Best Yamaha Digital Pianos for Beginners

Yamaha Corporation has been making exceptional pianos since 1887 when Torakuhu Yamaha founded the Nippon Gakki company.

He intended to make his own version of western musical instruments and started to manufacture reed organs.

The popularity of the upright piano in the West influenced Yamaha to start making pianos in the 1900s. Today Yamaha pianos can be seen in concert halls, educational institutions, worship places, and recording studios.

The success of Yamaha pianos has been a lot of decades in the making, and they are the more popular models of other piano brands. The best Yamaha digital pianos for beginners include:

1. Yamaha YDP-S34 Arius Series

The Yamaha YDP-S34 is among the digital pianos in the Arius line. This series centers around classic console digital pianos. It features the Graded Hammer Standard (GHS) keyboard where its keys are graded like the ones on acoustic pianos.

This means that the weighted action is lighter in the high keys and heavier in the low keys. Yamaha intends to make users feel like they are using an acoustic piano with all of the conveniences afforded by a digital piano.

This piano also behaves like an acoustic piano in string resonance by recreating the sympathetic sounds of additional strings resonating.

The YDP-S34 includes the sound of the brand’s flagship CFX concert grand piano. It has been played on several of the world’s most renown stages, and there is, therefore, immense value at having this sound at your fingertips.

The piano has 192-note polyphony, which is above average as some models even offer as 64-note polyphony.

The Yamaha YDP-S34 has been fitted with an Acoustic Optimizer which adjusts its sound flow to enrich its overall sound and control its resonance. The Intelligent Acoustic Control additionally adjusts the piano’s EQ to create a stellar tone.

2. Yamaha Arius YDP-S52

The Yamaha Arius YDP-S52 is both compact and stylish, and it can supplement a range of living spaces. It is among the creations of the Arius series, which is committed to giving players a feel of playing on an acoustic piano. It comes in the white and black walnut colors.

The 88-key keyboard on the YDP-S52 is crafted to mimic the feel of a grand piano with its smooth user interface.

What makes the keyboards on the Aries series particularly great for beginners is that practicing with the weighted action found in pianos like the YDP-S52 encourages proper finger technique to play acoustic pianos. It is further equipped with three pedals to enhance control when playing.

The piano’s Pure CF Sound Engine has been born out of hundreds of years in piano-making expertise and which when combined with high-quality sampling technology creates unparalleled sounds.

When listening and playing on the piano using headphones, the Stereophonic Optimizer controls the spacing of the resulting sound and the separation from the YDP-S52 to give out a spacious and excellent surround sound quality.

You will find yourself easily inspired by the sound. You can utilize the touch sensitivity setting to adjust the sensitivity from session to session.

3. Yamaha YDP143R Arius Series

The Yamaha YDP143R was unveiled as the successor of the YDP142 with improved functionalities. You will get the best of both worlds with the YDP134R, that is the feel of an acoustic piano and all the benefits of an electric model.

The black walnut dark rosewood finishes complement the satin white color incredibly well. It matches modern interior designs and will add to the beauty of your studio or home.

The piano’s 88 keys have a matte finish so that you can play for hours without feeling like your fingers are slippery. The keyboard is designed to emulate the experience of a grand piano. You can conveniently split it into two to play duets.

Yamaha commonly invests their expertise in making unique pianos, and the YDP134R is no different. In addition to the pure CF sound sampling, the piano has a dual 6W speaker coupled with ten different voices for superior performance and versatility.

The four different reverb types combined with a stereophonic optimizer makes sounds even more luxurious and clearer.

Yamaha has taken into consideration that we are in the mobile age by providing a free iOS app. Pianists can control the different functionalities of their instrument with the simple-to-use app.

4. Yamaha Arius YDP-144

The Arius YDP-144 is built with hobbyists and students in mind. It upgrades the Pure CF sound engine of its predecessor (YDP-143) to the Yamaha CFX Grand Piano Sound.

The sound on the YDP-144 is consequently rich and bold. Most hobbyists are concerned with sound when buying a piano, and in this department, the YDP-144 does not disappoint.

You further get a Mellow Grand Piano sound which is quite expressive. The sound will especially appeal to lovers of classical music as you can tune it to be nostalgic and beautiful.

The Graded Hammer 3 keyboard succeeds in replicating the feel of an acoustic piano, thanks to its synthetic ebony and ivory keys and an 88-key piano action. The keyboard has a three-sensor configuration to interpret its behavior and offer a grand piano-style experience correctly.

You will get ten voices with the Yamaha Arius-144 which will cover the basics you can expect to learn as a beginner.

If you enjoy playing on the piano with headphones on, you will appreciate the Stereophonic Optimizer since you can adjust the sound heading to the headphones. The feature is designed to feel like the sound is being directed from the piano and not your headphones.

The piano is thankfully compatible with the Smart Pianist App which you can use to control the Yamaha Arius YDP-144.

5. Yamaha YDP 163R Arius

The Yamaha YDP 163 has been designed to look like an actual upright piano, although it is digital. It is quite sturdy and will fit seamlessly into your home. Its finishing looks incredibly authentic.

The 88 keys will accommodate any type of player, from jazz to classical pianists. The key technology used is called the Graded Hammer 3 style by Yamaha where three sensors are attached to every key to pick up volume and velocity easily.

