The piano is and has been increasingly used in various countries including Australia and other western countries as part of a solo performance, chamber music, accompanying other musical instruments or as a part of an ensemble. I am sure most if not all of us admire a sight of a pianist or even better a signing pianist sitting on a chair doing their magic on the piano. Piano is not only used as a musical instrument but many musicians over the past have talked about its versatility in composing and rehearsal of songs. However, due to its bulkiness and expenses, other musical instruments are usually used instead of the piano.

Therefore it is very important to seriously ponder what you are looking for when buying a piano, to ensure that you are buying one that suits you, your skills and even better your budget. As I have already mentioned a piano can cost from about $2000 to as much as $80 000 for those grand performance pianos, therefore buying a piano is a major investment on your part. But what do you look for when you want to purchase a piano, even more so if you can’t play yourself and hoping that your kids, whom you are sending for those expensive piano lessons, will one day be able to play at least as half as good as Oscar Peterson.

Firstly, make a criteria of what you are looking for, in terms of size, colour, and most importantly how much you willing to spend. Shop around, I know many of us can be wary of piano salespeople and you may feel that they are steering you in a certain direction, but piano sales company that have been in the market for a long time such as Hutchings Pianos in Sydney are quite reputable. If you are not sure it may be useful to hire someone who knows about pianos to accompany you when you are going to make the purchase especially in checking out the technical aspects of the piano and whether these fit with your other requirements.

The other important question is whether you buy used or new piano. This is eventually up to you, after weighing the pros and cons of each. New pianos are an attractive choice because not only are you getting a brand new piano, but you are getting one without any wear associated with use thus it will last for over half a century, that of course depends on how you take care of the piano after buying it.

Brands like Yamaha and Schimmel are familiar to most people as these companies have been producing pianos over a century in various pats of the world such as Japan, Germany and the US, furthermore these companies have deservingly earned this reputation by producing high quality pianos . However, cheaper brands like Beale and Alex Steinbach have risen in the past few years and if you shop around carefully you may get a good deal.

After settling on certain piano, very carefully investigate the seller’s warranty and if this warranty covers you in your location. Also think in the long term, how hard or easy is it going to be for you to trade in the piano if you want to buy a better one. And also check what is covered in the warranty, especially the conditions of return. Also look at the aesthetic quality of the piano and how it is going to fit in with your house, for example certain pianos will work well in rooms without carpets and vice versa, check with the seller and the technicians.

Used pianos also offer an attractive alternative option as they are relatively cheaper and with careful consideration one can buy not only affordable but also a good quality piano. Besides, if you buy a grand piano, for example one made prior to World War II you can always claim and rightly fully so to your friends and family, that your piano is an authentic antique. And we all know how everyone loves antique products. To find good quality used pianos, again check with reputable Piano dealers, negotiate for a better deal. Before making a used piano purchase it may prove useful to determine the age of the piano, through enquiring about the name and the serial number of the piano. Caution should be exercised for rebuilt pianos.

I hope I have given insight about purchase of pianos, remember you are making a lifetime investment when purchasing a piano therefore, don’t be afraid to ask questions about the piano that you want to buy. It is important for you to ensure that you get a piano suited to you tastes as much as possible. Books about purchase of pianos such as one by Larry Fine may prove useful in providing a more comprehensive insight into buying of pianos. Good luck!

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Buy affordable pianos, Find New and Used Pianos for sale and rental, tuning and repair, Piano accessories, books, all AMEB grades, sheet music, piano CDs, music stands, metronomes, piano stools or benches, statuettes, piano lamps, piano covers and gifts.

Author

I am a thirty year old music technician; I also work part time in The University of Sydney in the faculty of creative and performing arts. I currently live in Bondi Junction in Sydney. Live with my family of four. My hobbies include, playing music, going to the beach, surfing and barbeques on weekends.

Very often, the questions I get on how to choose a keyboard or how to choose a digital piano has to do with money. What you choose may just be what you can afford.

With such a wealth of keyboards available, a working person shouldn’t have a problem finding one that fits their budget. Low priced keyboards are all over. But this doesn’t mean that you should settle for anything. As the old adage goes, you usually get what you pay for. Usually the more money you invest, the greater the returns.

2. Do you need weighted action or synth action.

Questions on how to choose a keyboard or how to choose a digital piano are usually based on the type of keys a keyboard comes with, whether weighted, semi-weighted, or light.

Weighted action means that the keyboard comes with heavy (weighted) keys and feels like an acoustic piano. You need some muscle to play such keyboards. If you’re a trained pianist or you want to develop your piano skills a weighted keyboard or digital piano would be better suited.

Synth action would mean lighter keys. You can usually play faster and easier with a synth action keyboard. Are you gonna be playing synthy and techno stuff? Then synth action is what you need.

3. How many keys do you need?

Questions on how to choose a keyboard or how to choose a digital piano usually have to do with the number of keys that the instrument comes with.

