Do I need to upgrade to an acoustic piano?
Hello friends! I started learning Pianote around 2 years ago by myself. Iām using a digital Roland piano RP701, and Iām thinking if I should upgrade to acoustic one as there is a saying that digital piano is not real piano. Do you think itās necessary to upgrade? Thank you so much
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Hi Della,
Good on you for learning by yourself and for persisting! And yes, do it! :-)
I played on a (Kawai) digital piano for a while after moving to Australia, and they have certainly come a very long way - plus the convenience of being able to put on headphones...
Earlier this year, I was able to upgrade to a beautiful small acustic grand piano and that has been the best decision. It simply allows for so much more nuance in touch and technique, and the satisfaction of creating sound on an acustic instrument simply is something else. There are very excellent uprights out there as well.
So yes, I'd encourage you if you have the chance! Just make sure the instrument is new, or in good shape. Check out the Merriam Music Youtube channel for some excellent advice and instrument comparisons.
Best wishes!
M.
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Well, sure. Itās a lot more fun to play my Steinway than my Kawai weighted keyboard. But, honestly, Iāve learned some pretty big pieces on the Kawai while the family slept.
if money and space are no object, go for it. If you have are limited to a few thousand dollars to spend, find a good teacher and go to their studio.
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Good answers so far! I started learning almost seven years ago on a Yamaha digital piano. I eventually got an acoustic piano that I love. But the biggest difference came from finding a teacher who could show me how to play the music I like, how to improve my technique, and how to move forward with music. Plus, we have such a great time together!
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It depends on space, money and your interest. If you think you will keep learning and playing for long time, it is worth to have an acoustic piano because the weight of keys , the touching and the tone quality are different. if you want to master your technique, buying acoustic piano is the only way and the best way to work on it.
Hope you enjoy playing music.
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I last played an acoustic when I was 15 years old and have played a weighted 88 note digital ever since. Two years ago for my 70th birthday I bought an upright Kawai K800 acoustic upright grand with a millennium 3 action. The difference has been dramatic as the instrument has superb tone and unbelievably responsive action. My lessons with Carmen Morin and Tonebase have demonstrated that there is no doubt about the benefits of investing in a fine instrument. My advice is to research what you need and can afford and try out your chosen piano at the dealership. I have absolutely no regrets but you do need to listen to tone and be aware of the environment in which you will be playing as there is a lot to consider before you purchase. I wish you well with your choice and happy years of playing.
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Hi, Della,
I did that! I started off with a Roland HP501. It was a decent digital piano, but when I finally started formal lessons, I enjoyed playing on my teacher's grand piano so much I started looking for one. I knew I would prefer a decent upright to a second rate baby grand, but I was really hoping for a grand (something over 5'.) There are a lot of "beater pianos" out there, so it may take a while. Be patient and keep looking. There's reference book called "The Piano Book" by Larry Fine that is an excellent resource for finding/choosing a good piano, new or used. (They used to do an annual supplement, but I don't know how recently it's been published.) I found a very good piano on Craig's List, a Kawai RX1, a fine intermediate level 5'5" acoustic grand piano. Because in my eyes most all grand pianos are beautiful, I hired a local piano technician to look at it with me. It was $50 well spent. The former owners hadn't had it tuned since they knew they were going to be selling it, so it didn't sound great, but the technician "checked under the hood" and said if I liked it buy it as it was a steal. I was able to secure a small loan for it through the credit union and have not regretted it since. I've had my grand for 14 years. I have been happy with it and have never regretted buying it. I'm prone to buyer's remorse, so that's somewhat of a miracle!
That said, it depends a lot on your situation, too. A grand takes up a lot of space, and you can't put on headphones while you practice. It can be loud, so think about things like where it would be in relation to things like the tv, when will you play it, and so on, especially if you share your home with others. In addition to the initial cost, be sure to factor in regular tuning (mine holds its tune well, so once a year is enough, but it's not uncommon to need to tune more often), voicing, regulating (recommended every 15 years or so -- mine was almost 15 when I bought it, so I had it done a few years in) and other maintenance (dusting, carefully vacuuming out eraser crumbs , squeaky pedals, etc). Also expensive to move if you use professional piano movers, which I would highly recommend for this investment -- they have special pads and know how to deal with such a large instrument. I had to pay extra because it was on the second floor at the former owner's home; steps add to the moving cost and rightly so.) A top of the line digital might also serve your needs if there are other mitigating factors. The touch and sound are improving every year, and they don't require tuning. A good dusting now and then keeps them looking nice and they are relatively easy to place and to move. You have a good practice mode with the headphone option. The Roland HP series was excellent when I bought my Roland in the 90's. It would be worth investigating other brands, too. (When it's time for us to downsize, I will certainly try out some Kawai digitals -- they also have a good reputation.) Good luck with whatever you decide, and happy playing!
Susan
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Hi Della, it depends on how far you want to go with your piano playing. If you want to reach at least the early advanced level, I would recommend either 52" acoustic or hybrid upright piano. If you can afford a grand piano, it'll be even better. To train in the technique, it is crucial to feel the response of the key. Not to mention the wider range of dynamics and colors. Smaller upright pianos have narrower dynamic ranges, and you will get frustrated after the intermediate level.
I hope this helps.
