Weighted keys, usually called hammer action, imitate the hammers of an acoustic piano: they're heavier to press and spring back like a piano key, and they're often graded (heavier in the bass, lighter in the treble). Semi-weighted keys are synth-style keys with springs or light weights that add some resistance. Synth-action keys are the lightest of all.
If you want to learn or play piano, get weighted keys; your technique will transfer to a real piano. If you mostly produce and play synth, bass and drum parts, semi-weighted keys are faster, lighter and cheaper.
Weighted vs semi-weighted at a glance
| Weighted (hammer action) | Semi-weighted | Synth action | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feel | Like a piano | Some resistance | Light, springy |
| Best for | Piano, classical, jazz | Producers who also play | Beats, synth leads |
| Typical sizes | 88 keys | 49 to 88 keys | 25 to 61 keys |
| Weight | Heavy | Medium | Light |
| MIDI keyboards at Thomann | 18 | 33 | 119 |
| Median price | $1,313 | $291 | $156 |
Counts come from the key type named in the product descriptions of the 174 MIDI master keyboards in stock on October 18, 2026 (4 more say only "weighted"), so they're approximate. Almost every digital piano has hammer action.
Weighted keys
Yamaha P-145, $440
A compact digital piano with 88 Graded Hammer Compact keys, heavier in the bass. #10 of 70 stage pianos.
Yamaha P-225, $626
The same GHC hammer action with Yamaha's CFX piano sound and 192-note polyphony. One of the highest-ranked stage pianos we track: #5 of 70 stage pianos.
M-Audio Hammer 88, $500
A MIDI controller with 88 weighted hammer-action keys, for pianists who play software instruments. #2 of 17 master keyboards (up to 88 keys).
Semi-weighted keys
M-Audio Keystation 88 MK3, $239
88 full-size semi-weighted keys for a low price: the full piano range without the weight. #11 of 17 master keyboards (up to 88 keys).
Novation Launchkey 49 MK4, $247
49 semi-weighted keys plus 16 pads and faders, made for producing. #16 of 53 master keyboards (up to 49 keys).
Questions
Can I learn piano on semi-weighted keys?
You can start, but your fingers won't build the strength and control a real piano needs. For serious piano practice, get hammer action.
Are weighted keys good for synths?
They work, but fast synth lines and drum parts are easier on lighter keys.
How we measured. MIDI keyboards in stock at Thomann on October 18, 2026, sorted by the key type named in their descriptions ("hammer", "semi-weighted"; the rest counted as synth action), converted from euros at the European Central Bank rate. Products show today's price and rank, updated every night.
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Denis Kataev runs AudioFu. Every night the site records the prices of more than 38,000 instruments and studio tools at Thomann, and he writes about what those numbers show: what got cheaper, what just arrived, and which discounts are real.
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