You have a choice between 88, 76, 61, 49, 37, 25 keys, and even less. Your choice should be based on your needs and circumstances. For instance, players doing stuff that requires a small range, like samples, only need a few keys. 76 keys are usually best for quality synth action. But if you’re into stuff like sound development you can’t afford to work with anything short of 88 keys.

When the digital piano appeared on the scene in the 1980’s, they began to take the place of the acoustic piano because they were less expensive than acoustic pianos. Comparing a digital piano and an acoustic piano of the same size, the digital piano generally costs much less. Today, the cost savings also continue to add up because the digital piano has no strings; this, in turn, means that it does not have to be tuned. Since the cost of tuning an acoustic piano can run between $75.00 to 175.00 each time the piano is tuned, usually at least once a year, obtaining a digital piano as opposed to an acoustic piano may also be desirable because of the savings in its continued upkeep.

The digital pianos were and are also a bit smaller than their acoustic counterparts making them easy to put into tight places. The feel of the key on the modern digital pianos compares favorably with the acoustic piano, as well. For a pianist, the touch of the keyboard is very important in how that musician plays the instrument. The digital pianos available now are able to simulate the weight of the keys on the acoustic keyboard making them an attractive alternative to the serious musician.

There are other features which make digital pianos very attractive to keyboardists as well. The ability to transpose is available at the touch of a button. For those who sing solos or who sing with other groups, that ability is a very attractive feature, especially when a lot of music is written for sopranos and the person who wants to sing a solo may be an alto or a bass.

Many of the newest digital pianos have the ability to link to a computer or they have a place for a disk on which the keyboardist can record the music for later use. With the advent of digital music players such as Ipods, Zunes, mp3’s, and other equipment, this can be seen as very advantageous for the person who wants to record his or her own playing so that it can be used later at a different venue.

The most important feature is the timbre of the instrument. Timbre has to do with the quality of sound that comes from an instrument. New digital pianos do not have the “tinny” sound that came with early electric and electronic pianos. The timbre of the instruments synthesized into the piano gives a beautiful tone that can even sometimes be deepened or lightened according to the whims of the keyboardist. This is very easily done at the touch of a control wheel or slider on the digital piano.

While most concert halls still used highly crafted acoustic grand pianos, the advent of the digital piano is a great help to people who desire to have pianos in their homes so that their children can learn to play the piano. Since learning to play the piano on an old upright piano of indiscriminate age, having a digital piano has been a delight. It provides for creativity and enjoyment in my home for the listener and the keyboardist. Having access to a piano in the home is one of the greatest joys of my life. I wish that joy for children and adults everywhere.

1)  Affordability. No matter how conservative your budget, it really shouldn’t be too difficult to find one that will fit. Set yourself a top level that you would pay and don’t go over that. Because the selection is so large, take the time to look around and get the best deal you can.

2)   Weighted action versus synth action. Weighted action simply means that the keys are heavier and therefore behave more like an acoustic piano. Synth action simply means that the keys are a little lighter.  Just a couple of the more technical terms you may come into contact with when buying your keyboard. The weight of the keys transmits to the style of play that you are buying the keyboard for: weighted action is great for the trained pianist or someone who is looking to develop their piano skills; synth action is more suited to those who play a more synthy or techno style, as the keys can be played a lot faster.

3) The number of keys. It can certainly seem that the choices you have when it comes to the number of keys can be almost as far-ranging as the choice of keyboards in the first place! The range goes from as little as 20 right up to 88. The choice is yours: if you are looking to use your keyboard for things like samples, then only a small range is needed and you only need a few keys. For the more experimental, for instance if you are looking to play around with sound development, then you want as many keys as possible.

4) Is it worth getting an onboard sequencer? A simple answer to a simple question here: if you are working with a computer, then yes it most definitely is. If you do not plan to work with a computer, then it probably won’t be necessary.

5) Do I need a workstation? This should be weighed against the fact that the workstation is an incredible tool to use. . The workstation on your keyboard will perform a myriad of functions, from sequencing to effects. . If you are already using a computer which handles all of that, paying extra for a workstation may not be the most economical vantage point.

6) Aftertouch and velocity features. Whatever you have in mind as the use of your keyboard, you should seriously look into the velocity and aftertouch features. Put simply, the velocity relates directly to the sound produced relative to the amount of the pressure applied to the keys, like how quickly they are pressed. The aftertouch, on the other hand, refers to the sound that is produced after the keys have been pressed, whilst they are resting on the keybed.

7) Can I take this to a gig? If one of the reasons you are buying the keyboard is to take it to gigs, then this should definitely be considered. You might want to think about a hard case to protect it, and obviously maneuverability is going to be a factor. It may seem obvious to say, but do you really want to be lugging some huge keyboard around from one gig to another?

When you take the time to find the best keyboard, one that will suit your needs and your goals, then you are much more likely to develop the long-term relationship with your instrument. Think about what is available online -this is often the best way to buy a new keyboard -with the added advantage that they will deliver straight to your door!