Not sure what all those fancy terms you've heard about mean? Check out our jargon buster below to help clear things up!

Piano / Keyboards Jargon Buster

Touch Sensitivity:

When looking at a keyboard or digital piano, the most important feature it should have is touch sensitivity. This is where the keyboard or digital piano responds to how hard or soft you play the keys. Play the keys harder, and the sound gets louder; play the keys softer and the sound gets more quiet. Touch sensitivity ensures the digital piano or keyboard is responding to touch just like an acoustic piano does.

Weighted Keys:

This is the main difference between a keyboard and a digital piano. On a keyboard, the keys feel "spongy" and are light to press. Whereas on a digital piano, the keys are heavier to press down - just like on an acoustic piano. Teachers usually recommend starting on a digital piano with weighted keys, as this ensures the student is developing the finger strength and technique as if they were practicing on an acoustic piano.

Graded Hammer Action:

On an acoustic piano, the hammers are heavier down the low end compared to up the top end of the keyboard, in fact they become progressively lighter. A Graded Hammer Action recreates this touch on a digital piano, feeling heavier down the bottom and lighter up the top end.