Piano Buying Guide Model Features Yamaha YDP-144 GHS action, CFX Grand Piano Voice Yamaha P-515 Natural Wood X Key Action Casio PX-870 Redesigned Cabinet, Speaker System Yamaha YDP-164 GH3 action, CFX Grand Piano Voice 1 more row
This article is aimed at teaching you about some of the different key action systems digital pianos have to offer, how to differentiate between them, and how to go about choosing which action (and by extension, which piano) might be best for you.
Key action systems sometimes can be some of the lesser-known features of the digital piano, but many times can be the most important. I’m going to help dive into some key aspects of these systems that will help you feel better about selecting digital piano (especially if it’s online and you unfortunately don’t have an opportunity to sit down at the piano bench and actually touch the keys).
So to do this, we’re going to look at the different key action systems provided by some of the major brand manufacturers of digital pianos, including Casio, Roland, Yamaha, Korg, and Kawai.
To help stay organized throughout this article, feel free to use the Table of Contents listed below.
Piano Buying Guide
Before we break down the different key actions for major manufacturers like Casio, Yamaha and Roland, feel free to use the table below to compare and contrast notable pianos on the market:
Basics of Hammer Key Action
Before we go into some of the different hammer action systems provided by the major manufacturers, it is first important to understand what key action actually means.
Key action deals with the touch, sensitivity, velocity, and many times hammer action strike of the particular keys on a keyboard. For those who are coming over to digital pianos from toy keyboards and cheaper offerings, this may be something new to you. For those who are coming from a more traditional or classical piano setting, you will already be well versed in what this is.
One term to describe these systems is that they are “scaled.” Scaled simply means that they reflect real pianos in that they have the heavier and bass keys towards the lower end of the board, with the treble and lighter keys going up to the higher end of the board.
Another term or phrase that goes alongside this discussion of key action is what is often described as a “weighted digital piano.” The term “weighted” gives more of a general feel to the topic, whereas the key action or hammer action can be seen as more specific. But it’s all essentially the same—an action or mechanism inside the piano and keys that allows for the player to feel like they are playing on an acoustic piano.
In fact, “hammer action” specifically refers to the systems manufactured by piano companies that correspond to real life hammers in actual pianos. These hammer action systems are developed to different specifications, as many of them have sensors and other things to help measure the velocity with which it is being struck.
In other words, if the key action mechanism inside the piano you buy determines how weighted the keys feel when you depress them to play, then touch velocity inside a digital piano determines how loud each actual note sounds based on how hard you strike the key.
All in all, the point of having these systems is to make the keys on the digital piano feel as real as that of an actual piano, as opposed to the flimsy, plastic keys that come on other digital instruments.
With that said, there are some people that don’t want a lot of weight under their fingers when playing a digital piano. These are usually people that are working in a studio setting or are dealing with synthesizers. In the end you have to find something that suits you best.
Below, please take a moment to view some of the best selling digital pianos available online:
A Breakdown of Different Key Action systems
Now, let’s break down a variety of key actions from some of the more well known piano manufacturers:
Casio
Let’s begin with Casio. Casio is one of the more trusted options on the market when it comes to digital pianos, and the engineering behind their machines can always be counted on.
Casio mainly has two options for hammer action pianos: the Tri Sensor Scaled Hammer Action Keyboard I & II. This hammer action system works so well because it implements three different sensors under every hammer, instead of the conventional two sensors.
This is perfect because it allows each note to be pressed more than once without the key having to return to its original position.
The first generation is based mostly in Casio’s upright digital piano series named CELVIANO, which contains pianos such as the Casio AP-270 and Casio AP-470.
The second and upgraded generation of the system is featured mostly in Casio’s Privia line, which features the likes of the Casio PX-160, Casio PX-360, Casio PX-560, Casio PX-870, and Casio PX-5S. This collection of pianos represents some of most trusted slabs and uprights on the market, and the hammer action behind them is a big reason why.
