Keyboard Versus Piano

So you decided you have an interest in playing the piano, or maybe you are thinking about trying your creativity out on a keyboard. Either one is a good choice to start with. There are many makes and models of pianos and keyboards to choose from. Which one do you choose?

Well, let's think about a few things before you make up your mind.  Buying a piano or keyboard is just like buying a nice piece of furniture that is going to last many years.  The reason we are going to discuss some very important questions is to help you with deciding on which product would be the right choice for you and your family before you make your purchase. 

Are you a beginner?

Are you going to take piano lessons?

Are you willing to learn?

Are you willing to commit to practicing?

What is the difference between a piano and a keyboard?

Are you limited on space for a large piano?

So let’s begin.

Are you a beginner?

 Yes, You are completely new to learning how to play the piano.  You are also new to learning how to read notes, or how to read music.  Well let me be the first to “Welcome You to the musical journey” you are about to go on with learning how to play the piano, or keyboard.

Now if you already have experience with playing the piano, reading sheet music or songbooks, can you play by ear listening to the sound of each note. Do you long to create your own music, sounds, or song?

Are you going to take piano lessons?

There are some really good books to teach you how to play the piano available on-line or in music stores if you aren’t able to take piano lessons or if you prefer being self-taught.  You can also watch videos on-line on how to play the piano or keyboard.  If you do have the option to take lessons from a piano teacher, they will instruct you and guide you along your musical journey.

Are you willing to learn?

If you have taken lessons and already have a piano, maybe you are wanting to make a switch to learning how to play a keyboard.  There are some advantages to having a keyboard.  They weigh a lot less than a piano.  There is a variety of sounds from other instruments built into the keyboard.  This allows you to play a song using only the sound of one instrument to create the sounds of  a band playing.  There are so many instrumental sounds to select from to create your own style of music, or create a song.

Are you willing to commit to practicing?

Whether you are a beginner, or you are advanced at playing the piano, or the keyboard, it does require lots of practice.  You have to practice for a little bit and you have to practice for longer periods of time.

I personally do both. I will practice a little, and stop, and then practice a lot and stop.  I might practice just playing a measure of a song over and over until I am able to play it perfectly. Other times I will play for hours, playing several songs, or learning a new song.  There is a lot of stopping and starting over and over with practicing and playing the piano or keyboard.

What is the difference between a piano and a keyboard?

So the one difference between a piano and a keyboard is that with a keyboard, it uses electricity.  You have to turn the switch on to play it.  When you're not playing it, you turn it off.  You want to make sure you have a good surge protector to plug it into.  The piano does not run off electricity.

I will walk up to the piano and play a few notes, practice a little song, or sit for hours playing and playing until I have played every piece of music I enjoy.  Some call it practice.  I call it something my heart enjoys doing.  I love playing the piano/keyboard.

Now with a keyboard you have to turn it on.  Then you have to turn on the speakers, adjust the knobs to the piano setting or whichever setting you choose.  But you must remember to turn it off when you are not playing it.  It is an electronic item.  It does use electricity.  So if the electric power goes out during a storm,  you can’t play or practice on it.  It just sits there with all the other electrical devices that you can’t use during a power outage.  You should also have the keyboard and speakers plugged into a surge protector.

Now with a piano you can play it.  You don’t need electricity.  You can play it by candlelight. 

Another difference with a piano there is a place to hold your piano book, or sheet music.

Some models of the keyboard are flat, some have a slight slant to them, and lay on top of a stand.  They do not have a place to rest your book or sheet music on it.  You can use a musical instrument stand to hold your music in place at eye level.   You could have a custom built in cabinet that will allow you to prop up your music book or sheet music.

Another difference is the lighting.  You definitely need good lighting to be able to read your music while you are practicing or playing a song.  With a piano you can place a lamp on top so you can have good lighting.

A keyboard does have a small section where you could place a lamp, but it will be off center and may possibly get knocked off when turning on and off the keyboard. Plus there are a lot of plugs to plug into an outlet for using a keyboard.  There is the main plug for the keyboard and two plugs for the speakers and a plug for the foot pedal.

 Pianos do make a nice piece of furniture to have in a home. But they are a lot nicer to have if someone is playing the piano and sharing the sound of music throughout the home.

So far it sounds as if your best option is the Piano.

But, Wait!

Let’s now talk about the “Pros” of selecting a Keyboard.

With a Keyboard, you can play more than just the piano sound. You can add sounds of other instruments too.  You can mix the sounds and create your own musical masterpiece.  Especially if you just like writing your own music, or creating your own song.  Or, maybe you have the gift just to be able to play by ear. 

I love to play songs on the keyboard and mix it up with all the sounds. The keyboard allows all of this. Sounds like the Bass, Flute, Violin, Drums, Horn, Harp, Cello, and Chimes are just a few of the sound effects you can add into your piano song.

Whether you are a beginner of a new instrument or an advanced player the keyboard is way more fun to be musically creative.

Okay, so that’s a few important things to think about!

Now here’s one more “ important thing” that is a concern to both the piano and the keyboard. 

It is “maintenance of the piano or the keyboard.

Yes you need to keep your musical equipment in tip top shape by keeping it well tuned.  It is all about the sound, when it comes to any musical instrument or equipment.

You call a piano tuner to tune your piano but, who do you call when the keyboard keys stick?  The answer to that question is, you have to call the music store which sells keyboards and see if they can repair them or give you a referral to someone who can.

Either way, the purchase of the piano or the keyboard is a purchase you will enjoy for many, many years to come.

Are you limited with space?

A thought to consider is the style and size of each musical furniture.  Are you limited to where you can put the piano? 

Pianos are large and heavy.  However, they are a nice piece of furniture to have in your living room.

You do not want to be moving your piano around.  One reason is that they are very, very heavy! So having a location for your piano is important.

The keyboard comes with a heavy duty “z stand” that the keyboard sits upon. It has the foot pedal and two speakers that plugs into the back of the keyboard and also into the wall outlet.  So you will see all the cords. But a solution to that is to put the keyboard into a custom made piano style cabinet.

Keyboards vary in size.  There are smaller keyboards for beginners.  There are rollup styles for the student on the go.  Do you have a son or daughter in college?  The rollup piano is perfect in size for them to play and practice on.

Then there are Keyboards where the keys light up to help show what notes to play along with the song. And then there are full size keyboards approximately the same width as a piano.

Now you have to decide on whether to get a keyboard or a piano.  Either one, Let the music play and Enjoy every moment!