Why There’s Key Noise on Every Digital Piano

Beginners who have just bought their first digital piano are often surprised to discover that their piano makes key noise. Of course, as a hammer action mechanism creates mechanical noise, this is completely normal. Despite that, there are reasons why thumping sounds and the like may seem strange on digital instruments.

Of course, the keyboard and hammer action are primarily mechanical components. Manufacturers could probably apply advanced engineering to create moving parts that make as little noise as possible. This extra work would have to be reflected in the price of the instrument – sounds reasonable, right? But is key noise really just a matter of price?

Broken Keyboard?

Understandably, mechanical key noise can be annoying or irritating when playing the piano. While it can even be a sign that something is broken, this is only the case if individual keys make noticeable noises, such as a bright click or the like. If this applies to your keyboard, you’ll want to take it to a music store or repair shop. However, as long as the noise of each key is more or less the same, you can assume that nothing is damaged and the keyboard is working normally.

Is the Key Noise of My Digital Piano Too Loud?

This is mostly a matter of individual perception, as some find it annoying while others don’t. However, it should be clear that if the noise really bothers you, or if it’s the only thing you can focus on, you’ll probably never be happy with your instrument and should look for an alternative.

So how can you tell if the key noise on a digital piano is too loud? Ultimately, only you can answer this question: It’s too loud if you consider it annoying and too loud – whether playing through speakers at a moderate volume or through headphones.

Variations in Digital Piano Key Noise

Mechanical noise varies depending on the type of keyboard, the design, and position of the digital piano, as well as the age of the instrument. Finally, the amount of mechanical stress a keyboard is subjected to over time also plays a role. As there are always keys that you play less often, these keys may eventually feel (and sound) different than those you play more often.

Digital pianos with a hard touch tend to produce louder key sounds. This may or may not be an indication of lower quality. As we all know, tastes differ, and some musicians actually prefer keyboards with a hard touch. Others are looking for a more comfortable playing feel and prefer soft-touch keyboards.

Regardless, the touch point of a digital piano is important: it should be clearly defined and work in sync with the sound generation.

Why Is Key Noise on a Digital Piano So Strange?

To explain this, let’s take a look at the acoustic piano. The keys of an acoustic piano keyboard also produce noise and a very loud one at that. However, you hardly notice it when you play, since you perceive the mechanical noise of the keys as part of the sound. The sound generation of a modern digital piano even simulates the noise of the hammer action (fall-back noise) and the keys (key-off effect) to create a sound that’s as authentic as possible.

While the action and the sound generation of an acoustic piano are causally linked, the situation is completely different on a digital piano: the hammer action is only used to provide an authentic, piano-like playing feel. The sound is triggered and generated entirely electronically.

This decoupling of action and sound generation is precisely the problem. The advantage of the digital piano is you can play it at a controlled volume or even silently through headphones. However, the noise generated by the mechanical components remains the same. So when you play at a lower volume, the key noise is much louder.

How to Judge Key Noise on a Digital Piano

Mechanical key noise is a natural part of a digital piano – the question is how to judge whether it is too loud or not. The best way is to compare it to an acoustic piano. You play the digital piano at a high volume – so loud that it sounds like an acoustic piano. If the mechanical sounds are still distracting, then it is definitely too loud.

With digital pianos for home use, it is important to consider the design of the instrument. Portable pianos, for example, are not always able to compensate well for mechanical noise due to their compact size.

You must also consider the intended purpose of a digital piano. For instance, a stage piano is made for live use. Who cares about the key noise of the stage piano during a band rehearsal or a live performance? Nobody! But as soon as you play it at home, the mechanical noise may get on your nerves – and especially those of your roommates and neighbors.

What Causes Key Noise on Digital Pianos?

There are many different sources of mechanical noise on digital piano keyboards, and it is often the sum of all of them that becomes bothersome. If you are buying a digital piano, however, you should pay special attention to these details.

Key travel: Use your fingertip to balance the key back and forth between the two resting positions. Do you feel any friction and do you hear a distinct grinding or squeaking sound? If so, you better purchase a different digital piano!

Depressing the key: Playing the key will make a thumping sound, which is perfectly normal. It should sound rather muffled, and by no means resemble knocking or banging noises.

Quickly depressing the key: The hammer weight becomes more noticeable here – this is intentionally done to convey an authentic piano touch. However, you should not hear a hard knock here either.

Releasing the key: On the way back to its resting position, the key will bounce back slightly from the upper resting point, accompanied by a soft mechanical sound. This sound, however, should under no circumstances be a loud thumping noise.

When striking the keys, remember that not only the key but also the hammer mechanism is moving. On high-quality keyboards, the key and hammer weight movements are optimally balanced and synchronized. And let us not forget the sound we actually want to hear: The piano sound. Consider carefully: When or where during the keystroke is the sound produced? Can you hear the sound before the key is fully depressed? If so, you are better off not buying this digital piano.

Tips for Portable Pianos

The mechanical movement of keys and hammer weights is always transmitted to the chassis. The poorer the damping, the more intense the noise. This is especially true for portable pianos due to their compact chassis design.

Other factors can exacerbate the impression, as you can place your portable pianos in various locations. For example, if you put your portable piano on a table or sideboard with hollow spaces inside, the key sounds of the electric piano may be amplified by this “resonating body”. Hence, a piano stand is always a better solution.

Especially in the entry-level price range, portable pianos are made entirely of plastic. This saves a lot of money and weight compared to more robust materials like wood and metal. However, plastic cases are not always 100% torsion-free, which you may be able to notice given the size of an 88-key keyboard. When transporting the keyboard – preferably with a gig bag – you will be happy about the low weight. When playing, however, it is important to always place a portable piano on a sturdy surface or keyboard stand.