The Basics of Keyboards and Pianos
By Matt Jamison
Learning to play the keyboard or piano is fun and exciting! In no time you will be able to play your favorite tunes or create your own! But first you have to decide which one to purchase an electronic keyboard or an acoustic piano, and understand the pros and cons of both.
The piano is an acoustic instrument, meaning its sound is produced and amplified physically. Inside of an acoustic piano are strings, and when keys are pressed small hammers hit the strings to produce sounds. In comparison, keyboards are electronic instruments with a variety of volume options, and often can produce sounds like piano, horns, strings, organs, synthesizers, and more. So now that we have have that out of the way lets move on to the pros and cons.
Electronic keyboards are the general choice for beginner students mostly because of the below
Pros
Price ( $75-$1000)
Portability ( Weight is generally 20lb-50lb)
Space Saver ( Doesn’t take up much space)
Sounds ( Can play different sounds like horns , organs, strings and piano)
Headphones ( Can play anytime without disturbing anyone)
Cons
Power ( Need Electricity or batteries to operate )
Sound Quality ( Cheaper models may not provide the best quality piano sounds)
Key Action ( The keys are plastic, general smaller and not weighted like an acoustic piano)
Acoustic Pianos are the general choice for professional musicians and institutions like schools, opera houses, concert halls and the like. Here are the a few pros for purchasing an acoustic piano.
Pros
Sound ( Many believe that an acoustic piano sound cannot be duplicated with a keyboard )
Feel ( Acoustic pianos are weighted which is great to build finger strength )
Aesthetics ( Acoustic pianos look beautiful in your home and adds a touch of class )
Cons
Price ( Uprights can start $3000-$10,000 and Grand Piano can cost from $10,000-$200,000)
Repair Costs ( will require a professional to repair and cannot be replaced easily)
Regular Maintenance ( Will require professional tuning at least one a year )
Size and Weight ( Will require professional piano movers to relocate instrument)