Skip to main content

Semi-Weighted Piano Keys vs. Weighted

Introduction

Weighted keys add an element of realism to digital pianos.

When choosing a digital piano, you will come across the options of semi-weighted and weighted keyboards. Both types of keyboards have special characteristics that make a difference in sound when you play your piano. Deciding which style is right for you will help you make a decision on the appropriate piano to purchase.

Weighting


Weighted keys are designed to imitate the feel and heaviness of an acoustic piano's keys. Semi-weighted keys weigh less than weighted keys. The difference in weight depends largely on the manufacturer. An advantage of semi-weighted keyboards is that the total weight of the keyboard is reduced. This is an important consideration for keyboardists who perform on the road and have to travel a lot.
Key Pressure

The pressure applied to weighted keys comes very close to the pressure required on an actual piano. For a pianist who plans to practice on a digital piano and then perform professionally, a weighted keyboard will more accurately replicate the tones of a piano with hammers and strings. Semi-weighted keys may present problems for pianists who are used to resting their hands lightly on a regular piano keyboard. When the weight is reduced, the keys are more easily depressed, making it easier to accidentally hit a wrong key.

Dynamics


Weighted and semi-weighted keyboards generally have the same dynamic range. However, when a key is fully weighted, it offers resistance to the fingers that makes it possible to create subtle dynamic changes. A semi-weighted keyboard offers less resistance, which makes it harder to push down on a key slowly to create a specific sound. The sensitive finger control required to keep from depressing the keys too harshly and quickly on a semi-weighted keyboard can be learned.

Realism in Weighted Keys


Overall, weighted keyboards will feel more realistic to a pianist than the semi-weighted keyboards. Although a professional must be prepared to play any piano available, playing on a piano that most resembles a concert piano is the best choice. Beginners should use weighted pianos to help them develop strength and finger independence. Starting on a semi-weighted keyboard gives a false expectation of what playing an actual piano feels like.

Cost


Manufacturing a weighted keyboard costs more than building a semi-weighted keyboard. For this reason, weighted will typically be more expensive. If the semi-weighted keyboard has additional MIDI inputs to connect to recording devices or hardware to aid in recording and playback of your music, semi-weighted might cost more than a weighted keyboard. When all other features are equal, however, weighted keyboards will almost always be more expensive.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Similarities of Classical and Baroque Music

Music has evolved through the centuries and undergone drastic changes. One of the most significant transitions was from the Baroque to the Classical period of music. In this paragraph, I will compare and contrast some of the main features of these two styles, such as ensembles, instrumentation, and counterpoint study. The Baroque and Classical periods of music have many similarities. While the style of music changed drastically, certain key elements remained the same between the two styles. Composers in the Classical period sought to simplify music and create clearly audible musical lines. In contrast, composers from the Baroque period were interested in creating complex and highly ornamented musical lines. The Baroque period occurs from approximately 1600 to 1750, and the Classical period extends from 1750 to 1820. Ensembles Ensembles are groups of musicians that perform together. Both the Baroque and the Classical period had similar types of ensembles, such as operas, orchestras, str...
Post a Comment
Read more

Sunday Stories: The Power of Audiation in Music Composition

Happy Sunday! Today, let’s explore the transformative power of audiation in music composition and share an inspiring story about a composer who mastered this skill. Audiation, the ability to hear and understand music in your mind, is a crucial tool for composers, enabling them to bring their musical ideas to life with greater detail and precision. What is Audiation? Audiation is the process of hearing and comprehending music in your mind without any external sound. It is similar to thinking in a language, where you can understand and manipulate words and sentences internally.  For composers, audiation is an essential skill that allows them to imagine, develop, and refine their musical ideas before they are played or written down 1 . The Benefits of Audiation for Composers 1. Enhanced Musical Understanding Audiation helps composers develop a deeper understanding of music. By hearing and analyzing music internally, they can grasp the relationships between different musical elements, ...
Post a Comment
Read more

List of Musical Techniques and Their Meanings

Musical techniques are the building blocks of any basic music training. These techniques allow performers to improve their coordination and develop accuracy through repetitive daily exercises. Musical techniques progressively build upon previously learned techniques. Scales Scales form the basis for other musical techniques. Student may study major and minor scales as well as modern scales, such as the whole-tone and octatonic scales. A scale consists of patterns of half steps and whole steps. These whole steps and half-step arrangements will be different for each scale. Scales are musical techniques that can help a performer to play faster and more accurately, and make learning new pieces easier. Chords Chords require knowledge of major and minor scales. Chords come in several different forms that affect the sound. Triads consist of three notes spaced a third apart and classified as major, minor, augmented and diminished chords. Seventh chords build on triads and have an additional no...
Post a Comment
Read more