Instruments & Gear
Acoustic and electric pianos, keyboards, benches, and piano care.
10 articles
Guides — 3 guides
Piano vs guitar vs ukulele: which is easier to learn first?
Piano, guitar or ukulele as a first instrument: one table of cost, the first month, time to a first song, portability, theory and styles, plus who should pick which.
How to connect a piano keyboard to a computer: USB, MIDI and Bluetooth
Connect a digital piano or MIDI keyboard by USB, a 5-pin MIDI interface or Bluetooth MIDI, with steps for Windows, macOS, iPad and Android, a fix for latency and a troubleshooting table.
Types of pianos: grand, upright, digital and keyboard compared
Every type of piano by size, from the spinet to the concert grand, plus digital pianos, hybrids and portable keyboards in one comparison table, with straight answers on piano vs keyboard, digital vs acoustic and learning on a keyboard.
From the books — 7 articles
Moving Your Piano
Heed one crucial rule when relocating your piano: always hire a professional, qualified piano mover rather than tackling this delicate instrument yourself.
Keeping Your Piano Clean and Healthy
Keep your acoustic or electronic piano in top shape with practical cleaning tips, from dusting between keys to safely caring for delicate inner mechanisms.
Where to Put Your Piano
Choose the right spot for your acoustic piano, learning why direct sunlight, heating ducts, and radiators can warp the wood and damage the finish.
Electric Pianos and Keyboards
Compare the three categories of electric instruments — digital pianos, synthesizers and workstations, and software instruments — to find which best suits your playing.
Acoustic Pianos
Explore the two families of acoustic pianos, vertical and horizontal, and how spinet, console, studio, upright, and grand models differ in size, power, and balance.
Benches and Chairs
Find the right bench or chair height and learn why sitting properly helps you develop correct hand, arm, and posture habits from the very start.
Acoustic and Electronic Pianos
Understand how acoustic pianos make sound with felt hammers and strings versus the digital signals of electronic keyboards, and what that means for your setup.