Each week, we hear this question from our customers and students! It is a great question.
When digital pianos first appeared, many salespeople took the easy approach to sell them by saying “they are just like the real piano”. Unfortunately for years electric, now called digital pianos had a bad reputation. They are not, they never will be “just like a real (acoustic) pianos” BUT they do serve a useful purpose.
Three advantages of digital pianos
• Digital pianos have a headphone output. You can play the instrument at any time without bothering your family or your neighbors. A word of caution: you do not hear the actual piano sound but the instrument still produces noises. The actual thunking sound when playing the keys of course is still there and if a fairly advanced player is in the same room as a person who is reading or trying to watch the television, it will drive them out of the room! We speak from experience.
• Compared to an acoustic piano, a digital piano can be considered portable. Two adults can safely move this instrument across the room. This instrument is not truly portable. It would never have the same ease of portability of a keyboard or a tuba or even a double bass. You will always need two people to move it! But these are great for dorms or small spaces.
• The digital piano never needs tuning. The digital piano has no strings or tuning pins and never needs adjustment. There is no maintenance required. But you need to respect it like you do a computer. If you spill something in it, it will be a problem
The biggest disadvantage of a digital piano
Digital Pianos Depreciate Very Quickly
Consider a digital piano in the same light as a computer. How much will your computer be worth in 7 years? That is how much your digital piano will be worth. Your digital piano is still going to function and it will sound just as it did when you first purchased it but it will have little monetary value.
Perhaps the best way to describe the difference is the way a piano technician described it to us. A digital piano is like a very good recording, an acoustic piano is like a live concert.
So who should buy a Digital Piano?
• Families with young children just starting their music education. It is a much better alternative than an old clunker of a piano that does not hold its tune.
• University students away from home. The digital piano is made for you! Compact and inexpensive.
• People downsizing. But remember it is never going to replace your acoustic piano. Spend some time playing one before making that decision.
