Is it okay to learn piano on a digital keyboard?

Question

I am a guitar player currently teaching myself some scales on the keyboard I just bought. I eventually want to get lessons. I am 20, a college student without a lot of space. Obviously, I would prefer a real piano, but can neither afford one nor have a lot of space. How much am I missing not learning on a real piano? Jazz is my favorite genre for piano, but I also like contemporary music and classical.

Answer 1

its fine to learn on a digital piano. someday you might want to switch over to a real piano when you get the chance. theyr much funner to play

Answer 2

The digital piano you have should be just fine for learning the basics. Take advantage of the built-in learning features it offers.

From what I could tell by the description the keys of this instrument are not fully weighted. This means that they will not feel like a real piano.

What you can learn on your keyboard is basic fingering, chord patterns and limited expession.

What you are missing is the full, rich expressive sound of a real piano and foot pedals such as sostenuto and incremental damper control. Your sustain is on or off but on an acoustic piano you can get some in-between effects. The other thing you do not have is a full 88 key range. This will probably not be an issue unless you are playing certain classical pieces written for the piano.

Answer 3

Unless you have one of the super fancy expensive keyboards, the things you will be missing out on is pedals and the different volumes you can get from the keys by how hard your strike them. Otherwise, I don't find any problem using a keyboard. That's how I always learned.

Answer 4

a digital keyboard will be helpful for learning scales, and textbook song itself.

But a real piano opens up an entirely new avenue for inspiration

I have been playing for 27 years.

I own a real piano, and, because it is acoustic, and natural, the body reacts positively to sound waves that are not digitized.  This is always true with an acoustic instrument.  

but if you only have a digital keyboard, you can still learn scales and the chords/notes of the sheet music.  But it is a "textbook" version of it.

When you play the same song on an acoustic, you will notice yourself becoming more attached to the song, more moved by the song, and more inspired to adding a little improv to the song.

Answer 5

yes it is ok

Answer 6

well it i really recommend you do use a real ker board so you can just start getting use to the real thing.

Answer 7

yes, of course.

Answer 8

It certainly would be an effective way of learning the names of the notes and associating them with their placement on the keys.

Answer 9

ABSOLUTELY--A KEYBOARD FOR LESS THAN A 100 BUCKS.

MAKE SURE IT'S GOT MORE THAN JUST ONE SCALE OF C.

TWO TO 3 1/2 OCTAVES ARE GOOD ENOUGH.  

DON'T NEED 88 KEYS, BUT BY THEN YOU'RE READY FOR AN UPRIGHT PIANO.

BUY USED PIANOS AT THE THRIFT STORES.  TUNING THE KEYS COSTS ONLY 50 BUCKS AND USED PIANOS ARE 100 BUCKS TO 350.00.

MY UPRIGHT COST $5,000 ON MY DAD'S CREDIT WHEN I WAS 13.  B4 THAT, I PRACTICED ON PAPER DIAGRAMS OF ONE OCTAVE OF MIDDLE C.  NO KEYBOARDS, NO PC'S, NO IPOD'S.  I HAD TO REMEMBER WHAT THE PIECES SOUNDED LIKE, NOTE BY NOTE UNTIL I HAD MY PIANO.

MY PIANO WAS GONE BY AGE 32, WHEN WE HAD TO MOVE AND MY LANDLADY TOOK IT.

CHOOSE A KEYBOARD WITH MED. KEY RESISTANCE.  NO NEED FOR ALL THE BELLS-AND-WHISTLES ON A SYNTH.  THE AMOUNT OF THE KEYS IS MORE IMPORTANT FOR PIECES LIKE BEETHOVEN/BACH/MOZART/TCHAIKOVSKY.

GO TO PLACES LIKE BORDERS OR LARGE MUSIC STORES THAT SELL INSTRUCTIONAL BOOKS.  THEY'RE AROUND 14 BUCKS.  ANYTHING PRICIER IS NOT REALLY WORTH THE TROUBLE.

MUSIC SHEETS FOR MODERN PIECES LIKE INDIVID. POP/ROCK SONGS ARE ABOUT $4.00/SONG.  

GOOD LUCK.

Answer 10

Obviously, as you know, you're not going to get the feel you do with a piano. Certain techniques won't even be possible, like ones that depend on the force of your fingers. However, on some of the higher-end keyboards, there are weighted keys and other features that can make it more piano-like.

Of course it's still good to learn your fingerings and whatnot. But you may have to un-learn some habits later if you want to play a piano.

Answer 11

you should be okay to start, but eventually you will nedd a piano.

you need a piano as it will have weighted keys and pedals.

you need these once you get to certain levels and grades.

good luck =]