Tips to Buying the Best Digital Piano for Your Needs
Source:Internet Posted by:Learntopianoonline.com Date:2009-12-06 Click:
Regardless of whether you are a casual digital piano player, or you are an aspiring musician who would like to someday make a profit from your talents, then you may find yourself in the market to buy the best digital piano for your playing needs. While this can be an easy task if you already know all there is to know about digital pianos, but if you are new to the market, you could quickly end up possibly spending more money that you had hoped to on a piano that may not even serve your needs. Here are some simple tips to help you by the best digital piano so you are sure to find the one piano that will best meet all your playing needs.
First, you need to realize that a digital piano is different than an acoustic piano. When buying a digital piano you need to realize that a digital piano is a copy of what an acoustic or normal piano is. Instead of strings and hammers, the best digital piano uses digitally sampled sounds, amplifiers and speakers to produce its sound. Digital pianos were made to imitate the sound of a standard piano. With the portability, low to almost no maintenance, volume adjustments and various voices that the digital piano can provide, many now prefer it to the traditional form.
Second, you will want to pay attention to how closely it resembles an acoustical piano. When it comes to choosing the best digital piano for your needs you will want to take note of how closely it resembles an acoustical piano in sound and piano like feel. Take note of whether or not the keys move the same under your fingers as those of an acoustical piano. Most commonly digital pianos may have a form of damaged spring action on the keys that can actually have an effect on the tone of the piano. When you are looking for the best digital piano, its best to bring a good set of headphones along with you to get a good feel for the sound the piano can deliver. The advantage that a digital piano has over its acoustical version is that it allows the musician to play as loud as they want without disturbing those around them. In addition to this feature a good set of headphones can help you distinguish possible faint defects that the speakers may not be able deliver. Try as many models and brands as you like and compare them to find the one that has the better sound. Don’t let a brand or price point drive your decision either since quality is based in the eye of the user and not how much the item may cost or who makes it.
Third, you will want to check out the range of the tone. When shopping for the best digital piano you will want to pay particular attention to the tone. Does it change when you turn the volume up or down? If it does, then you may want to look elsewhere since the best digital piano should keep a consistent tone no matter how high or low the volume may go. You will also want to pay attention to the sound as play ends. Does the sound linger or does it fade quite easily? If the location you are at also provides access to an acoustical piano, try and do a comparison test with notes and chords. Take note of the time lapse of the sound as it ends and watch for repeating patterns or loops. You will also want to note where the notes come from when you play a scale or chord successfully. Treble should come from the right side and bass should come from the left.
Fourth, try playing the two low C’s and pay attention to how they sound. When choosing the best digital piano you will want to pay particular attention to the polyphony, i.e. harmony, of the notes. A good digital piano will allow you to be able to distinguish between the two low C’s as they are played simultaneously. Lesser quality digital pianos may cut off one tone when they are played and low quality digital pianos may drop both notes prematurely so you will want to watch out for this before making your decision.
Fifth, determine whether or not the digital piano is user friendly. Take a look at the design and determine if you can easily understand the layout of the model. Check out the buttons and determine whether or not they are functional. You will also want to note where the special effects buttons are, and be leery of digital pianos that locate these buttons close to the keyboard because they increase the chance you will hit one of these buttons during play which can change your settings in the middle of a piece of music.
Sixth, take a look at the manual for additional fine-tuning facilities. Some of the best digital pianos come with other special effects which can include alternate tunings, variable harmonics and even adjustable decay, or fading, lengths. These effects can come in quite handy when playing with groups, so you may want to keep this in mind when buying a digital piano. Some may also come with various tones and voices to provide a variety of different voice effects. Some models may have whistles, echoes, guitars, and even non-piano voices. If you were originally trained on a standard piano and you are accustomed to using the pressed-pedal for sustain, it may be a constant frustration for you if the digital piano you choose has on-off pedaling.
Seventh, take note of the types of accessories that are compatible with your model before you buy. When buying a digital piano you will want to pay attention to the types of amplifiers and speakers that are compatible with the model you are considering. While the piano you chose may have good sound quality, its sound performance may degrade when attached to an incompatible amplifier or a larger sound box. In order to buy the best digital piano for your needs, make sure you find one that has both good sound and good, if not better sound when attached to compatible accessories.
Lastly, if you are still unsure of which model is best for you, don’t be afraid to ask for help. Whether you ask a friend who plays the piano, or you enlist the help of a professional to recommend the best digital piano for your needs, asking for advice can help you make the right decision when you are really not sure which model will work best for you. Just make sure to not take their advice as set in stone because you will still need to formulate a final decision as to which digital piano will be the most comfortable for you.
These are just a few of the tips that can help you choose the best digital piano for your needs. Pay particular attention to the sound quality the piano delivers, and don’t be afraid to ask for advice if you need help choosing a digital piano, and you are sure to find the right model that can meet your experience level as well as your playing needs.
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