It doesn’t take more than a few google searches to be overwhelmed with the sheer number of pianos on the market today. Everything from a $25 toy piano to a $250,000+ concert grand can be found in a few clicks and ordered for express delivery the next day. The big question is this: what is the best kind of piano for you? Maybe you live in an apartment with limited space or have a neighbor that’s sensitive to noise. Maybe you perform at shows and want a combination of portability and high-quality sound. Maybe you’re interested in starting lessons for the first time, but money’s tight and you need a frugal option until you can save for something better.
Whatever your circumstance is, there’s a good chance I’ve probably been in your shoes at some point. Since I started learning the piano in 2002, I’ve had eight different sets of keys, ranging from cheap portable keyboards to a full-grand. I’ve practiced in dorm rooms, 500 square foot apartments, houses, stages, and recording rooms. Each set of keys I’ve owned has had its unique strengths and weaknesses. I’ve also had the privilege of working as a piano technician over the years and have seen a fair share of pianos in every size and at every price point. The bottom line is that there’s no “one-size-fits-all” piano that I can recommend to anyone. I do, however, have a number of guidelines I like to follow when I’m on the hunt for a new set of keys. By sticking to these rules, I’ve been able to find pianos that sound and feel amazing while also complementing my living circumstances. Here are the eight tips I would recommend for anybody looking to buy a piano:
1. Don’t Compromise on the Essentials
I’m putting this step first because it’s sovereign over all the others. Regardless if you’re an experienced player or a complete beginner, your piano NEEDS to have the following things:
- Dynamic variation, i.e. light playing produces soft tones and hard playing produces loud tones.
- 88 keys (the equivalent of seven octaves plus three keys), unless you have a special use for the keyboard, such as custom MIDI control.
- A working sustain pedal (the right-most pedal if there are multiple).
That’s it for the essentials. There are, however, several things that I strongly recommend you look for in a new piano. Without these, your practice and performance will be hindered and less enjoyable overall:
- Weighted keys that use either a real mechanical action or a simulated one. Generally, weighted keys fall into three more categories: semi-weighted, hammer-action, and graded weight. Semi-weighted make up the lower end of the keyboard market and use springs to simulate the resistance of a hammer action (usually poorly). Hammer-action keys use a real action or even real hammers to create a more natural key response. Graded weight keys are generally equivalent to hammer-action keys but use heavier weighting in the bass than in the treble, which simulates the effect of different size hammers hitting the strings. If you want a keyboard that feels as close to a real piano as possible, you’ll want to get graded weight keys.
- Polyphony, or the ability of a keyboard to produce multiple sounds at once. If you plan to get a digital keyboard, make sure it can produce at least a 32-note polyphony to avoid having any sounds cut out while you play. The highest quality digital pianos can handle 128-note or 256-note polyphony.
- Quality speakers and sampling will greatly aid in your performance and will be much more enjoyable to listen to for extended periods of time. Avoid keyboards that use cheap synthetic piano samples and look for ones that are recorded from high-quality pianos.
2. Establish Your Budget
Before you begin researching pianos, it’s important that you establish a realistic budget for yourself. Piano prices vary dramatically from size to size and brand to brand, but this diagram should help you with a ballpark estimate:
As a general rule of thumb, you should choose the highest quality category you’re able to afford. It’s tempting to pick the cheapest option out there, but your technique is likely to suffer if you choose a model with poor sound quality or non-responsive keys. You will also enjoy practicing more if you own a piano that sounds and feels good to play. Here’s a quick breakdown of each of the categories shown above:
- Pre-owned pianos are a mixed bag. Occasionally you’ll stumble across a fantastic piano for a really low price, but the vast majority of options are lower-quality models that are several decades old and will likely require additional maintenance (see #8 for more on this topic).
- Low-end digital keyboards usually offer limited features and relatively crude sound reproduction, but have the benefit of being very affordable. There are still some good options in this category, especially for new students, but beware of low-quality sound sampling and poorly weighted keys.
- High-end digital pianos are usually performance-grade stage pianos or digital equivalents of home console pianos. Recent technological advancements and price-drops have made this category of piano increasing popular with families and traveling musicians. High-end digitals are designed to feel and sound like an acoustic piano while also offering a host of additional features, such as multi-channel recording and MIDI control.
- New uprights are a staple of any piano showroom. They offer a much fuller sound than any digital piano and typically have a lifespan of 30 to 40 years. Uprights are heavier and take up more space than digital pianos (though not nearly as much as grands) and require more effort to move and maintain.
- Hybrids offer the best of both worlds in many respects. Some models are simply acoustic pianos with extra technology that allows for “silent” practice with a set of headphones. Other hybrid models have a full mechanical action with strings that vibrate in an amp and speaker system instead of a soundboard.
- Grands are the quintessential piano. They have a very responsive touch, a beautifully rich sound, and numerous features that make them mechanically superior to every other category. Grand pianos range in size from “baby” (under 5 feet long) to “concert” (over 9 feet long) and have the largest range in price of any category.
