Maybe you’re branching out into a new instrument, maybe you want to rediscover your childhood hobby, or looking for a digital piano for your own child. But how to decide and what to look out for? Let’s look at the most common terms from the world of digital pianos.
A short introduction to digital piano terms
Weighted Keyboard / Hammer Action
This refers to how closely a digital piano’s keyboard replicates the feel of an acoustic piano. Weighted keys resist your touch slightly, giving you better control over dynamics and technique. Most Henry’s pianos, including our stage pianos, feature weighted hammer-action keyboards.
Graded keyboard
Some keyboards are graded, meaning the weight of the keys changes across the keyboard – heavier in the bass and lighter in the treble, mimicking an acoustic piano. For example, pressing a bass key will require slightly more power than pressing a higher key. This creates a realistic playing experience and helps students build proper finger technique. Try this yourself with the Vero or Ventu.
Dynamic Keyboard
A dynamic keyboard, also known as semi-weighted keyboard, can be found in pianos targeting very inexperienced players. Opposed to unweighted keys, there is a certain level of resistance, but not quite like weighted. For example, the Jr. Initi is ideal for early learners because its keyboard is easier to play for smaller hands while still offering expressive control.
Unweighted keyboard
These keys provide almost no resistance, making them easier to press. They’re common in synthesizers, MIDI controllers, or beginner keyboards designed for portability or sound design rather than piano realism. Unweighted keyboards are better suited for electronic music producers than for traditional piano learners, or those who prefer low weight to a “classic piano sound”.
Polyphony
Polyphony indicates how many notes the instrument can produce at once. A higher polyphony is important when playing with a sustain pedal, which creates another layer of sounds. A piano with 128-note polyphony, like our Vero, easily handles even complex passages and layered sounds. While some brands highlight higher numbers, real-world performance rarely requires more, so our instruments focus on efficient processing and clear sound instead of inflated figures.
Sound Effects
Digital pianos often include built-in sound effects that help shape your sound. Henry’s digital pianos feature automatic accompaniments in different musical genres, allowing the player to jam along and practice improvisation.
Besides accompaniments, some digital pianos include sound effects such as chorus, reverb and vibrato. Chorus creates the impression of multiple instruments playing together by slightly detuning and delaying the original signal, adding more layers to your sound. Ventu and Vero feature chorus, as well as Reverb, which simulates the natural echo you’d hear in a concert hall, church, or room. It gives your playing depth and realism. Most of Henry’s pianos offer Reverb, like the Ventu, Vero or Amber. Vibrato subtly modulates the pitch, giving notes a “wobbling” quality that adds expressiveness. All these sound effects can be found in Peri and Tari stage pianos.
Bluetooth MIDI / Audio
Bluetooth MIDI lets you connect wirelessly to learning apps or recording software, while Bluetooth Audio allows you to stream music through your piano’s speakers. All Henry’s digital pianos include both functions – a feature often missing from far more expensive instruments. Whether you’re connecting Tari to a stage setup or streaming lessons to your Amber, you can play, learn, and record without cables.
Speaker Power
Speaker power determines how full and rich your piano will sound without external amplification. Our Henry’s Vero, Amber, Ventu and Vila feature 2 × 15 W speakers that easily fill a living room with sound, while the compact Jr. Initi includes 2 × 6 W speakers ideal for smaller spaces. More power doesn’t just mean volume – it also brings better clarity in the low and high frequencies, giving you a balanced sound.
Stage Piano
A specific type of digital pianos, a stage piano offers the feel of a home digital piano in a portable body. Our Henry’s Tari and Henry’s Peri are designed for mobility – light enough to take to gigs or rehearsals, but still equipped with hammer-action keyboards and Bluetooth connectivity. They’re perfect for players who need quality sound without committing to a fixed instrument in their home. However, the low weight comes at the cost of a true authentic feel and certain features, such as fully weighted or graded keys.