles. Digital pianos usually have higher polyphony than keyboards which makes them better suited for complex pieces of music where multiple notes need to be played at once without any notes being dropped out due to lack of processing power or memory space in the instrument’s processor/memory chip set up (this is known as “voice stealing”).
7. Pedals and Accessories
Keyboards usually do not come with pedals or other accessories such as stands or covers while digital pianos often do come with these items included in their purchase price (or available separately). Pedals are essential for certain types of performance styles such as classical music where sustain pedals are used to create longer notes by holding them down for longer periods of time; however, some keyboards may also offer sustain pedal inputs so it’s best to check whether your keyboard model has this feature before making a purchase decision if you plan on using it for classical music performance styles specifically requiring sustain pedal usage (or if you plan on using any type of pedal at all).
8. Price Range
Keyboards tend to be less expensive than digital pianos due to their simpler design; however, prices can vary depending on features such as polyphony capabilities, number of voices/sounds available etc…Digital pianos tend to cost more than keyboards due to their higher quality construction which includes weighted keys, better sound quality etc…but again prices can vary depending on features included with each particular model so it’s best to compare different models side-by-side before making a purchasing decision based solely on price alone (as this could result in buying an instrument that doesn’t meet your needs/expectations).
9. Portability and Mobility
Keyboards tend to be more portable than digital pianos due to their lighter weight; however, some keyboards may still require external power supplies so it’s best to check whether your chosen model has this feature before purchasing if portability/mobility is important for you specifically (as this could limit your choices significantly). Digital pianos tend to be heavier than keyboards but some models may still offer portability options such as built-in speakers or headphone jacks which allow you to practice privately without disturbing others around you (or vice versa).
< h 2 > 10 . Conclusion < / h 2 >
In conclusion, there are many differences between keyboard and digital piano including key action/touch sensitivity, number of keys available, polyphony/voices available, pedals/accessories included/available separately etc…It’s important to consider all these factors when deciding which type of instrument will best suit your needs/expectations before making a purchase decision so that you don’t end up with an instrument that doesn’t meet those needs/expectations after spending your hard earned money on it!
< h 2 > 11 . Resources < / h 2 >
– https://www . dawsons . co . uk / blog / what – s – the – difference – between – a – keyboard – and – a – digital – piano /
– https://www . sweetwater . com / insync / difference – between – keyboard – vs – digital – piano /
– https://www . kawaius . com / blog / difference – between – keyboard – vs – digitalpiano