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Are there electronic keyboard pianos available that sound like grand pianos?
by Dan Maynard © 2007

Huge technological advances in keyboard technology mean that you can now buy a digital piano or keyboard that sounds and feels like a traditional grand piano. These models have high quality grand piano sound samples along with weighted hammer action keyboards to make you believe you really are playing an acoustic grand piano. This article looks at Yamaha keyboards, Korg keyboards and Kurzweil keyboards, that the manufacturers claim emulate grand pianos.

Yamaha have recently launched a new range of Clavinovas called the CVP series that are manufactured to imitate a grand piano. The CVP-309 in particular features a Natural Wood Keyboard, which has balanced key weight and mass, as well as the authentic feel and rounded tips of the wooden keys. The sound response of the keys changes according to velocity and position on the keyboard with keys in the base area having a slightly delayed response as they would on an acoustic grand. The varying weights of the keys really make you believe that there are hammers hitting wires inside the instrument.

Other Yamaha digital pianos that feature the exclusive Graded Hammer Effect keyboard to emulate the feel of a grand piano include the YDP131C, and the Yamaha Nocturne Grand N100 Digital Piano. These are cheaper than the CVP-309 but still recreate the feel of an acoustic grand piano.

Korg’s answer to an electronic instrument that feels like a grand piano is their unique Real Weighted Hammer Action III (RH3) keyboard. This is featured in some of their top end models, including the C-720 ultra responsive 88 key digital piano. As well as a realistically weighted keyboard, where the keys become progressively heavier as you move down the register, the keyboard’s response can be adjusted to suit your playing style using eight velocity curves. Another feature that makes this instrument play like a grand piano is three pedals with half-pedalling response for the soft and damper pedals.

The ultimate grand piano substitute is available from Kurzweil. The Mark 152i is a top of the range digital piano designed in a genuine Young Chang grand piano cabinet. With stunning sound quality and projection due to new surround sound effect technology, the digital piano has sustain, sostenuto and soft pedals. The full 88 key keyboard is realistically weighted and has a three degree tilt to emulate a concert grand piano. This instrument even comes with a grand piano stool.

About The Author:
Dan Maynard is a pianist and has been playing acoustic and digital piano keyboard instruments for over 40 years. Dan has performed at live venues, done studio work and composed music for corporations and tv.. He is also a writer and marketer and enjoys working on the Internet. You can see other reviews on Yamaha keyboards, and other keyboards in the 61 to 88 piano keys range.

Musician's Friend is one of the premier suppliers of digital pianos on the market today. You can Shop by Brand, visit their Clearance Center, and they have Free Shipping on Most Orders Over $99. Alternatively, you could visit their piano specific section to see what they have in the way of digital pianos. Most well-known brands of digital pianos and other piano gear are located here:

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I'll also be adding educational products for the piano as I come across them (feel free to email me if you would like to suggest some!) but for now, here are some locations that offer courses where you can improve your songwriting and musicianship in general:

Find Schools Online - Music Degrees | Berkleemusic.com | SongU.com

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