Having a loooong hiatus from playing the piano (about 15 years), I have a sudden renewed interest in relearning the piano. So would appreciate some opinions/suggestions from the pros out there on where and how I should jump start those rusty fingers again.

Just a few questions :
1. Is it advisable to self learn for now, or start taking private lessons?

2. Is buying a digital piano still ill advised in year 2017 as compared to their upright counterparts? I have seen some reviews that modern digital piano hammer actions feels pretty close to upright/grand's.

3. What would be a good starting point for a decent piano whether new/used?

4. Any material/technique that would be suitable to train the fingers to a decent playing state again?

Hope to hear from the pros/seniors out there on your opinion. Thanks and have a good day!

digital is not bad..can even practise at night with headphones..get the full 88keys..youtube has good lessons,no kidding

Thanks guys for the replies, but apart from noise isolation, is the feel and touch of a good digital piano comparable to a real piano? I am quite concerned with this because I am still looking towards a transition towards a real piano in the future. I am hoping a modern digital one will at least address some of the problem with current hammer technology.

unless you r willing to spend some big $$$ on a digital piano that has real piano action inside (aka hybrid pianos). and if you r going to pay tha' big $$$ you can already own a decent acoustic piano. no digital piano will feel like an acoustic piano. in a piano action you have this "escapement" and then you have "aftertouch". if noise is a one part of an issue, today one can be retrofit a silent system in an acoustic piano. turning an acoustic piano into a silent piano plus is no compromise in the touch.

Thanks guys for the replies, I still have some questions though regarding the instruments itself.

Is it worth it buy new just for the warranty? Or is it normally better just to get a decent one at a fairer price in the second hand market? Does wear and tear really affect digital pianos in any way?

problem with any electronics, when a model is discontinued, parts may not be available anymore. as for wear and tear, unless is a hybrid digital piano (with a real piano action), i dont think there much wear and tear in a digital piano. most of the time is either works or not, and if it doesnt, direct replacement 1to1... getting a second hand in the market is generally (if everything is in order) would save some $$$$, only IF. as for new, warranty is 1 part of it others will be new technology > new function > power > speed etc...

Hmm rather interesting points, seems pretty similar to pretty much every technology out there be it phones or computer parts.

So I am assuming the more premium the price, the better the it is acoustically and also a "realistic" piano action? However does both of this functionality differs much from brand to brand?

in no order
1. number of keys,
2. sound sampling,
3. features,
4. number of sounds/voices,
5. number of rhythms,
6. polyphony,
7. touch response,
8. function panels,
9. lcd displays,

i guess is about there...

Sorry to kind of 'tumpang' this thread. I'm also on the hunt for a digital piano.
I have so far shortlisted :
1) Yamaha's P115
2) Roland's FP30

Both are fairly similar and can be alternatives to one another.
Reasons I would go for the FP30 would be a more modern experience (can be connected to an app with bluetooth for music practicing).
I'm only concerned with the number of polyphony it offers at 128. The Yamaha has 192.

Is there much of a significant difference between 128 and 192 polyphony?

No problem! I am also wondering where would be a good price point for a decent digital piano. Perhaps the nice guy will enlighten us further

Polyphony
consider how many notes the instruments can play at once = expressed as its polyphony. 1 note = 1 polyphony. a quick look at your fingers may suggest that 10 is a lot?? not exactly... imagine playing 3 chords with both hands plus sustain pedal and repeat the those chords 2 more times in the higher octaves, you will now be sustaining 24 notes = 24 polyphony.

Therefore, it depends what you doing with the digital piano.
32 = if you playing with a lot of sustain i think it will fill up very fast. & layer ie. piano + strings etc...
64 = pretty fine
128 = typically good
192 = between both 128 and 256
256 = "sales pitch level"


This post has been edited by jhp: Dec 20 2017, 05:23 PM

There probably are teachers who give private lessons. But it probably costs an arm and a leg. Perhaps there are some educational videos?

I still think having a guide or teacher is good in the long run. Especially the part where someone is there to point out a mistake and preventing a bad habit.

But cost wise, you are right. It does cost an arm and leg depending on which level you are at. Even prices 10 years ago, when I was still active, it ain't exactly what I would called cheap

buy 108 keyboard and use youtube first for very beginner.see if u got interest first.