3. Assess Your Playing Environment
Do you live in a dorm room or a mansion? The space that your piano will occupy will dictate what model you should choose. Portable keyboards and digital pianos take up the smallest amount of space and usually have a headphone port so you can practice discreetly. Larger pianos take up much more floor space (obviously) and can easily fill a large room with music. Many piano manufacturers provide suggestions for the room square footage for each model in their lineup.
You also need to consider any devices you will be using with your piano. If you intend to connect to a sound system or speaker, you’ll need to make sure you have a model that’s compatible. If you’ll be using your piano as a tool for music production, you’ll need to make sure there are USB or MIDI ports on the piano that can connect to your programs.
4. Don’t Overspend for Features You Don’t Need
What do you want your piano to be able to do? Which features are necessities and which are fluff? You need to set some clear boundaries here because “feature creep” is a tactic used by many piano manufacturers to get you to buy the more expensive models in their lineup. It doesn’t matter if a keyboard has 64 programmable buttons if you’re only going to use two of them. Make a list of things you want to do with your piano and prioritize them. If sound quality is a must, look for manufacturers and models that prioritize their speaker design and sampling. If recording technology is what you need, research the models that recording artists and studio pianists like to use. You want every dollar to go towards the features that you will use most frequently.
5. Check Community Markets and Estate Sales
You don’t have to go to the dealer to get a decent piano. Many people are eager to find a new home for their instruments, especially when they have a move coming up. Estate sales are a great way to find pianos for well under half of their market value. You can also check out community markets, like Facebook Marketplace or OfferUp, to find pre-owned acoustic or electric pianos.
If you decide to take the pre-owned route, make sure you do your research. Not every brand and model of piano is worth buying. Ask the seller if they will let you test the piano and be sure to request any documents they have for the piano (serial numbers, service history, manuals, etc.). If the piano is severely out-of-tune or the keys feel sticky, uneven, or broken, you will need to consider what it might cost for a technician to get it back into working condition.
6. Research the Brand
Brands are more than just words on the side of your instrument; they can represent many decades of innovations and improvements, as well as deceptive marketing and poor craftsmanship. Research the brands you’re interested in to make sure their products live up to the hype. Local piano dealers can give you a more thorough explanation of each brand’s strengths and weaknesses. Here is a general (but far from exhaustive) list of some great brands you can research as a starting point for each category:
- Digital Pianos: Yamaha, Roland, Kawai, Alesis, Kurzweil, and Casio.
- Upright Pianos: Boston or Essex (both owned by Steinway and Sons), Kawai, Yamaha, and Baldwin.
- Hybrid Pianos: Kawai, Yamaha, and Steinway and Sons.
- Grand Pianos: Steinway and Sons, Bösendorfer, FAZOLI, Kawai, Bechstein, and Yamaha.
7. Play the Piano Before You Buy It
Before you make a decision you absolutely MUST play the piano. I’ve seen too many students order cheap keyboards online and ultimately be disappointed by the feel and sound of their instrument. Visiting a piano dealer or showroom will give you the opportunity to try out a variety of models and find one that works for you. Test out the weight and responsiveness of the keys, the quality of the speakers in both high and low ranges, and the feel of the pedal beneath your feet. You want to be comfortable at the piano, because you’re going to be spending a lot of hours sitting at it. Once you’ve tried one piano, compare it to a similar model by another brand. Note the differences in the feel and sound. This will help you hone in on the particular brand and model of piano that suits you best.
Once you find a piano you really like, write down the model name and see if you can find a better deal somewhere else. It never hurts to look at another dealer that may have a better price or to search for some gently used models in your area. The important thing is that you’ve found a great piano that you will enjoy playing for many years!
8. Take Additional Costs into Consideration
Finally, in addition to the up-front cost of owning a piano, there are other factors that must be considered as well. Although pre-owned acoustic pianos are usually very inexpensive (or even free), there are some hidden costs you need to keep in mind. The cost to hire a piano mover can be anywhere from $100 to over $1000, depending on the size of the piano and other factors like having to move up or down stairs. Acoustic pianos will also need to be tuned shortly after moving and then about once a year afterwards. Older pianos will likely need tunings more frequently than new ones. Repairs for broken strings, hammers, or action components may also be necessary once the piano has moved to its new home.
Repairs for digital pianos can get expensive since many models have large integrated circuit chips that are difficult to service and replace. Make sure to keep any warranty information you receive for a digital piano; many manufacturers have standard multi-year warranties that cover the cost of new parts and repairs. Hybrid pianos that incorporate strings will likely need to be tuned every one or two years. Additional services like cleaning and regulation are less frequent but still necessary after several years of use. Piano technicians can provide more information on how frequently you should have these services done.
Now you have the basic tools you need to go find the perfect piano. If you have questions or additional advice, leave a comment below. Happy piano hunting!