How to Choose Your First Digital Piano
Weighted keys, polyphony, connectivity — the three things that actually matter when you buy your first digital piano, explained without the jargon.
Buying your first digital piano should be exciting, not overwhelming. There are really only three things that matter, and once you understand them you can walk into a decision with confidence.
1. Key action is everything
The single biggest difference between a cheap keyboard and a real digital piano is the key action — how the keys feel under your fingers.
- Fully weighted (hammer action) keys mimic an acoustic piano and are ideal if you are learning classical technique.
- Semi-weighted keys are lighter and faster — better for synth and organ players.
- Unweighted keys are fine for beginners on a budget, but you will outgrow them.
If you can only prioritise one thing, prioritise the key action. You can upgrade speakers and add pedals later — you cannot fix a bad action.
2. Polyphony and sound
Polyphony is the number of notes the instrument can sound at once. Aim for at least 64-note polyphony; 128 is comfortable for pieces with sustain.
3. Connectivity
Look for USB-MIDI so you can connect to a computer or tablet, plus a headphone jack for silent practice.
Here is a quick walkthrough our team put together:
Come in-store or browse our Piano & Keys department online — our staff play every instrument we sell and will happily talk you through the options.
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