| You may have decided to purchase a digital piano | | | | acoustic piano. The good news is that for a cheaper |
| instead of an acoustic piano for many reasons, such | | | | price this type of weighted keyboard comes close to |
| as availability of multiple tones, headphone playing | | | | approximating the feel of an acoustic piano. The bad |
| capability, lower price, etc. But before you get one, | | | | news is that you will always be lacking that |
| make sure you like the feel of the keyboard action. | | | | "momentum" feel on the keys of an acoustic when the |
| This is how the keys feel when being played. It all has | | | | momentum of the hammer bouncing off the string |
| to do with what kind of weighted keys the keyboard | | | | plays a part in bringing the keys back to a resting |
| uses. | | | | position. |
| If you want the feel of an acoustic piano, you will want | | | | Weighted Hammer Action Keys |
| a weighted keyboard. Many digital pianos will emulate | | | | These types of weighted keys come the closest to |
| the feel of an acoustic piano by using keyboard | | | | emulating the feel of an acoustic piano. Keyboards |
| weighted keys. They can do this in multiple ways. | | | | with this feature use a hammer simulating mechanism |
| Before we look at some of the different keyboard | | | | to give you the feel of a moving hammer. Some digital |
| weighted types, let's get a quick understanding of how | | | | pianos even use actual hammers, not just a simulating |
| an acoustic piano gets its "feel" | | | | mechanism. The big one that comes to mind is |
| An acoustic piano uses a hammer striking mechanism. | | | | Kawai's AHAIV keyboard action. With these weighted |
| When you press the keyboard keys it presses a lever. | | | | keys you not only get the weight and resistance on |
| The lever causes a hammer to strike the strings. The | | | | the keys, but you also get the feel of a hammer's |
| hammer then bounces off the string. The key returns | | | | momentum. Both features you get on an acoustic |
| to the resting position by the weight of the hammer | | | | piano keyboard. |
| and levers. It's very natural feeling with no springs. It | | | | Other Keyboard Descriptions |
| just uses the weight of the hammer and the | | | | Before you buy a digital piano, you will come across |
| momentum from bouncing off the string. | | | | other phrases that describe the keyboard action. The |
| This type of feel is what digital pianos try to recreate. | | | | most common one will be Weighted Scaled Hammer |
| So let's look at the three types of keyboard actions. | | | | Action. So what does the word "Scaled" mean? It |
| Non-Weighted Keys | | | | means that the keys emulate the feel of an acoustic |
| Non-weighted keys are very light feeling. They are | | | | grand piano by being heavier on the lower notes and |
| what organs and synthesizers use. Obviously, they do | | | | lighter on the higher notes. |
| not have the heavy, weighted feel that you get from | | | | On an acoustic grand piano, the lower notes are a little |
| an acoustic piano. Since there is little weight and no | | | | harder to press than the higher notes. So to emulate |
| hammers using momentum from bouncing off a string, | | | | that feel, digital piano manufacturers will make their |
| these non-weighted keyboards must use springs to | | | | lower notes heavier. Other phrases you will see that |
| bring the keys back to the resting position. The upside | | | | describe this same thing are "Graded Hammer Action" |
| to this is that the keys are easier to press allowing | | | | and "Progressive Hammer Action." Also, look for the |
| quick movement over the keyboard. The downside is | | | | phrase "weight gradation" to indicate keys are heavier |
| this feels nothing like an acoustic piano. Also, when | | | | in the lower end and lighter in the high end. |
| keys so easily press down it is easier for your finger | | | | Conclusion |
| to barely graze a key that you had no intention of | | | | Each manufacturer of digital pianos seeks to make |
| playing, making a noticeable mistake in your | | | | their keyboard feel as close to an acoustic piano as |
| performance. | | | | possible. They will each do it in a different way based |
| Weighted Keys | | | | on their technologies and patents. Every piano player |
| These keys have a weight in them to give them some | | | | will have their opinion about which digital piano feels |
| substance. The weight makes them harder to press | | | | "the best." If you want the feel of an acoustic piano |
| down, just like you'd expect on an acoustic piano. They | | | | you now know to narrow your list of digital pianos to |
| come close to feeling like an acoustic piano. However, | | | | those with weighted hammer action. But the only way |
| they do not have any type of hammer mechanism in | | | | to find out if you like the feel of a particular digital piano |
| them, so in that aspect they will not feel like an | | | | is to play it. |