Clavinova: What is it and why should you consider one?

The Clavinova is a long-running line of digital pianos created by Yamaha.

Yamaha Clavinovas are similar in styling to acoustic pianos. But they have many features common to other digital pianos. 

These features include:

• the ability to save and load songs,
• the availability of different voices, and,
• in more recent models, the ability to be connected to a computer via USB or wireless network.

Some Yamaha Clavinovas (Clavinova CLP and Clavinova CVP- Series) feature "graded hammer" technology. A graded hammer is a mechanical system of small metal hammers that are weighted to be similar to those of a piano. They hit a digital pressure sensor that then translates into sound just like a traditional piano.

This technology has contributed to the success of the Yamaha Clavinova as a more affordable substitute for an acoustic piano.

The 'Graded' action is intended to reproduce more accurately the varying weights of the hammers of an acoustic piano where the hammers vary in weight from the bass section to the treble.

Newer Clavinovas, such as the Clavinova CVP-509, incorporate real wood keys for added realism.

Today’s Yamaha Clavinovas use samples of real instruments which are then selected and modified electronically to produce the desired sound.

The synthesizer can imitate a large array of acoustic instruments, electronic instruments and other sound effects.

Recent models of Yamaha Clavinova CVPs  have hundreds of such voices. These usually include many types of pianos and organs, string, percussion, brass and woodwind instruments, as well as modern and vintage synthesizer sounds, sampled effects etc.

The more recent Yamaha Clavinova CVP models also feature many accompaniment styles, ranging from traditional dance and classical orchestration, through to more modern club, pop, rock, big band and jazz styles.

Yamaha Clavinova: an excellent choice

A Yamaha Clavinova makes an excellent choice for anyone who is serious about their music.

They are smaller than an acoustic piano, have none of the maintenance issues (tuning) and can be used to both download music from the Internet, and record the music you love to play.

It can reproduce a huge range of sounds and musical genres from a concert grand piano to a swing band, a jazz band and a full orchestra.

The Clavinova is a magnificent instrument to play and very definitely worth looking at, even if you have your heart set on a traditional acoustic piano.

— Kerry