What is the difference between a digital piano and a digital keyboard?



I would like to learn to play a musical instrument and have been looking at keyboards as they are portable and I don’t have room for a piano.

Of the ones I’ve been interested in, some are called ‘digital piano’ others ‘keyboard’. Is there a significant difference?

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4 Responses to “What is the difference between a digital piano and a digital keyboard?”

  1. Doogie says:

    Usually… the difference between a digital piano and a keyboard is that the digital piano will have weighted-keys… to simulate the touch and feel of a real piano. Also the digital pianos tend to have less selection in the amount of sounds it can play (usualy like 8 or so… piano, bright piano, electric piano, etc) whereas a digital keyboard will have plastic keys without weight and usually will have 100’s of sounds. The digital piano may also come with a stand and pedals (not that the keyboard couldn’t – its just usually sold separately.)

  2. caffeicaddiction says:

    they are essentially the same thing. digital piano usually has weighted keys which will play more like a real piano. as someone who wants to learn piano i’d suggest you get something with weighted keys. it trains your finger to have proper strength and it’s absolute essential.
    and of course there are other options such as if it has a built in speakers, how many sounds can it handle at the same time… how many different instrument options…. there are all sorts of fancy stuff.

    if i were you i’ll get a standard 88 key keyboard with weighted keys with MIDI in/out (for expansion purpose) which you use your headphones thus no worry about no neighbors.

  3. dan says:

    A digital piano is like a piano except electric, and a keyboard has multiple sounds and beats. For someone who wants a piano that can sound like a wide variety of instruments, go with the keyboard. Otherwise, the piano is the best.

  4. claire says:

    A digital piano usually has weighted or semi weighted keys and will have about 88keys which is about the same as a standard piano also the choice of voices avaliable on the piano will be few you will get a piano sound a few varients on the piano sound and a couple of Organ sounds

    a digital keyboard is smaller than a digital piano and has plastic keys (smaller than digital piano keys) a good keyboard will have about 66keys and have hundreds of sound effects in including a portable grand piano sound some will even teach you how to play
    i have a yamaha psr k1 keyboard it has hundreds of sound effects backing styles and songs it’ll also teach you how to play and has a 5 track recorder which will record up to five different instruments so you can create a backing track for you to sing along to
    Keyboards are more versitile than a digital piano so you can experiment and not get bored

    if your just starting out go for the keyboard then when you feel you’ve progressed well enough get a digital piano

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