Digital Pianos are designed for those who are more serious about playing the piano as opposed to synthesizers. While they will have some features in common with Portable Keyboards, the most important aspects of a Digital Piano are the sound and that the keys feel and respond the way they do on a real piano. Size is also an issue. Digital Pianos can be slim and compact, hardly bigger than the keyboard itself, or they can be built into a decorative solid wood cabinet designed to resemble a 4 ft. Baby Grand!

What to look for in a Digital Piano

After you've decided on size and price range, there are a number of features you should think about when buying a Digital Piano. Here are some of the features considered to be important.

Sound - As far as the quality of sound, it stands to reason that the number of sounds is not nearly as important as the quality of the piano sounds. The authenticity of these sounds will also help the serious piano student to explore the expressiveness of the piano.

Action - A decent Digital Piano will have 88-keys and some sort of weighted action, which simulates the feel of a real piano when you press down on a key. This is a better way to go for the serious piano student, even a beginner, as it will help them develop a deeper understanding of the relationship between their physical interaction with the keyboard and the sound produced. Less expensive pianos have "Semi-Weighted Action". Higher-end Digital Pianos have a more elaborate system referred to as "Fully Weighted Hammer Action" or "Grand Hammer (GH) Action". This replicates the true feel of a hammer striking a string, the way it does in a real piano. This is important for developing proper hand strength and technique.