Piano’s are without a doubt one of the most popular instruments to learn and to enjoy. They are not only present of music from decades gone by but also on some of the most modern and diverse music of this era. But how do you choose? Read on to learn more. Let’s first brush up on the difference. An acoustic piano is what most people used to see in their school assembly hall. It’s a real instrument in every sense of the word, being big and heavy but with the advantage of being able to be placed wherever it’s required. Acoustic piano’s can be had for free or can easily demand a six-figure sum to own but as the old saying goes you really do get what you pay for. The next contender is the Digital Piano. These have steadily gained popularity over the years and with the advances in digital technology are the best that they’ve ever been. With prices starting from a few hundred pounds and rising to many thousands they certainly suit all price points and offer features that simply wouldn’t be possible with a traditional acoustic piano. They are powered by (usually) mains power and don’t need tuning so there’s a cost saving there as well. Also, as mentioned previously they can possess a number of features including a Transpose facility, a choice of sounds (guitar, strings etc) or even multi-track sequencing to record your performance. Some even have built-in backing styles to play along with and proper wooden key actions for that real piano feel Your first consideration has to be the amount of space that you have available. I’m commonly told by some customers that their modern properties have smaller rooms or false walls. In this scenario, consideration has to be given that an acoustic piano sound will possibly bleed through into adjoining rooms. A digital piano isn’t subject to this problem as it has a power button to control the volume level without affecting the quality of the sound – there’s also a headphone socket if you want to practice silently. Next is the tuning aspect. Real piano’s require tuning by an expert tuner. This is a very detailed process where many internal parts are adjusted to ensure that the piano both plays and sounds as it should. A digital piano doesn’t require tuning as all of the voices are digitally captured so they can’t go out of tune. The touch and feel of a piano, whether acoustic or digital is always subjective. As every car drives differently so will a piano play differently. It’s important that you try the piano and know which you like the feel and sound of, to determine which would be best for you. It may seem that the most obvious choice would be to purchase a digital piano, however, there are benefits from owning an acoustic instrument. Despite the costs of tuning (which should be undertaken every 6 months), there is the advantage that an acoustic piano still is by nature a real instrument. Rarely will you go to a piano concert to see a virtuoso playing on a digital instrument? Also, there is the fact that an acoustic piano can last up to 80 years if looked after and can (though never guaranteed) end up being worth more than originally purchased. So why not find the cheapest (or free) piano around and then hopefully it’ll gain value and make you a fortune? This doesn’t tend to happen. Old pianos were manufactured for homes with coal fires, using animal-based glues and plain old wood within their construction. This glue degrades with time and eventually will cause problems (like when you see the real ivory keytops missing). Needless to say, ivory isn’t used anymore in piano construction for obvious reasons. These pianos even though old, are usually at the end of their life. Yes, any piano can (with enough money) be brought back to a playable state, however, it doesn’t mean that the money expended was worth the investment. More modern acoustic pianos are constructed with synthetic wood glues and pressure treated wood which is designed to cope with modern centrally heated homes. There are also far fewer brands of pianos to choose from so if this is your choice ensure that you purchase a reputable brand. We do supply many high-quality brands within our showrooms and each piano is thoroughly checked beforehand and tuned after delivery Ultimately it’s no longer a matter of one piano being better than another, it’s down to your requirements. You can browse our range of pianos on our website, acoustic and digital or you can pop into any of our stores and have a browse around and find the best piano for you with the help of our highly trained staff. Don't forget we offer low rate finance deals and we also welcome part exchange, we want you to get your dream instrument!