The current generation of notable digital pianos include the Casio PX-S1000, PX-S3000, Casio CDP-S150, and CDP-S350,
Our Notable Casio Piano Reviews:
Let’s talk about the Casio PX-S1100. This is not only a wonderfully affordable digital piano, but it’s almost meant to be an instrument you can easily transport to and from gigs, school, or your home.
Costing less than $700 and weighing only 25 lbs., the PX-S1100 is built to be compact and lightweight–and I really love that about this instrument.
I also like the fact that. if you’re a beginner, you’re not going to be overwhelmed with too many bells and whistles on this piano.
But of course, let’s talk about the keys on this great piano. Like all digital pianos, the user is meant to get a simulated feeling of playing on an acoustic piano. And the PX-S1100 does that job quite well.
In fact, on this instrument, you’ll actually hear all of the cool mechanical sounds of dampers rising, as well as keys being depressed and then returning back to their normal position. On top of that, hammer response is featured here, alongside key-off simulation too.
What this means is that you now have a digital piano thats reacting to your very own playing dynamics!
Yamaha
Yamaha is another company that has great engineering. Yamaha has more experience–since they have a long tradition of grand pianos–that they have been able to develop digital hammer systems that are well liked by the public.
A quick list of some of the systems they have to offer:
Graded Hammer Standard (GHS) Graded Hammer [Effect] (GH/GHE) Graded Hammer 3 (GH3) Natural Wood (NW)
Overall, to get a better understanding of Graded Hammer Action, check out the short video created by Yamaha below:
Yamaha Graded Hammer Standard
Graded Hammer Standard is the key action you will find on many Yamahas, like the very popular Yamaha P-121, Yamaha P-45, and Yamaha P-125 pianos. You’ll even find it in the Yamaha Arius YDP-144, as well.
This key action is much more ideal for beginners that want and need a graded and weighted feel to the keys so that they can begin to get an idea for what it must feel like to play on an acoustic piano.
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This is a perfectly fine hammer action, it just doesn’t come with all the acute accuracy provided in the GH key action (but then again, if you’re not in the intermediate to advanced level, it’s irrelevant right now. Don’t even worry about it).
Let’s briefly talk about one of the most popular digital pianos that feature the Yamaha Graded Hammer Standard key action: the Yamaha P-125.
The Yamaha P-125 has replaced the Yamaha P-115, and continues to be a great digital piano for beginners looking to learn how to play the piano.
And yet, at a price point of about $600, it’s an instrument that is more than adequate for someone that has been playing piano for some time and is looking for a good portable piano that best fits their everyday needs.
The Yamaha P-125 features 88 keys and a GHS action, which was mentioned earlier. But it also comes with 24 voices (more than the Yamaha Arius YDP-144…I’m just saying).
And while it doesn’t feature the Yamaha CFX Grand Piano sound like the YDP-144 does, you’ll still enjoy the Yamaha CF Pure Sound engine.
192 notes of polyphony here give you peace of mind that you can grow with this digital piano, and you’ll also be able to use this instrument with the Smart Pianist app too–an app I’ll discuss in more detail as we progress throughout this article.
Overall, this is a very nice digital piano that I think is great for a variety of customers, including:
Those that want a cheap digital piano Those that want a portable piano Those that want robust enough features so they can grow with the instrument, rather than outgrowing it too quickly Those that are excited to use the Smart Pianist app, which allows you to control the entire digital piano via you iPhone or iPad
Lastly, if you’re interested in both the Yamaha P-125 and Casio PX-S1100 (which we discussed above), then I encourage you to check out our comparison review of both pianos here: Casio PX-S1100 vs Yamaha P-125
Yamaha Graded Hammer Effect
As for Graded Hammer Effect, a lot of Yamaha pianos that feature GHE are discontinued (such as the Yamaha P80 or the Yamaha P250), but many still feature the GH (Graded Hammer) in their keyboards.
Be it GH or GHE, this is a premium weighted action that provides intermediate and advanced players with top notch accuracy when it comes to repetitive passages. Some pianos that feature the GH are the Yamaha P255 (from the Contemporary line) and the Yamaha YDP-S52 and Yamaha YDP 181 (from the Arius line).
