Keyboards and digital pianos are both electronic musical instruments used to produce music, but they differ in several ways.
- Sound Quality: Digital pianos are designed to reproduce the sound and feel of an acoustic piano, whereas keyboards are designed to produce a wide range of sounds including piano, electric piano, organ, synthesizer, and other sounds. The sound quality of a digital piano is usually better than that of a keyboard.
- Key Action: Digital pianos generally have weighted keys that mimic the feel of an acoustic piano, while keyboards usually have unweighted keys. Weighted keys offer resistance to the fingers, just like a real piano, while unweighted keys are easier to press down and are better suited for playing fast, repetitive parts.
- Size and Weight: Digital pianos are generally larger and heavier than keyboards, and they are usually designed to stay in one place. Keyboards, on the other hand, are more portable and can be easily transported to different locations. Digital pianos are generally larger in size because they usually have 88 keys (mimicking full sized acoustic pianos), and in some models, longer keys to compensate for touch and feels of acoustic pianos, while keyboards may come in 25, 49, or 61 keys.
- Cost: Digital pianos are more expensive than keyboards due to their higher quality sound and key action. However, keyboards are usually more affordable and offer a wider range of features and sounds.
- Features: Keyboards usually come with a lot of built-in features such as rhythm patterns, arpeggiators, and built-in effects, while digital pianos are designed to produce only the sound of a piano.
In summary, digital pianos are designed to replicate the sound and feel of an acoustic piano, while keyboards are versatile and can produce a wide range of sounds. The choice between the two depends on the player’s needs and preferences. If you want to learn to play the piano or produce piano music, then a digital piano would be the better option. If you need a versatile instrument that can produce a wide range of sounds, then a keyboard would be more suitable. So, know what you need before getting one.