Pianos are expensive!
Many people may be considering purchasing or considering a keyboard or electronic piano with this in mind.
This time, we will introduce the advantages and disadvantages of each based on their characteristics.
Choose something that suits your environment and purpose.
*By the way, this time we will not distinguish between grand pianos and upright pianos, but will refer to them as the same "piano."
table of contents
Features of piano
As the name suggests, a piano is a keyboard instrument that uses keys to move hammers and pluck strings to produce sound.
sound
The tone can be changed to any level without permission, depending on the touch, including the volume and extension of the sound.
The piano is probably the best way to hear live tones.
size
The size is also very large due to the presence of strings and hammers.
In particular, grand pianos require a depth of nearly 2 meters.
Touch (keyboard weight)
heavier (requiring more force) than an electronic piano or keyboard because it moves the hammers that play the strings
Once you get used to it, it becomes easier to manipulate the touch freely and create your own tones.
You can also enjoy the difference in tone.
Young children may find it difficult to play up-tempo songs because their muscles have not yet developed.
cost
The price of a new grand piano is more than 1 million yen even if it is cheap, and the price of an upright piano is about 500,000 yen.
Also, since the piano is a live instrument, it requires regular maintenance (tuning).
In addition, maintenance is required once a year, and the cost is low, ranging from 10,000 to 20,000 yen each.
For many people, this high cost is the biggest hurdle in purchasing a piano.
Features of electronic piano
An electronic piano turns on when you press a key on the keyboard, and an electronic sound corresponding to the switch is emitted from the speakers.
The keyboards described below have the same basic structure, but the electronic piano is characterized by its electronic sounds and touch that are as close as possible to those of a real piano.
sound
Although the fine touch of the keys cannot compete with a real piano, it can produce tones that are close to the real thing
Especially these days, it is possible to adjust the strength of the sound , and the sound quality is often realistic.
Furthermore, there are many instruments that allow you to switch to sounds other than piano, such as organ or electronic piano.
In addition, since it is an electronic sound, the volume can be adjusted freely, and you can play it using headphones without worrying about time or place.
Of course, you can also connect it to a recording device as is, which is very convenient if you want to play your own songs later or post them to YouTube etc.
size
Most are smaller in height and depth than upright pianos.
I think it can often fit into your child's room or living room without any problems.
In fact, when I was a student, I had an electronic piano in my 7 tatami studio room along with my bed and TV.
Touch (keyboard weight)
Modern digital pianos often have heavy keys that are very close to those of a real piano.
I feel like there are big differences depending on the manufacturer, so I think it would be better to try playing the actual instrument at a music store.
cost
The price of the main unit is around 30,000 yen for the cheap one, and nearly 1 million yen for the expensive one.
The price difference is quite large, but there is a reason for the higher price.
When purchasing, be sure to check the differences in touch, how to apply strength, etc. in advance.
By the way, there is no need for tuning, so the maintenance cost is about the same as the electricity bill.
Keyboard features
Like an electronic piano, a keyboard turns on a switch when you press a key, and the corresponding electronic sound is emitted from the speakers.
sound
It's a little far from a piano, and the tone is "just an electronic sound."
Also, in most cases it is not possible to adjust the strength of the sound.
However, there are a wide variety of musical instruments that can be played, and many of them have interesting functions, such as playing percussion in the background.
Like an electronic piano, you can freely adjust the volume, and you can use headphones to play without worrying about time or place.
Of course, you can also connect it directly to a recording device.
It is recommended for those who want to enjoy music rather than the piano because it can play a variety of tones and is easy to arrange.
size
Most are quite compact in size.
Many keyboards have a small number of keys, do not take up much space, and do not require much depth.
Best of all, it is much lighter than the other two, so it can be stored easily.
Touch (keyboard weight)
Unfortunately, almost all keyboards do not take this into account.
Therefore, even if you become proficient with a keyboard, when you play a real piano, it is often too heavy to play at all.
On the other hand, if you ask an intermediate piano player or above to play the keyboard, they may find that it is too light and easy to play, and they may not be able to play it at all.
cost
The price of the main unit is low, and you can get it for around a few thousand yen, making it very reasonable.
(Synthesizers, which can synthesize sounds, cost several hundred thousand yen or more.)
By the way, this also does not require tuning, so the maintenance cost is about the same as the electricity bill.
summary
I will summarize the contents so far.
| piano | Electronic piano | keyboard | |
| sound | ◎ | ○ | △ |
| size | ✕ | △ | ◎ |
| touch | ◎ | ○ | ✕ |
| cost | ✕ | △ | ○ |
Piano : For serious players who enjoy the subtle differences in touch.
Electronic piano : For piano practice or for people who need to set the volume, such as in an apartment.
Keyboard : For those who want to keep costs low and those who don't have space to store it.
For these reasons, we recommend an electronic piano .
You can actually make the purchase online, but it is better to go to a store and touch the various products before doing so.
There are various differences depending on the manufacturer, such as differences in touch and sound.
I hope you find something that's perfect for you.
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