If you are looking to buy your first digital piano then you will want to get one that is high-quality and built to last. Read on to see why the Roland FP-10 is one of the best entry-level digital pianos.
Roland FP-10 Review – The Best Piano for Beginners? (Yes)
Contents
Roland FP-10: Key Features
- Low Cost
- Low Weight
- Great Action
- Simple user-friendly design
Below is an in-depth comparison of two popular beginner digital pianos, the Roland FP-10, and the Yamaha P45:
Why Buy the FP-10?
The Roland FP-10 is a highly regarded digital piano that offers exceptional value and performance in the entry-level category.
With its affordable price point, authentic feel, and advanced features, the FP-10 is an excellent choice for beginners and intermediate players alike.
Roland FP-10: Action
The action on the FP-10 is second to none in its price range.
The PHA-4 keybed is graded across the keyboard like an acoustic piano and has advanced features such as escapement (enabling the rapid playing of repeated notes), and simulated ivory texture keys.
The FP-10 provides a realistic playing experience thanks to the PHA-4 action. The 88 fully weighted keys offer a responsive touch and excellent key action, allowing players to express themselves with precision and sensitivity.
The touch sensitivity adjustment feature further enhances the instrument’s dynamic range, catering to individual playing styles and preferences.
The Pha IV action is also found in more premium digital pianos from Roland such as the FP-30 and FP-60, which is a testament to the reliability and value for money that the FP-10 offers.
Roland FP-10: SuperNatural Sound Engine
One of the standout features of the FP-10 is its SuperNATURAL sound engine. This technology delivers rich and expressive piano tones, accurately capturing the nuances and subtleties of acoustic instruments.
With 15 built-in sounds, including sampled pianos and a variety of other instrument tones, the FP-10 offers fantastic versatility for different musical genres and playing styles.
Roland FP-10: Sounds
The pianos and Rhodes tones will not disappoint pianists for home practice, or for live performances.
There are 4 piano tones in total, 2 Electric Piano (Rhodes) sounds, and 9 sounds in the ‘other’ category. Couple this with 96 notes of polyphony, and the FP-10 stands out as an excellent digital piano for beginner to intermediate level.
Roland designed the FP-10 with home practice in mind, and the dual 6-watt speakers do not disappoint.
However, a good quality pair of headphones will be a better option for practicing regularly, as they give you the optimum dynamic range for piano playing.
Here is a video showcasing the sounds of the FP-10 (All Playing)
Roland Piano Partner 2 App
Image: Roland
The Roland Piano Partner 2 app is a powerful companion for Roland digital pianos, available on iOS and Android devices. This feature-rich app offers a range of functions to enhance music learning and enjoyment.
With the Piano Partner 2 app, users can access the piano’s internal music collection, giving them a vast library of songs to explore and learn.
The intelligent accompaniment feature provides dynamic backing tracks that adapt to the user’s playing, creating a more immersive and interactive musical experience.
In addition to its extensive music collection, the app offers ear-training games that help users improve their listening and musical skills. These games provide a fun and engaging way to develop aural abilities and musical memory.
Users can also take advantage of the remote control functionality, allowing them to adjust various settings on their Roland digital piano directly from their mobile device.
The Piano Partner 2 app also includes recorder and diary functions, enabling users to evaluate their performances and track their progress over time.
The recorder function allows users to capture their playing and listen back to it for self-assessment and improvement.
Connecting the app to a Roland digital piano is seamless, with both wireless and USB options available. Users can quickly establish a connection and enjoy the app’s features in conjunction with their piano.
‘Piano Partner 2 also enables your mobile device to work as a remote controller for your Roland piano, offering an intuitive graphic interface for even easier operation.’
Whether you’re a beginner, intermediate, or advanced pianist, the Piano Partner 2 app offers valuable resources and tools to support your musical growth.
Roland FP-10: Design
The compact and portable design of the Roland FP-10 makes it a perfect choice for musicians who require mobility or have limited space.
Whether you’re a student moving between practice sessions, a gigging musician traveling to different venues, or simply someone with a small living space, the FP-10 offers the convenience and versatility you need.
The design of the FP-10 is sleek and simple. There are very few buttons, and the layout is easy to navigate. Also, with only a few sounds to choose from, there is no menu diving, and no screen needed.
Also, the whole instrument only weighs 12.6 KG (27 pounds), which is convenient when moving house or taking the instrument to gigs.
The FP-10 adapts to various musical settings and situations. If you’re practicing at home, the compact design allows you to set up the piano in even the smallest of spaces.
You can comfortably fit it in your bedroom, living room, or studio without sacrificing the quality of your practice sessions.
When performing in intimate venues or jamming with other musicians, the FP-10’s portability enables you to easily transport and set up the instrument, ensuring you can focus on your performance without any limitations.
Roland FP-10: Connections
The only audio output on the FP-10 is a single 3.5mm headphone jack. The lack of separate line-outs clearly indicates that the FP-10 is aimed at home practice rather than performance.
There are also two USB ports. One is for future firmware updates and the other connects the FP-10 to your computer for use as a MIDI controller.
Although the FP-10 supports half-pedaling, the basic bundled foot switch doesn’t – you’ll need to invest in a compatible pedal like the Roland DP-10 to take advantage of this feature.
There is also a damper pedal port, which is useful for users who are looking for a realistic grand piano experience.
Roland FP-10: Specifications
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| Keys | 88 keys with Ivory and Escapement Feel |
| Touch Sensitivity | Adjustable |
| Speaker System | 2 x 4.7″, 2 x 6W Amp |
| Pedal | Sustain Pedal input |
| Presets | 4 Piano tones, 2 Electric piano tones, and others |
| Polyphony | 96 Notes |
| Functions | Bluetooth Connectivity, App control, Metronome, Twin Piano Mode |
| Audio Output | 1 x 3.5mm headphone jack |
| Power | AC adapter |
| Stand | Optional |
| Color | White and Black |
| Dimensions | 1,284 (W) x 258 (D) x 140 (H) mm |
| Weight | 12.3 kg |
Final Thoughts
The Roland FP-10 stands out as one of the best entry-level pianos, that will last many years and satisfy intermediate and advanced players as well.
This is due to its high-end action, which allows dynamic and expressive playing, great onboard piano and electric piano sounds, and user-friendly design.
If you are interested in a better model with improved features, look into the Roland FP-30 X.
This piano replaced the older FP-30 from Roland and has more sounds and improved features across the board. It is a better digital and stage piano for both home practice and live performance. You can check out the full review here:
Or for something even more impressive, that is capable of scoring an entire film, by composing and recording directly on the instrument, check out the reviews of the Korg Kronos and Korg Nautilus Workstation Pianos:
