An acoustic or a digital piano? Let’s find out!
An acoustic or a digital piano? An acoustic or a digital piano? Ah… We are a huge number to wonder the same… A real dilemma that all futur pianists will face at some point! Indeed, this choice is important and should probably cross your mind sooner or later.
These two piano configurations have numerous advantages and disadvantages, obviously, which is why I’m going to try to summarize them as best I can to guide you in your choice.
So, ready to choose between an acoustic and a digital piano?
The acoustic piano
An acoustic or a digital piano? Well, let’s start with the most well-known, most authentic, most beautiful, most prestigious… the famous acoustic piano! Upright or grand, you’re free to choose the one you prefer, according to your budget, your space, but especially your preferences. Several advantages make this instrument very interesting. So let’s immediately see the reasons to choose or not choose an acoustic or a digital piano!
✅ Key strengths
What are the real advantages of an acoustic piano? Well, these are quite numerous actually.
Authentic sound and touch: With an acoustic piano, you’ll have genuine sound created by strings struck by hammers, as well as real weighted key action. No digital piano can match this sensation.
Sound power: In addition, the powerful sound produced by the strings is truly enveloping and will make your pieces come alive and feel very solemn.
Great presence: How can we omit this essential point? We must admit that an acoustic piano, especially in its grand piano version like from Steinway for example, is truly a breathtaking work of art. It should consequently make all your guests envious!
Durability and longevity: Finally, acoustic or a digital piano, you can make the choice of reliability. Even if digital models are mostly very durable, this cannot match the mechanics of an acoustic piano. No electronics, no breakdown! Of course, it can always happen that a key malfunctions or a string breaks, but it’s really infrequent.
❌ Potential drawbacks
You suspect it, whether it is an acoustic or a digital piano, with every advantage inevitably come some disadvantages! So let’s see these in detail.
Imposing weight and size: We must say that despite all its advantages, the acoustic piano has one big disadvantage: its weight. Having moved my old upright piano from my bedroom, it almost tumbled down all my stairs and took me in its fall – I don’t recommend it! So if you choose an acoustic piano, plan for the space and help necessary for its installation.
Regular maintenance: If you choose an acoustic piano rather than a digital piano, you’ll have to go through some maintenance phases. Indeed, a piano goes out of tune, so you’ll need to tune it about once a year. And don’t hope to do it yourself like you would for a guitar! Tuning a piano is a whole profession. You’ll also need to pay attention to the condition of the hammers which may require sanding when damaged by the strings over the years.
Non-adjustable sound: The sound of an acoustic piano is great! But your neighbors might not think the same thing, I speak from experience… Thus, unless you have a mute on your piano (and even that won’t completely solve the problem), you won’t be able to play silently on this piano configuration. That’s a parameter to consider!
You’ll therefore need to weigh the pros and cons to know if an acoustic or a digital piano better fits you needs and preferences. Speaking of which, let’s immediately move on to this second type of configuration!
The digital piano
Here we are now in the future with a piano that makes sound without strings and without hammers… Wow, what sorcery! Well, not quite. Here, we’re dealing with something quite different in many aspects, which might certainly suit many people as well. Acoustic or a digital piano, let’s immediately see the advantages and disadvantages of this type of instrument.
✅ Key strengths
Compared to the acoustic piano, the digital piano has numerous advantages that make it very interesting.
Lightweight and easy to transport: No heavy cast iron block, no metal strings, no hammers… All these missing elements make the digital piano really lightweight, and even very easy to transport if you opt for a portable digital keyboard.
Adjustable sound: Where the acoustic piano prevented real volume reduction, the digital piano is much more flexible and allows playing at whatever volume you desire. You can even decide to play by plugging in headphones so no one can hear you. Well, no one except you, of course!
Numerous available functions: Where an acoustic piano allows you to… play piano, a digital keyboard will allow you to play piano but also use a metronome, record your instrument, choose different rhythms, different sounds like organ, harpsichord, violin… or even use multiple sound layering modes, and much more! Some won’t need all that, while other musicians can’t do without it. It all depends on your preferences basically!
No maintenance required: Forget all those concerns related to annual tuning or restoration of defective strings or hammers. Here, everything works through electronics, so you’ll always have a perfectly tuned piano without any necessary maintenance!
Advantageous price: An acoustic piano, unless you go used, know that you might lose a few feathers… While a digital piano is found in very affordable price ranges, from $50 to over $5,000, but with an overall average of $400, which remains reasonable. A new entry-level upright piano? Hmmmm. $6,000. And a high-end grand piano? Oh, you don’t want to know…
❌ Potential drawbacks
Obviously, it would be dishonest not to mention the disadvantages of digital piano, because yes, acoustic or a digital piano, there are some too! Nothing is ever all rosy anywhere. Ah, life is sometimes cruel…
Non-authentic sound and touch quality: You could buy the best digital piano on the market, it will never match the sound and touch of an acoustic piano. It can come close, certainly, it can even almost equal it. But it will always remain a digital piano. And those who tell you otherwise are liars. You might even stumble upon junk with horrible sound quality, so take time to choose a good instrument. And if you need help, take a look over here.
Lifespan limited by electronics: You’ll also need to keep in mind that a digital piano, while very practical, won’t have as long a lifespan as a real acoustic piano. Where some upright piano models are still standing after 60 years (provided regular and sometimes expensive maintenance has been performed…), a digital piano will rarely if ever reach such an age. Good brands like Yamaha or Roland will easily exceed 20 years, but beware of poorly rated and unknown brands!
Different piano feel: This relates somewhat to the first point… Indeed, if you are still not sure to whether to go for an acoustic or a digital piano, know that an acoustic version will always be more pleasant than a digital version, in my opinion. The playing sensations, the authenticity of the instrument, the vibration of strings struck in real time by hammers, the touch response… All these elements that make a piano a piano, ultimately.
Acoustic or a digital piano then?
Well, acoustic or a digital piano, I’ve covered the advantages and disadvantages of each instrument. And as you might suspect, the choice won’t be easy. This website may specialize in digital pianos, but I remain honest and impartial in my judgment, and each type of piano has its good and bad points.
If I had to summarize, I would advise you to choose an acoustic piano if you’re looking for authenticity, presence, and power while being ready to assume the price and maintenance. Conversely, I would redirect you toward a digital piano if you prefer simplicity, accessibility, and versatility at the expense of authenticity that’s necessarily somewhat inferior.
I therefore cannot make the decision for you. Acoustic or a digital piano, it’s up to you! In any case, if you decide to go with a digital version, know that there are models at all price ranges, some of which achieve sound and touch quality almost equivalent to that of an acoustic piano. So don’t be afraid to go with this type of instrument – I myself have both versions at home. That way, no need to choose anymore, hehe…
I hope this article can help you make your decision whether you want an acoustic or a digital piano. Don’t hesitate to visit the many sections of this site, you might find other answers to your questions there. Good practice to you!