Gear and Setup

Piano Apps: Which Ones Are Actually Worth Using

I've tried probably 15 piano apps at this point. Some are genuinely helpful. Most are not worth your time. Here's my honest breakdown. Learning apps (Flowkey, Simply Piano, Yousician): These connect to your keyboard and give real-time feedback. They're polished, gamified, and fun at first. But here's the problem: they don't teach you to read […]

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Best Headphones for Piano Practice (After Trying Too Many)

My first practice headphones were old earbuds from my phone. Tinny sound, fell out constantly, cord too short. Then I bought gaming headphones – comfortable but the sound was all wrong, bass-heavy and muddy. Piano needs different headphones than gaming or casual music listening. Here's what actually matters. Flat frequency response: You want headphones that

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Digital vs Acoustic Piano: Honest Comparison for Beginners

The piano purists will tell you acoustic is the only "real" option. They're not entirely wrong. But for most beginners, digital makes way more sense. Here's the honest comparison. Acoustic piano: The sound is produced by hammers hitting strings. Nothing digital can fully replicate that resonance and complexity. The key feel is what all digital

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Buying Your First Keyboard: What Actually Matters

My first keyboard was a $147 Yamaha from some guy's garage. Sticky D key. Sustain pedal held together with tape. Smelled like cat. I got lucky – it was semi-weighted, which meant it actually worked for learning. Could've easily bought something useless. The keyboard market is confusing. Here's what actually matters. Weighted keys are non-negotiable.

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The Complete Piano Gear Guide: Keyboards, Accessories, and Everything Else

My first keyboard was a Yamaha PSR-E363 I bought from some guy's garage for $147. Sticky D key. Power adapter that buzzed. Sustain pedal held together with electrical tape. Smelled like cat. I loved that thing. But I didn't know what I was doing when I bought it. Got lucky that it was semi-weighted. Could've

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