Roland FP 10 Review

We rated the Roland FP 10 a 7.5/10. The FP-10 is an entry-level piano with progressive hammer action. Some of its features include twin mode (for piano lessons), and demo songs. The biggest selling point of this model is that it’s the most compact 88-key instrument in its class. It’s rare to find a full-sized keyboard with as good of sounds, and as nice of a key feel as you can with this one. 

Unfortunately, both the internal speakers and pedal could stand to be of higher quality. Because the speaker output is so low, we had to take off a few points. The FP-10 is an overall well-rounded instrument, but we recommend you get an external speaker to go with it.

Overview

Hey there! Welcome back to BestPianoKeyboards. Today, I’m going to walk you through the ins and outs of an economical yet quality digital piano in this Roland FP 10 review. 

Amazon boats this entry-level piano as having “unbeatable performance”. Let’s see what else they have to say about the FP 10 model.

The Roland FP-Series set the bar for playability, feel and sound. Meet the FP-10, your perfect introduction to a proper digital piano.

When inspiration strikes, take a seat at the latest model in Roland’s renowned FP piano series; the entry-level FP-10. This affordable digital piano is always ready to play, with a reassuringly authentic feel from the 88-note PHA-4 Standard keyboard, joined by Roland’s evocative SuperNATURAL piano tones through onboard speakers or headphones. With its portable, space-saving design, the FP-10 is the ideal instrument for home use, whether you’re practicing techniques in the spare room or giving performances in the living room. Plus, with Bluetooth connectivity and powerful onboard features not offered by any other digital model, the FP-10 is the ideal second piano for more experienced players”.

While $500 is quite low for a hammer-action keyboard, it’s clear to see that Roland is beating out many of their competitors in both price and functionality. Let’s delve into the features. 

Features

5 Touch Sensitivity Options

3 touch sensitivity options are standard on fully-weighted keyboards. But 5? Color me surprised. This compact, economical keyboard has more adjustments than most. You can change the touch to your liking with the following sensitivity settings: 

• Super heavy
• Heavy
• Medium 
• Light
• Super light 
• Fixed

A Variety of Voices

This instrument has the following types of voices in its sounds bank:

• Acoustic piano sounds
• Electric piano sounds
• Harpschichords 
• Vibraphone
• Strings
• Voice sounds 

The piano voices offer a lot of tone color changes, making this instrument ideal for multi-genre exploration. The vibraphone and harpsichord samples are downright impressive. To hear these sounds being played, click the Youtube link in the Roland FP 10 In Action section down below. 

Twin Piano Mode 

This feature is very useful to us music teachers. It allows you to play in the same octave is the person next to you. Very young students may have a hard time doing echos if they are in a different octave than their teacher. Twin piano mode fixes this problem. When it is switched on, the keyboard is mirrored when it comes to range. 

Progressive Hammer Action 

Progressive hammer action (PHA) is a type of hammer action we haven’t seen a lot in our reviews until very recently.  This type of hammer action keyboard feels lighter in the higher range. It simulates how acoustic pianos feel, quite well.

Simulations Found on Other Models

• Key off
• Damper (resonance)
• String (resonance) 

The high-quality simulations that you will find on the high-end Roland models can also be found here. There are a lot of extra sounds that an acoustic piano creates, that oftentimes, we don’t think about at first. But remember, acoustic pianos are like a giant soundbox with loads of strings. When you move the physical damper, or when you lift you fingers off the keys, there is a sound that comes with them. With the newer piano technology that is now on the market, we can get a better sense of realism with the addition of these simulations. 

 Demos

This model offers 15 demos, as well as almost 20 preset songs. It also has 8 preset rhythms as well. While these aren’t big numbers in the realm of demos and presets, it is plenty to get you started. 

The Key to a Quiet Practice Session

The quality of headphone output that the Roland FP 10 has is excellent. Pair this with its very quiet action and you have a recipe for an easy practice session, without disturbing those you room with. 

Other Features

Other features that the FP 10 has include:

• Tuning
• Fine-tuning
• A built-in metronome 
• Split and duo modes

Specifications

• Weight: 27 pounds
• Dimensions: 19.3 x 110.7 x 298 inches
• Keyboard Type: PHA-4
• Speaker Power: 6 watts 

Who Is It Suitable For?

The Roland FP 10 is best suited to hobbyists. This keyboard is good enough to use at your local restaurant for a casual gig, or for home playing and piano lessons. 

No matter how you dice it, an entry-level piano is still an entry-level piano. That being said, there is a huge difference between getting an entry-level Roland, and getting a Rockjam keyboard (of any variety. Sorry, Rockjam…). Nobody is going to find the Roland FP 10 at NPR’s Tinydesk concert series anytime soon. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t respect what it is: It’s an instrument that has many features for a beginner model and gets a lot of players off on the right foot. 

Roland FP 10 in Action

While I couldn’t find an ‘all playing, no talking’ video of the last FP model I reviewed, I was able to find a recording of the sounds for the FP 10. 

The piano 1 sound was dainty and resonant, at first glance. The second was darker and fuller, and the third was in-between, with lots of ringy mids, making me feel like I was back at college jazz night. The piano sounds are excellent. Roland made no compromise on this sound engine, despite it being entry-level. The harpsichord and electric piano sounds were surprisingly good, given that I don’t usually care for sampled sounds of these instruments. 

As for other keyboard sounds, the vibraphone was drool-worthy, and the organs were pretty decent as well. The non-keys sounds would make great composing tools, but I’m honestly not sure that I would record with them. That being said, keep in mind that we are working with a keyboard designed for beginners here. 

