Choosing the Right Piano

Choosing the right piano for yourself depends on a few things: your budget, the amount of space you have, consideration for the people you live with and your neighbours, and your own preference for an acoustic or a digital instrument.

Already have a working piano or keyboard? Then you're all set, and you can book a lesson whenever you like. The rest of this page is for anyone still deciding what to buy.

The first thing I would consider is how many keys the instrument should have. A standard piano keyboard has 88 keys, and this is what I would recommend for most people, even beginners.

For a digital piano, look for 88 weighted or semi-weighted keys. The keys on a digital instrument are weighted to make them feel like the keys on an acoustic piano, where the resistance comes from the hammer mechanism the key is connected to.

A keyboard with 61 keys will be quickly outgrown by a developing pianist, with material at even Grade 2 level sometimes requiring notes beyond that range. They also often have a much lighter keyboard action than larger instruments. The keys are very easy to press, but that can come at the expense of developing finger strength, and the fine control needed for different dynamic levels and articulations on a real piano.

Two digital pianos at the same price can produce their sound in different ways. There are two kinds of technology: a fully physically-modelled sound engine, or one that overlays physical modelling behaviour on top of recorded samples as they are played back.

My own preference is for fully physically-modelled engines. They are far more responsive to differences in touch and attack on the keys, particularly when paired with a high-quality MIDI controller keyboard.

Digital pianos also usually include more than one piano sound. The presets might imitate a grand, an upright, a deliberately out-of-tune piano, or other instruments entirely — electric pianos and organs among them.

For online lessons I use a Kawai VPC1 as the controller keyboard, with Pianoteq as the sound engine — a physically modelled one.

I also have a Yamaha GB1 baby grand, which I use for practising and for playing for pleasure.

Most digital pianos designed for home use have a built-in speaker system. Digital pianos designed for stage use may not, and will require an external monitor speaker, headphones, or both.

Headphones can provide privacy when practising, which is useful at times that might otherwise be considered antisocial — early in the morning, or late at night. I would still encourage anyone who uses headphones to practise at least some of the time through loudspeakers: it is very useful to know how your instrument sounds out loud in a room.

Pianos of all kinds vary quite a lot in price. An acceptable beginner-level digital piano starts at around £200.

At the other end, prices vary enormously: a new concert grand can exceed £200,000, while a new baby grand starts at around £7,500. High-end acoustic and hybrid uprights sit between the two, running into the thousands. Good second-hand instruments are out there for anyone prepared to spend time looking and checking what they find.

Renting or hire purchase can be an option if you would like to try an instrument before buying, or to spread the cost of one.

Be realistic. Somebody who is just starting out does not need a full-sized concert grand piano. They need an instrument that is reliable and will serve them well over the next few years, or even decades, of learning and playing.

Experienced players usually develop a preference for a particular kind of tone. Some pianos are renowned for a warm, dark sound; others for a clear, brighter one.

This is highly subjective, and depends entirely on personal preference. There is no better or worse here — only what you enjoy playing. It is also not something to worry about at the start: the preference tends to arrive on its own, once you have played enough instruments to notice the difference.

An acoustic or hybrid digital/acoustic piano needs its environment considered. They are always best placed somewhere the humidity and heat stay fairly consistent, and away from extremes.

Large or sudden changes cause problems: the tuning drifts, and in time the delicate wooden soundboard can be damaged. A spot away from radiators, direct sun and draughty doorways is worth more than a spot that merely looks right.

There is an ongoing cost to that, too. An acoustic or hybrid needs regular tuning and occasional technical work. A digital instrument needs almost nothing: clean it regularly with a damp cloth and it will keep looking new and working well.

Online reviews are a good place to start. They will tell you what an instrument has, what it is made of and what other people think of it — useful for narrowing a shortlist down to a few worth seeing.

What they cannot tell you is what an instrument is actually like to play. That only really comes from sitting down at it.

So whatever you are buying — digital or acoustic, new or second-hand — I would always recommend visiting a physical shop, or going to see a second-hand instrument in person.

The more you are spending, the more that matters. A £200 digital bought unseen is a small risk; a four-figure acoustic is not.

This is a purchase which will hopefully serve you well for many years, or even a lifetime. It is worth taking the time to choose carefully and wisely.

Second-hand acoustic pianos can be found to buy in many places. Some great buys on well-maintained instruments can be found, but there are also many pianos that do not play well and will need a lot of expensive repair work to bring them back to a playable condition.

If you decide to buy one, be sure to play it to evaluate its condition and how well it plays and sounds. Always check that all the keys and pedals work, and that the tuning and tone are sound.

Play a familiar piece on all of the pianos you are considering.

Second-hand digital pianos can be found too. Again, try it out first if you can, to make sure all the keys and controls work.

One thing to budget for: moving a piano safely often means hiring movers who specialise in them. A typical upright can weigh 200kg or more, and needs a team with the proper equipment.

New acoustic pianos, both uprights and grands, can be bought. There are quite a number of different shops, both online and with a physical store.

A showroom is worth the trip even if you already know the model you want — two of the same instrument can feel different.