Should You Buy a Piano or a Keyboard

Should You Buy a Piano or a Keyboard

Although the piano and the keyboard appear to have the same basic features there is a wide range of differences between the two. These differences become apparent when considering how they are constructed used and the type of music each one plays. History Over three hundred years ago an Italian harpsichord maker decided to broaden the range of his instrument. His invention had similar keys to the harpsichord but when the keys are pressed a felt tipped hammer hits the appropriate string(s) producing a sound that has been found to be impossible to reproduce. Over the years this invention has been changed slightly but eventually came to be known as the piano. The keyboard on the other hand originated from the pipe organ. One of the biggest differences between the two instruments is the fact that a piano is considered an acoustic string instrument while a keyboard produces music digitally generally requiring electricity to function. The Differences The feel of the two instruments also differs. Some keyboards have small keys and feel like plastic to the touch while higher end models may feel more like the wooden keys of a piano. Another key difference is the sound produced by each instrument. Electronic keyboards can create a variety of sounds and effects while the piano produces a set of the same sounds that vary by tone generated by the keys and pedals. The hammer system makes a piano touch-sensitive meaning the sound produced depends on how you press the keys while a keyboard will sound the same no matter how u press them. The piano and keyboard also differ in range. A piano has 88 keys (88 notes) but a typical keyboard today has only 61 or 76 keys. Probably the biggest drawback of the electronic keyboard is the quality of the sound. It is almost impossible to replicate the rich tone of a well-made acoustic piano with an electronically produced sound. Of course the size of the instruments also differs significantly. Keyboards are portable and do not take up as much room space as a piano and moving a keyboard isn t nearly as difficult as moving a piano from room to room or location to location. They also don t have to be tuned while a piano does. Cost is another factor when evaluating the two instruments. A good acoustic piano can be quite costly and may not be affordable to many musicians. A keyboard on the other hand can range in price from 300 to 1 000 or less if you consider purchasing a used model. Styles of Play Many musicians prefer the sound of the piano insisting that even the best keyboards can t compare to the piano. However if your goal is to mix and record using music editing software the keyboard has loads of options and flexibility. The acoustic piano is often played to create more traditional styles of music such as jazz classical or the blues. The keyboard is versatile so musicians who want to play a variety of musical styles such as modern music may prefer it over the piano. In addition with the keyboard volume can be controlled and an earphone jack can be used if the musician doesn t want to disturb neighbors or other members of the family. Keyboard music is generally simpler than piano music. It often has simple chords in the bass and a melody in the treble rather than more complex harmonies which sound great on the piano. As a general rule if you can play the piano you can play the keyboard but if you can play the keyboard it doesn t mean you can also play the piano If you need help figuring out whether the piano or keyboard is the best for you call us at 610 485 4758 and we d be happy to help out.