The Yamaha P45 digital piano is an entry model within Yamaha digital pianos. It is a good investment for beginning students and their families who are not yet sure about investing in an acoustic piano.
Read on to learn about this instrument’s functionality, its advantages and disadvantages, its accessories, and the most frequently asked questions about this instrument. I will also give you my opinion about this instrument.
Description of the Yamaha P45 digital piano
The Yamaha P45 digital piano has been the trusted digital piano for many teachers and beginner students since its launch in 2015. Despite not being one of the most recent models, it never hurts to know its functionality and accessories to decide which digital piano to buy. Precisely because there are newer offers on the market, it is possible to find this at very affordable prices.
The Yamaha P45 has GHS (Graded Hammer Standard) technology that makes its keyboards pleasant to the touch: the lower keys offer greater resistance or weight, while the higher ones feel light when played. This creates the feeling of playing an acoustic piano. It also has the AVM (Advanced Wave Memory) sampling system that uses digital technology to record the piano’s sound with two microphones (left and right) and allow its sound to be the closest thing to an acoustic piano.
The control panel of this digital piano is very simple, it has a volume slider, an on/off button, and a button whose legend says “GRAND PIANO – FUNCTION.” The first two tools are self-explanatory, but the third button is multi-purpose. In addition to returning the piano to the default sound of a grand piano, by pressing it and simultaneously choosing one of the piano keys, one can switch between 10 different voices, from organs, harpsichord-like sound, to more modern electric pianos.
The piano also has two interesting playable modes not to be confused with, dual-mode and duet mode. Dual-mode is used to splice 2 of the 10 voices mentioned above and create a deeper sound effect. In contrast, with Duet mode, the piano can be divided in half so that two people can play it simultaneously in the same octave register. Another of the P45’s capabilities is reverb, which allows you to choose between 4 levels to create a deeper sound: bedroom, room 1 and 2, and stage. The fifth option is not to add any reverb to the sound.
The P45 digital piano speaker can play, from its built-in memory, demo pieces for each of the possible voices or pre-programmed pieces with the original grand piano voice. They are activated by the same multipurpose button described above and are used to understand the way the piano can sound, as well as the possibilities that the styles offered have. It also has a built-in digital metronome with a range of 32-280 and a default setting of 120.
The P45 has an output for USB connectivity, an auxiliary port to listen to what is played in headphones, and another to integrate a pedal. It has the ability to be integrated as a MIDI instrument to a computer and record its sound in your preferred software.
Accessories and other frequently asked questions about the Yamaha P45
The purchase of the Yamaha P45 on Amazon is only in a simple mode that includes a resonance pedal, a cable to plug it into the power, and a removable support for the sheet music. This forms one of the major limitations of the P45 since it would be necessary to integrate a support cabinet or stand and a bench to the keyboard to have a more complete experience.
I am not a big fan of the pedal box that comes with this digital piano. I always tell my students to buy a different pedal that has a more realistic sensation. My recommendations are the “Soraco Sustain Pedal Universal for Yamaha Casio Roland Korg Behringer Moog Piano Midi Electronic keyboards” or the “M-Audio SP 2, Universal Sustain Pedal with Piano Style Action For MIDI Keyboard, Digital Pianos & More”.
This digital piano does not facilitate immediate recording and playback of what is being played, a functionality that other Yamaha digital pianos do. For this, you would need to buy a third-party adapter and use the auxiliary output to connect headphones. Another limitation that stands out the most among buyers is the weight, which amounts to just over 16 kilograms. It’s a vast difference compared to a newer model, the P125, which weighs 11 kilograms.
However, buyers’ biggest complaints come from the sound, which is not appreciated as high quality from its speakers. Many recommend customizing the use of headphones for a better experience. According to several users, the dynamic range of its speakers is poor, and sometimes the sound of the lower keys drowns out what is being played with the right hand in higher sections of the piano.
Here is a video review in English of the P45.
Here is a video review in Spanish of the P45.
My opinion of the Yamaha P45
I currently teach three families who have purchased the P45 at a local piano store, and they have been very happy with the instrument. They bought the cabinet support and an additional piano pedal. The pedal box that comes with the instrument is very small and doesn’t a good grip. It just moves around all the time. This is why I always recommend a more realistic piano pedal adapter.
The Yamaha P45 is a safe option for those looking for a digital piano to start with. Students looking for a cheaper option, sacrificing the sophistication offered by other models, will find the Yamaha P45 an excellent opportunity. Having said that, the same brand has other models with more features that perhaps make it worth a greater investment. In any case, Yamaha’s quality comes through in the P45. As one of the most accessible entry-level instruments, it has continued to be a favorite with many piano teachers and beginner students.
If you are comparing models, read my review of the Yamaha P125.
My recommendations
Yamaha P45, 88-Key Weighted Action Digital Piano (keyboard only)
Yamaha P45 Digital Piano Deluxe Bundle with Furniture Stand and Bench
Yamaha L85 Keyboard Stand (Matching stand for Yamaha P45, P115, and P71 digital pianos)
Adjustable Piano Bench: SONGMICS Adjustable Wooden Piano Bench Stool with Sheet Music Storage
Piano Pedal option 1: Soraco Sustain Pedal Universal for Yamaha Casio Roland Korg Behringer Moog Piano Midi Electronic keyboards
Piano Pedal option 2: M-Audio SP 2, Universal Sustain Pedal with Piano Style Action For MIDI Keyboard, Digital Pianos & More
Leave a comment below if you have any questions or feedback about the Yamaha P45.
Visit the resource pages for additional recommendations.
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