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Della,
Even if you are not planning on becoming a more advanced player, or if you arenāt sure you will continue, you should still upgrade to an acoustic instrument if you can afford it. Acoustic instruments have an incredible way of affecting our ears, eyes, and fingers that I find unmatched by digital instruments (I own both digital and acoustic pianos). As it seems you appreciate music on a more than casual level- as evidenced by your presence here- I can virtually guarantee you will NOT regret the purchase of an acoustic instrument. Will it improve your playing? Maybe. However, it will definitely improve your enjoyment. As a word of advice, donāt take the cheapest option. Stretch your budget as much as is financially responsible. I used to work at a piano dealership (not in sales), children exploring the various models on the showroom floor would always unwittingly gravitate to the most expensive instruments, and with good reason! It doesnāt take an expert to hear and feel the advantages of an excellent instrument. My other piece of advice would be to take your time with the decision and enjoy the process! Try out as many different instruments as you can, even ones well beyond your price range. You learn more about your preferences and options that way. I wish you good luck in finding your next piano!
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Hi Della,
there has been some excellent advise given here already. I agree with those who strongly recommend going acoustic! I donāt know whatās the state of the art regarding electric pianos, but I guess, that there is a substantial pricetag on the really good ones as wellā¦ So a good second (or third) hand acoustic instrument may be available for the same amount of money. My advise would be: find someone with experience and musical as well as technical knowledge to help you find a good instrument. You might come across excellent instruments that are just out of tune or need a little care from a technician, so you might need someone who can separate firewood from quality:) Also reach out in the analog world, like local newspapers. Great instruments sometimes stand in peoples houses, who might give them to you for very little money, when they feel that you have a true love for music. Especially older people, whose partner, who played the instrument, passed away.
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I'm thrilled to receive such incredible feedback from everyone! A sincere thank you to all my friends! I've recently acquired an exquisite acoustic piano for my home and I'm absolutely in love with it. However, I've noticed that the volume is quite high, which is challenging for me as I'm sensitive to loud noises. This is the sole issue I have with it. I'm thinking about installing a silent system to mitigate this. Fortunately, my neighbors haven't complained yet; it seems I'm the only one who finds it excessively loud. Does anyone have advice on how to reduce the piano's loudness? Thank you in advance!
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Hi Della,
There are many ways to reduce volume. The silent system is perhaps the most expensive. Some ways of lowering volume depend on what kind of instrument you bought. Is it a grand or upright?
The cheapest solutions are things like placement in the room you have the instrument. If the piano is near a wall, sound can easily reverberate back into your face/ears. Moving it away a bit can sometimes make a big difference. High ceilings can also create more echo, so you might think of a space with lower (8 feet or so) ceilings. Another thing to consider are your furnishings. If you have hard floors, consider buying a deep-pile area rug to go under the piano. If there are windows in the room, I would recommend purchasing thick drapes that are either blackout material, or velvet. Hanging them so that they create a fluted/pleat affect can soak up a lot of sound. If your walls are bare, try hanging carpets or tapestries. Think also of furnishing around the piano with throw pillows, thick blankets, soft-upholstered chairs/couches. The softer the surface, the less echo you will experience. The less echo you have, the less loud the piano will seem. You can also experiment with heavy, āmovingā blankets placed over the whole instrument minus the piano keys. If you have an upright, be sure the back is covered as well. Finally, a good piano technician can lower the volume a bit by voicing your hammers and making them softer.
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Hi All,
I have an upright Grand Kawai K800AS which was very loud in my front room. My best solution was to use acoustic soundproofing foam sheet- class 0-plain dark grey 50mm, 500mm x 1 m from a company called Rocket Rubber ([email protected]). I positioned it between the upright at the back of the piano but not quit touching the soundboard. I also filled in the openings behind the music platform portals at the front of the piano. It has not affected the tonal quality but has reduced the sound level.
Also for anyone interested in digital/hybrid/acoustic selections I studied Stu Harrison's tutorials, Merriam Music, on YouTube.
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Hi, I did the way around. I learned and I've been playing all my life (45 years) on an accoustic Yamaha U3AS. Now, I moved to a flat and I bought a digital Kawai CN29. It is an entry level digital piano but at least it has let-off on the keys and I am very happy to the feel for playing classical music on it. At first, I had some difficulties playing due to the weighed keys. Now, after being used to it for a while, I have difficulties to play on my accoustic U3AS, feeling that I lost control on it. IMO, the sooner you are able to move to an accoustic, the better it will be to get used to play specially for Classical Music stuff.
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I started on an acoustic grand upright that was crafted like 60+ years ago. The workmanship was incredible. The sound board was like WOW. So, when I started to get digital pianos because I am forever traveling, I've had General Music, Roland, Yamaha and Kawaii over the years. The Roland was a big keyboard with a nice sound and feel. That was followed by a General Music Pro I which had a better feel and was easier to transport. This was followed by an Roland F9 (I think) and a lighter Kawaii ES100. Kawaii has made significant improvement and is what I now use for my main pianos (ES8 and ES920).
There are several digital pianos that have full wooden keys. I am looking at the Nord USA Key Grand 88-note Keyboard which has the Kawai Hammer Action with Ivory Touch versus the Kawaii VPC1 which has the latest action and is a controller. My Yamaha Motif 8 did not have a good keyboard action and the piano sounds were weak.
The biggest thing with an acoustic is getting a good one AND having the space for it. You will be spending some coinage for a good one. You will need regular tuning and need to make sure it is not on an outfacing wall.