| Firstly, let me define what Graded Hammer Action | | | | getting lighter to touch as you reach the treble end, |
| (GHA) is. All acoustic upright and grand pianos have | | | | with varying degrees of success. |
| hammers, which strike the strings, which then produce | | | | You'll have probably noticed that manufacturers use |
| the note or notes you hear. | | | | different terms to describe this feature - the correct |
| If you looked inside an acoustic piano where the strings | | | | term is 'Graded Hammer Action' which Yamaha, |
| are, you'll notice that at the lower end of the scale i.e. | | | | Kawai and Classenti all use. Some people say that this |
| the bass notes, the strings are a lot thicker than those | | | | feature isn't essential, but I think that it can be useful |
| at the higher end of the scale. The strings actually get | | | | especially for the less experienced players as it will |
| smaller in diameter gradually which helps create a | | | | allow players to add more expression in their music. |
| balanced sound. | | | | Also it would probably feel quite strange to play on an |
| Equally the hammers that strike the strings have to be | | | | acoustic piano with GHA to a digital piano that doesn't. |
| a different size to generate a balanced sound. To | | | | Either way, before purchasing a digital piano, I would |
| achieve this, the hammers at the bass end are much | | | | always try out a few brands and see which one suits |
| larger than those at the treble end of a piano. | | | | your playing style. At the end of the day, everyone |
| Digital pianos don't have hammers but the | | | | has their own style of playing so each digital piano will |
| manufacturers have tried to replicate this by designing | | | | undoubtedly feel different. |
| the keys to be heavier to touch at the bass end and | | | | |