I bought a digital piano for a few months already. This is my first digital piano (it's not a portable stage) and I am noticing that the keys in the range I play most often are less "resistant" than the keys on lowest and the higest registers (the ones that are not played as often.)

Is that normal? I have an acoustic before and i know they have a break in period. Are digital pianos like that?

They keys are not loose, just feels lighter compared to the keys I don't play very often.

Thanks.

What model of digital are you talking about? I do know that the better digitals mimic the acoustic in that lower keys have more resistance than upper keys. But your description does not match that so I wonder. What about when you play different pieces -- do you notice a difference? I had two pieces I was playing and one of them the keys seemed very easy and light. The other piece I played (which was more on the lower end of the keyboard) the keys were harder. Can you change the setting of your touch on your digital?

I need to clarify. All the keys feel right when I purchased it. The lower registers are heavier than the higher registers, etc...

So, I got to practicing and playing on the piano for a while now, and I noticed that the registers I play most often (2 octaves higher and lower than middle C)....well, the keys there are lighter than they ones were.

So I am wondering, did those keys get "broken in" and so they feel less "stiff" than before?

Which keyboard? I have a Yamaha P90, used every day for seven months, and I dont detect any differences in it.

I have a Casio AP-33.

Also, it can just be my imagination. I haven't played piano for 20 years. At first the keys feel very heavy to me (my fingers and hands have all but atrophied during the past 20 years...hehe) so maybe since I've been playing a couple of hours a day my fingers and hands are getting a bit stronger.

I don't know if my hands are getting stronger so the keys are feeling lighter, or if there's something wrong with my instrument.

Sorry, I dont know, but I wouldnt think stronger hands would be evident only at the center of the keyboard?

I think maybe it's just me. I get very paranoid about any new things I buy. A called a friend over to check it out and she thinks everything is fine.

Yes, the actions will loosen up with use, mine have too. There are bushings involved.

Over long periods of time, differences in touch are generally noticeable. But it sounds a little awkward that it would start to happen so quickly.

Out of the box they are tight. After 10-15 hours of play the Yamaha P series actions will loosen up slightly. I have broken in over a dozen of them. Don't worry, they are too heavy and stiff to begin with so they will improve (loosen up) over time. I wish Yamaha would lighten their action weights in the future. The down-weight on the P120/250 is about 74 grams at middle C and that's too much in my opinion.

rintincop,

That's interesting that the digital keys will loosen up. I set my new CLP 990 on light and I still find the keys harder to play than my teachers acoustic grand. She wanted me to set the touch to medium but I can't do that yet. I have thought the keys are maybe too stiff. How long will it take for them to loosen up enough? I've had it three months now.

They will only loosen up slightly, not a lot. Yamaha weighted actions are not the same as a real piano action, they are heavier than real piano actions. Keep yours on "light" if you are more comfortable. The down-weight of the Yamaha P120 and P250 at middle C is around 74 grams. I am not sure which action is in your model. I wish the Yamaha P actions were lighter, my wrists get sore playing these P boards.

Nan,
Keep in mind that when you change the touch setting from medium to light to heavy, that you are not changing the touch weight of the instrument, just the amount of velocity it takes to achieve the same level of volume.
And don't expect the action on a new Clavinova to "loosen up" to any noticeable degree.

Thank you for your advice -- actually, it is getting easier because I believe I am finally building up more muscles in my fingers. The first digital I was on was too light so I think it has taken me some time to build up more dexterity.

Ritincop, I noticed that there is a slight difference in the touch of the different models in the P series, with the P90 being the heaviest. Do you find that of your keyboards?

I notice a difference and I find the best way to compare is with the sound off. I notice the P120 action to be slightly more slugish than the P90. The P90 feels like the bottom of he key bed is not as deep as the P120 and P250. I find the action P250 slightly heavier than the other two.
There also seems to be a slight difference of stiffness between the three. With the sound on they all feel even more different because their sounds react diferently.

How'd you measure down-weight?

I just bought a Yamaha P120 after a lot of comparing. I noticed some differences in all the digital pianos' action, but I preferred the sound of the Yamaha P120.

I felt the Casio PX-100 action is slightly smoother/lighter, but again, the sound is what I preferred in the P120.

I seem to notice that acoustic pianos will vary in touch, as well.

You can measure with coins stacked on a key.

I have a set of cooking weights that I purchased from a chinese supermarket here in Vancouver. I have used them to check the initial load reaction of Digital Pianos when considering a purchase...By initial load I mean the weight at which a key will depress without sounding a note. I started by measuring the initial load of a Steinway Grand at a local dealer. Middle C on this piano measured 57 grams. (Generally I think Steinway is regarded as one of the worlds best actions)Anyways, Middle C depressed without assistance, Just the weight on the end of the key. No sound was produced. I then used the same weight on middle C of Roland, Yamaha and Kawai Digital Pianos. Guess what I found out? On the Roland (HP-3) the initial load was 59 grams at middle C. The Kawai (CP970) was 67 grams, and the Yamaha (CLP130).......74 GRAMS at middle C! Some like it heavy. Some like it real..... I like it real! (Or at least the optimum for a digital piano) There were a few other manufacturers I would have liked to try out (Korg, Kurzweil, Casio) but alas, there are no dealers here in Vancouver!
Anyways My 2 Cents

I played some fairly new out of box Casio PX-100 and the newer PX-400R --- the actions felt among the tightest among the digital pianos in direct comparison with a variety of store displays. Some other demos of PX-100 and PX-300 are very light. I wonder if it's a "break-in" issue or Casio changed the design in preference for a much firmer action?

Hi, Mr. ProPianoGuyBC, I'm a fellow Vancouverite and a newbie to the piano scene. I'm very interested in picking up a Yamaha p90 or p120, any recommendations as to a good place here in Vancouver? Or would I get better deals online?

Hey Xenon, You can always check out Long and McQuade or Tom Lee Music for both Yamaha and Roland Stage Pianos. They both have locations all over the Lower Mainland....What area of Van are you in? Let me know and I will try to send you to the right place!