Keys
Piano, keyboard, piano. They go by many names. But what's the difference? Find out at the bottom of the page.
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It's easy to get confused. There are many different types of keyboard instruments and we don't always agree on what to call them across the industry. When some of the names can mean multiple things, it's hard to know what to do. If we say keyboard, many will think of a computer keyboard. But it can also be a musical instrument.
Read our guide below for an overview of the most common keyboard instruments.
Digital piano
A digital digital piano is often used as a broad term for electric pianos of various kinds. However, most people associate both digital piano and electric piano with a fixed piece of furniture that resembles an acoustic piano in appearance.
The digital piano typically has a solid and compact wooden base. It's not an instrument you can move around. Once it's there, it's there.
With a digital piano, the look and sound of a digital piano comes close to the feel of an acoustic piano, although of course it's not the same. One of the great advantages of the digital piano is the ability to plug in headphones and play away without disturbing your neighbor.
Stage piano
A stage piano is exactly what it sounds like. A piano you can take on stage. You can because it's built to be as portable as possible. The portable piano can be disassembled into a keyboard and frame, making it easy to take with you.
Although we see a lot of portable instruments on music stages across the country, it's certainly not an uncommon sight in many homes either. It can be really handy if you live in a small space or move around a lot.
However, a stage piano comes into its own in live performance, where it can typically handle multiple sound effects.
Synthesizer
A synthesizer synthesizer is a popular instrument in the electronic music genre, but can be used for anything.
The synthesizer is a musical instrument that recreates sounds using electronic signals. For example, you can use it to record and recreate natural, instrumental sounds. But what sets the synthesizer apart is its ability to create unnatural sounds.
If you're thinking of the 80s right now, you're not far off the mark. That was the heyday of the digital synthesizer. Today, you can find many of the original sounds of the synthesizer in various other keyboards.
Electronic keyboard
The electronic keyboard - or automation keyboard as it is also called - is an example of the synthesizer's influence on the development of instruments. This is a keyboard where you can play with a traditional piano sound as well as include electronic sounds and samples of acoustic instruments.
If you're not sure which piano to choose, feel free to contact us for advice and guidance.