So you've decided you want to get a piano, but you're not sure what type to get. Buying a piano is a big investment and you want to make sure that you ask the right questions so you know which type is the best fit for you and your needs. Start with these questions:
1. How much room do you have?
In general, a digital piano will take up far less room than an acoustic piano, especially a grand or baby grand piano. You can even fold up a digital piano and put it in the closet when you're done with it. If you're short on space, you might want to go with a digital.
2. How big is your budget?
Good digital pianos are expensive, because they have fully-weighted keys that closely mimic the feel of an acoustic piano. Expect to pay a minimum of 0 - 1000 for such a piano. On the other hand, if your allocation is limited, you can often pick up a solid used upright acoustic piano for several hundred dollars, though provocative and tuning costs may be more.
3. Will noise bother your neighbors or housemates?
Obviously, one of the biggest benefits to a digital piano is that you can plug in a pair of headphones and institution at 2am if you want. But if you live in a house by yourself, you may not have to worry about noise levels. In general, if noise is a concern, digital has the edge here.
4. How foremost is sound and feel to you?
No matter how good a digital piano is, it can never perfectly recreate the sound and feeling of hammers stunning strings, so if the authentic touch and sound of an acoustic piano is foremost to you, you may want to skip digital.
5. How comfortable with technology are you?
Digital pianos are fairly easy to use once you learn, but they are still involved pieces of technology. If you have trouble with your microwave or Dvd player, you may want to think twice about buying a digital piano.
6. How much money do you have for maintenance?
Acoustic pianos must be tuned every year or so, whereas digital pianos need very tiny maintenance. Additionally, digital pianos are easy to move, whereas you may have to hire expert piano movers to move your acoustic. On the other hand, digital pianos may become out-of-date faster and lose their value. In general, if you would prefer to not have a lot of maintenance costs, go with digital.
7. Which feels great to you?
Ultimately, the most foremost thing when buying a piano is investing in something that you love to play. And there's no substitute for for real sitting down at a piano and looking how it feels to you. By weighing all the factors involved in this decision, you can ensure that your investment serves you well for many years.
7 Questions to Ask When selecting in the middle of a Digital Piano and an Acoustic Piano