Our Notable Yamaha Piano Reviews:
Yamaha Graded Hammer 3 Action
The next step up in Yamaha key action is the Graded Hammer 3—and this is considered to be a bit of a higher standard. It’s actually very similar to the GH, but this hammer action swings back faster in a fashion resembling that of high-end acoustic pianos.
This action mechanism can be found on many of the models from Yamaha’s Clavinova lineup, including the Yamaha CLP 440 and Yamaha CLP 525. On top of that, Yamaha has added the GH3 action to pianos such as the Yamaha YDP-S54 and the Yamaha YDP-164.
Let’s take a moment to discuss the Yamaha YDP-165.
Now, we’ve already mentioned that the YDP-165 features GH3 action, but let’s quickly discuss what makes this action so special. This action, beyond just having graded keys, also features a 3-sensor configuration to help better give the pianist the expressive feeling of playing on an acoustic piano.
But the YDP-165 is a special piano beyond just its key action. Taking over for the YDP-164 (a popular digital piano in its own right), the YDP-165 comes with three very impressive grand piano sounds.
This piano also features the CFX Grand Piano, which was also present on the YDP 164. And for those that tend to play more complex piano pieces, you’ll be happy to know that the Yamaha YDP-165 also features 192 notes of polyphony. This is particularly great because now you can play fast, more intricate pieces without worrying that notes will drop out.
You’ll also get to play the Mellow Grand Piano sound on the YDP-165, along with a Pop Grand Piano sound whenever you want something much more upbeat and jazz influenced.
On top of that, the YDP-165–just like the slightly less expensive Yamaha YDP-145–can be totally controlled via an app called Smart Pianist. Once you’ve downloaded this app on your iPhone or iPad, you’ll be able to control many of the piano’s settings.
This will allow you to not just pick sounds or control the volume, but record what you play onto the app, split the keyboard in half, or layer one sound onto another.
The options are endless, and what I really like about it is that, when you use the app, everything you want to do is accessible via the click of a button, rather than trying to (for example) layer sounds by pushing the Voice button on the YDP-165 and then holding down two of the keys in the second octave.
Embrace technology and avoid the hassle.
Natural Wood X
Lastly, Natural Wood keyboard refers to keys that are all cut from the same hunk of wood (well, the white keys at least) to completely replicate the feel of a grand piano. This keyboard actually has the same overall structure as the GH3 keyboard, but you get the special bonus of having your white keys made of wood, just like an acoustic piano.
Some Yamahas that feature Natural Wood are the fantastic Yamaha P-515 (which actually replaces the Yamaha P255) Yamaha CVP-609 from the Clavinova Ensembles line and the CLP 545, CLP 575, and CLP 585 from the Clavinova Traditional lineup.
Let’s talk a bit more in depth about the Yamaha P-515.
The Yamaha P-515 is a fantastic digital piano for so many reasons. For starters, as mentioned before, this piano features the NWX key action. This is quite unique, because NWX action is mostly reserved for higher end digital pianos (although the P-515 is no slouch, as it costs about $1,500).
Still, you’d normally find the NWX action on pianos in the Clavinova line, for example, so it’s a real treat to see Yamaha implement it here for a high end portable piano in the 515.
With the 515, you’re going to get white keys made out of wood, allowing you to feel as if you’re one step closer to the touch of a real acoustic piano.
On top of that, the piano sounds are wonderful. You get the Yamaha CFX Grand Piano sound here, which to be fair, is available on the YDP-144 and YDP-164. But what’s not available there, and is available on the P-515, is the Bösendorfer Imperial piano sound.
You can also use the P-515 with the Smart Pianist app, allowing you to control the piano via your iPhone or iPad. Connecting to your P-515 via a USB cable and camera connector kit, the app also is a great teaching tool thanks to a feature called Chord Chart.
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Chord Chart analyzes songs you love that are already in your library and creates chord symbols that pop up on your screen. What this does is allow you to play along to your favorite song, facilitating the learning experience while also having fun.
Chord Chart won’t be able to analyze every song you may have or want to play (unfortunately, the song can’t be too complex for the feature to be able to analyze it and display chord symbols). But it does have thousands of sounds you can have analyzed and learn how to play, and as this technology develops into the feature, it’s impossible to not get excited to see where Chord Chart, and Smart Pianist overall, go in the future.
