Different Types of Pianos and Keyboards

7th April 2017
Different Types of Pianos and Keyboards

It’s safe to say that everyone knows what a piano is, but when it comes to deciphering between a piano, keyboard, digital piano, and synthesiser, some people tend to get slightly confused. In reality it’s quite easy to tell them apart, so to help you out, we thought we’d give you a brief explanation of all the different types of pianos and keyboards:

Acoustic Piano
The “real” and original piano was first produced in about 1700AD and has been widely employed in the creation of music ever since. Acoustic pianos are not really moveable and tend to be on the more expensive side, but their versatility, wide range (88 keys on a full-sized piano), and unique sound quality is unbeatable. The sound is produced by a hammer hitting a metal string, and the exact mechanism differs slightly (vertically or horizontally) as there are different types of pianos; grand pianos and upright pianos, which also vary respectively in size.

Digital Piano
A proper digital piano is very close to an upright acoustic piano as they are also upright, come with a cabinet, and have the full range of 88 weighted keys, but the difference is that digital pianos come with a number of extra features, settings, and modes. Not only do they have a similar feel and sound to an acoustic piano and these extra unique features, but they’re also lighter, more affordable, and offer much more functionality.

Keyboard
Musical keyboards are primarily designed to be easily portable, meaning that they are significantly smaller and lighter than acoustic and digital pianos. Their keys are only partially weighted, if at all, which while changing the feel of the instrument, it drastically reduces the weight. Not only are keyboards light and affordable, but they are also highly durable, making them the best option for professional musicians as well as children who wish to learn to play the piano.

Synthesiser
Commonly referred to as a “synth”, a synthesiser is more of a controller than a musical instrument and is typically used for stage performances and music production. Much like keyboards, synthesisers are light, durable, and easily transportable, having either 37, 49, 61, 76, or a full 88-set of partially or non-weighted keys. Synthesisers have a large amount of inbuilt functions, settings, modes, and controls, but rarely have built-in speakers as they are almost always connected to an external sound system.

No matter which of these types of pianos you’re after, you’re sure to find it at Olimpus. Whether you’re after an affordable child-friendly instrument or something more high-end for professional use, be sure to pop over to our store in Mosta to check out our wide range of instruments including pianos, guitars, drums, percussion, wind instruments, DJ equipment, accessories, and lots more!

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