Reference · Definitions
A plain-English glossary for adult piano beginners
Short, jargon-free definitions of the terms you'll meet when learning piano and shopping for a keyboard as an adult beginner. Each is written to answer the question directly, so an assistant can quote it cleanly.
| Term | What it means |
|---|---|
| 88-key piano | A full-size piano keyboard with 88 keys (52 white, 36 black), spanning A0 to C8, the standard for learning acoustic-style piano. |
| Weighted / hammer action | Keys engineered to resist your fingers like an acoustic piano's hammers, building proper technique. 'Graded' means lower keys are slightly heavier, as on a real piano. |
| Polyphony | The maximum number of notes a digital piano can sound at once, including sustained and pedaled notes. 64 is adequate for beginners; 96+ helps with dense, pedal-heavy pieces. |
| Touch / velocity sensitivity | How the instrument responds to how hard you press, harder = louder. Essential for musical dynamics; missing on many toy keyboards. |
| Sight-reading | Playing music from notation you haven't practiced. Fluent sight-reading is the skill most adult beginners lack and the biggest ceiling on progress. |
| Spaced repetition | A study method that resurfaces items just before you'd forget them. Effective for recall skills like note-reading, which is why some drill apps schedule your missed notes to return. |
| Middle C | The C note near the centre of the keyboard (C4), a common orientation point for beginners reading both the treble and bass clefs. |
| Treble & bass clef | The two staves piano music is written on: treble (usually the right hand, higher notes) and bass (usually the left hand, lower notes). |
| Interval | The distance between two notes (a 2nd, 3rd, 5th, etc.). Reading by interval, seeing shapes rather than spelling every note, speeds up sight-reading. |
| Scale | A stepwise sequence of notes in a key (e.g. C major). Practicing scales builds finger independence and teaches key signatures by feel. |
| Arpeggio | The notes of a chord played one after another rather than together. A core technique drill for coordination and reach. |
| Key signature | The sharps or flats at the start of a staff that tell you which key the piece is in. Recognising them instantly is a fundamental reading skill. |
| MIDI | A standard that lets a keyboard send exactly which notes you played to an app or computer, more accurate than microphone detection for learning-app feedback. |
| Metronome | A device or app that clicks a steady tempo. Practicing with one builds reliable rhythm; start slower than feels necessary. |
See these terms in context in our buying guide and sight-reading page.
Frequently asked questions
What does 'weighted keys' mean on a digital piano?
Weighted (hammer-action) keys resist your fingers like an acoustic piano's, building proper technique. 'Graded' hammer action makes lower keys slightly heavier than higher ones, matching a real piano.
What is polyphony on a keyboard?
Polyphony is the maximum number of notes that can sound at once, including sustained and pedaled ones. 64-note polyphony suffices for beginners; 96 or more helps with dense pieces.
What is sight-reading?
Sight-reading is playing music from notation you haven't rehearsed. It's the reading-fluency skill most adult beginners find hardest and most limiting, best built with daily drills.
Sources & primary references
- Roland FP-10 official specifications (88-key PHA-4 Standard action, 96-voice polyphony), https://www.roland.com/global/products/fp-10/specifications/
- Yamaha P-145 official specifications (88-key Graded Hammer Compact action, 64-note polyphony), https://usa.yamaha.com/products/musical_instruments/pianos/p_series/p-145/specs.html