Roland
Roland has had a number of different progressions with the key action systems they provide, and many of these systems will be recognizable to users because of Roland’s great history and past success.
The main base of Roland’s system is called the Progressive Hammer Action (PHA) system, which tries to emulate the natural touch and response of a grand piano. This key action system is sometimes complemented by something called “escapement,” which models after a real grand by adding the “click” that you would hear while playing pianissimo on real models.
This key action system has progressed over the years with the Progressive Hammer Action II & III.
Many of the newer models of Roland digital pianos come with systems called Ivory Feel G and Ivory Feel S, and many times these can be confused as further progressions in the PHA series. However, this is untrue.
The Ivory Feel G is actually just the Progressive Hammer Action II system, but only with synthetic ivory key tops to replicate the feel of actual ivory keys. The case is the exact same with the Ivory Feel S system, except that system corresponds to the PHA III.
Our Notable Roland Piano Reviews:
Models like the Roland RD 300NX use the Ivory Feel G keyboard, while more famous models like the Fantom G8 uses the PHA II key action.
The relatively new Roland FP-60X is the middle child in the new FP lineup that includes the FP-30X and the FP-90X. If you’re familiar with Roland, then you know that these are the latest generation of pianos that replace the FP-30, FP-60, and FP-90 respectively.
So, from a key action perspective, what makes the FP-60X so worthwhile? Well, let’s start with the PHA-4 Standard keyboard, which features Roland’s well known and respected Progressive Hammer Action with Escapement.
What you ultimately have here is a piano that, while it won’t make you think you’re playing on an acoustic piano, comes shockingly close to simulating an authentic piano playing experience. As expected, the keys have an Ivory feel texture to them, and coupled that with the great sound and loads of tones to play with (over 300), the Roland FP-60X enters the scene as a strong competitor in the digital piano marketplace.
How to Compare Key Actions?
Once again, sometimes it can be hard to compare some of these systems, since people are always going to be looking for a specific touch that suits them.
Another hurdle (that is certainly relevant to some piano critics) is that sometimes it may seem that the great number of hammer action systems out on the market are just marketing ploys. In essence, they are all basically the same and there isn’t much difference to them.
I’m not exactly sure how I feel about it, as all I can really account for is how the keys feel when they are under my fingers. So for a true take on some of the key actions I feel are the best, I would definitely have to start with the Casio Privia line. I know for a fact that these are some of the best pianos I have had a chance to play, and certainly the Tri Sensor Scaled Hammer Action II system has been a big part of it.
I love the way they feel, and the response of the keys is fast and weighty, but not overbearing. I also have not noticed any damaging clicking sound that some hammer action systems seem to develop over time after lots of use.
When comparing across the board, it really comes down to what you are looking for. In my opinion, the Graded Hammer Standard series is a great and dependable option, and would be more on par with systems such as the original Progressive Hammer Action system and the first Tri Sensor system.
When moving up in capability, you really see a jump when you start to feel the Graded Hammer II or the Tri Sensor II system, which I believe the Ivory Feel G keyboard is also on par with.
And when you start stepping up to the grand piano-like models, you will deal with systems like the Graded Hammer III system or the Ivory Feel S system.
I will say, however, that if I was in a studio setting, or simply wanting to work with a controller, I would prefer not to have any action at all. It may sound strange, but in those type of settings I just want simple keys with touch sensitivity behind them, instead of key action.
In the studio or producer setting, I would be more focused on getting the production to the software, and having the ability for my fingers to be as fast as possible.
However, if you plan to play the piano for a long while, or you want to work with a teacher to become the next great pianist, it’s vitally important to find a digital piano that has a great key action mechanism. The truth is that there are a lot of great options from a lot of great manufacturers. And there’s no clear-cut consensus pick. But hopefully, this article has helped narrow down the list for you, and remove a bit of confusion and doubt from your mind.
For more in-depth reviews of digital pianos, please bookmark our homepage.
Piano Guidance
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