What They Liked:

• It has a nice weight and resistance
• It’s a great basic digital model
• It’s slim enough to put in a condo
• The apps make it easy to learn
• The sounds are great 
• It’s an overall great portable keyboard

What They Didn’t: 

• The speakers’ sound quality is subpar 
• The speaker output isn’t very loud
• The pedal that comes with the piano isn’t weighted enough, and it slides away from your foot as you play
• It’s a tad taller than some pianos
• Learning how to connect it in order to record can be time-consuming

Pros and Cons

Pros

• This model is extremely affordable
• It is portable 
• Has full-sized keys and weighted hammer action
• It has more touch sensitivity options than most
• Offers Bluetooth connectivity, as well as USB to MIDI for easy recording 
• The speakers are loud for their size
• You get a SuperNATURAL sound engine for a low price
• The PHA-4 keyboard allows you to be extremely expressive with dynamics
• It’s great for teaching or performing
• The voices are varied enough that it can be used in multiple genres
• It includes a damper pedal
• You can use the same learning tools and apps with this piano as with other, more expensive Rolands
• It feels like the Roland FP 30, but is less pricey
• It has demos

Sometimes, looking for a high-quality, economical instrument under one thousand dollars can seem like an impossible task. However, Roland does a really nice job on this entry-level piano. It’s portable, and expressive, and can be used in a plethora of settings. So whether you want to learn piano or gift a piano, this one is a great option. 

Cons

• The Roland FP 10 has been discontinued in North America 
• The stand and other accessories such as the sustain pedal are not included
• This model only offers 15 voices from the SuperNATURAL sound samples
• It offers significantly less polyphony when we compare it to other FP pianos
• The speakers aren’t powerful enough for on-stage performances 

If you’re based in North America like I am, unfortunately, you are out of luck. The Roland FP 10 has been discontinued here. However, if you think that the Roland FP 10 sounds like the piano that’s right for you, check out some comparable instruments in the section below. 

Another thing that we find with Rolands is that they don’t include the full pedal unit (as Yamaha often does), or the stand to keep it on. If you are looking for an economical piano, you probably don’t want to have to purchase extras. That being said, the way of the times seems to be that things all need to be purchased separately. 

While the SuperNATURAL sounds that are on this model are great, there aren’t nearly another of them to entertain the advanced beginner. If you want an instrument with more options, check out the Alesis model in the comparison section down below. Lastly, the speakers and polyphony simply won’t be enough to get you by in serious stage performances. 

Quick View 

Comparable Instruments

Instruments that have been compared to the Roland FP 10 include the: 

• Roland FP 30
• Yamaha P45 
• Yamaha P71
• Alesis Recital Pro
• Casio PXS1000
• Korg B2

As we mentioned earlier, the Roland FP 30 is a more expensive, slightly higher-end portable piano from the FP line. Unfortunately, it is largely unavailable in the US as well. However, if you are shopping in used instrument stores like Music Go Round, you might still get a chance at finding one. 

The Yamaha P45 is a comparable model from the P line ($549.99). It’s a tad heavier than the FP 10, but it is still portable and has a lot of great basic functions as well. 

Similarly, the Yamaha P71 is another model from Yamaha’s portable “P” line. It is the most economical model from them that I have found so far ($479.99). While it only has 10 voices, it includes key features that the FP 10 has, such as a narrow depth for fitting into tight spaces, fully-weighted keys, and dual-mode. 

The Alesis Recital Pro ($419.99)  is an instrument we visited a while back. While it isn’t my favorite starter piano, it isn’t my least favorite one, either. If you like the idea of the Roland FP 10 but are dreaming about more voices in the soundbank, look no further. This digital piano has over 360 voices. It also has something called lesson mode, which is a really helpful tool to get you started before you find a private teacher.

Conclusion

While it’s no secret that the Roland FP 10 isn’t a top-of-the-line piano, it is an impressive and economical model that is used by many. If you love the SuperNATURAL sound engine and want an instrument that will fit into your home or your car, then the FP 10 might just be it! Thanks for stopping back. Come back for more reviews soon! 

Music quote of the week: 

“I believe music is a place every one of us can go to. I don’t care who you are, where you were born, what you do with your life. Everyone can come here in music and be equal.”

― Hayley Williams

7.5Expert Score

We rated the Roland FP 10 a 7.5/10. The FP-10 is an entry-level piano with progressive hammer action. Some of its features include twin mode (for piano lessons), and demo songs. The biggest selling point of this model is that it’s the most compact 88-key instrument in its class. It’s rare to find a full-sized keyboard with as good of sounds, and as nice of a key feel as you can with this one. Unfortunately, both the internal speakers and pedal could stand to be of higher quality. Because the speaker output is so low, we had to take off a few points. The FP-10 is an overall well-rounded instrument, but we recommend you get an external speaker to go with it.

PROS

• This model is extremely affordable
• It is portable
• It has full-sized keys and weighted hammer action
• It has more touch sensitivity options than most
• It offers Bluetooth connectivity, as well as USB to MIDI for easy recording
• The speakers are loud for their size
• You get a SuperNATURAL sound engine for a low price
• The PHA-4 keyboard allows you to be extremely expressive with dynamics
• It’s great for teaching or performing
• The voices are varied enough that it can be used in multiple genres
• It includes a damper pedal
• You can use the same learning tools and apps with this piano as with other, more expensive Rolands
• It feels like the Roland FP 30, but is less pricey
• It has demos

CONS

• The Roland FP 10 has been discontinued in North America
• The stand and other accessories such as the sustain pedal are not included
• This model only offers 15 voices from the SuperNATURAL sound samples
• It offers significantly less polyphony when we compare it to other FP pianos
• The speakers aren’t powerful enough for on-stage performances