It mimics the action of a grand piano, and you can play your piano softly and loudly using this technology. The piano features a 192-note polyphony, and you can play any song you can think of and not have any notes getting lost in the mix.

The instrument’s sounds have borrowed from a Yamaha CF3S concert grand to reveal warm and rich tones. The inbuilt song memory includes 50 classic songs. iOS users will appreciate the Controller APP for its easy navigation.

How to Choose a Digital Piano for Beginners?

Digital pianos have earned a market as alternatives to acoustic pianos, thanks to their affordability and advancements in sound technology. The kind of piano you select will primarily depend on your skill level.

Beginners will work fine with a low-cost model featuring in-built learning features. Intermediate and expert pianists will naturally be keener on a digital piano’s touch response and sound quality.

You should also check the dimensions of a piano and match it to the space you have set aside in your studio or home. Opt for adjustments if you are purchasing it for a child.

If you intend to carry it around, select a light model or one that is easily disintegrated into moving parts. Additional features you can look out for include:

Keyboard action and touch sensitivity

The degree to which a model emulates an acoustic piano will significantly impact on its playability. Digital pianos are designed to make a pianist feel like they are using an acoustic instrument.

The more favored keybeds are often called “full weighted”. Weighted and semi-weighted actions, coupled with hammer action, are the best mix when it comes to mimicking the sounds of a traditional piano.

The top-rated pianos can detect the subtle differences in velocity and identify the volume of every note. Low-cost models often feature volume level switches and no real velocity-sensitivity.

Sound Quality

The samples of a digital piano’s components will determine its sound quality. The digital technology employed to interpret and reproduce different samples from various pianos impact on how efficiently a piano emulates the sounds.

Pay attention to the realism of the sound when determining sound quality and to the decay and sustain of the notes. The quality of the speakers and amplifiers will also determine the sound quality.

Polyphony

Polyphone reflects the number of individual tones a digital piano can play at once. The bare minimum allows for a 32-note polyphony or a 64-note polyphony. The more, the better, so a 128-note polyphony is ideal.

Learning tools

Instruction is crucial for a beginner pianist, which is why you should opt for a digital piano with several learning tools. Lighting schemes that guide beginners in picking chords and melodies and displays that illustrate the chords being played can be quite helpful. Your rhythmic capability will also benefit from an in-built metronome.

You will have to settle on a brand when purchasing a digital piano. Many of the renowned brands have been supplying pianists for years along with the advancements in technology. Different companies have been promoting their own proprietary technologies, which they apply to a line of products.

Familiarizing yourself with a brand will help you anticipate what to expect and which technology you should master.

Digital pianos dedicated to home use are often great for beginners. They have the same functionalities as the models destined for the studio or stage but always feature inbuilt speakers.

Console pianos are especially popular in homes since their traditional cabinet blends in with household décor. They have simple digital tools and learning tools.

Why Choose a Yamaha Digital Piano?

Yamaha has been supplying actual acoustic pianos for decades and is renown for its world-class instruments. A digital piano relies on the samples of various pianos, which is where Yamaha shines over its competitors. It is able to sample sounds from some of the world’s top-of-the-line concert grands and employ them to their digital pianos.

Yamaha digital pianos are additionally popularized by their affordable prices. As a beginner, you typically do not want to shell out a lot of money for a hobby you are not certain will grow on you.

An affordable piano also means that hobbyists are not locked out from enjoying the venture. Yamaha prices some excellently-built models for values that are lower than the competition. This affordability has certainly played a part in boosting Yamaha’s popularity.

The good thing about dealing with a reputable brand is that it has constant value and you can fetch a reasonable compensation if you part with the instrument.

Some companies notoriously produce models that feel like a toy rather than an instrument. The level of craftsmanship on Yamaha’s flagships in superb with expert finishes.

Yamaha is often at the forefront of working on the latest technology so that you do not miss out on any feature. Yamaha models commonly feature an endless array of digital settings to use. Engineers in other companies go as far as mimicking the innovative technologies found in Yamaha pianos.

The key action and sound quality bring unparalleled realism to the keyboard. The sounds in Yamaha models are often rich and expressive, and you will be inspired to play more.

Are Portable Digital Pianos Good for Absolute Beginners?

Getting a less expensive instrument when venturing into a new hobby is always a good idea. As you research about digital pianos, you will find that there are endless models available to hobbyists.

Digital pianos are designed as replicas of actual acoustic pianos and often come with a stand and fully-weighted 88 keys. Portable digital pianos offer the technology of a digital piano but in a much more mobile device.

They can be carried to a variety of settings as they provide much more versatility. Portable instruments also cost a lot less than upright models, making them quite attractive.

Keyboards are quite lightweight and are favored by people who are constantly moving. Keyboards and portable digital pianos are cheaper and excellent for learning the fundamentals of piano playing. They are thus recommended for beginners in place of digital pianos.

Conclusion

You cannot discuss pianos without mentioning Yamaha. The brand has been an evolving player in the musical instruments sector since the 1900s.

Yamaha understands the mechanics of making grand pianos, which is why beginners will be drawn to its range of user-friendly instruments.

The purchase of a specific model will often depend on cost, sound quality, learning tools, and keyboard sensitivity. Keyboards and portable digital pianos will offer the feel of a digital piano without having to spend a lot of cash.