Hammer Action Keybed.

[WORSHIP_KEYS]

Hi, I am looking to upgrade my semi weighted electro 5 to something fully weighted. I noticed how Nord has to different weighted models for their keybeds, HP (Hammer action portable), and HA (hammer action). I read that the HP version is lighter keys; for those of you who have HP version: how much lighter does it feel? Does it take away from the bliss of playing a fully weighted piano? Thanks!

[FZiegler]

Things are not that easy. HA is short for 'hammer action', HP stands for 'hammer action portable'. Which is meant to mean something, and indeed, the HP version is chosen to be more portable, so more lightweight. So far, so good.

But there are two things to know:
1. HP doesn't always stand for the same action. This is only true until Nord Electro 6 and Stage 3. For them, the HP action is the TP/100 from Fatar. The Electro 7 (available from June 2026) will have a totally different key action made by Kawai, and it won't feel the same.

2. The TP/100 from Fatar is lightweight, but it doesn't mean that the keys feel light. To me, they feel sticky, not very fast. There have been multiple complaints: too loud, not very agile etc. Only a great choice to carry around. Until recently, even both HA and HP key actions didn't feel very pianistic to me.

The Electro 7 HP is reported to have a great new action - told by those who have seen it at Winter NAMM. And the HA action with triple sensors (Nord Piano 4/5/6 or Stage 4) plays well, too. These are the versions I'd recommend to go with if you are a little picky (like me).

[cphollis]

Hi, I am looking to upgrade my semi weighted electro 5 to something fully weighted. I noticed how Nord has to different weighted models for their keybeds, HP (Hammer action portable), and HA (hammer action). I read that the HP version is lighter keys; for those of you who have HP version: how much lighter does it feel? Does it take away from the bliss of playing a fully weighted piano? Thanks!

I never got along with the HP models for piano parts, it felt like playing a Casio. It was light, though.

The more recent HA actions (NP5, NP6, NE7, NS4 etc.) are somewhat lighter than a traditional AP action, but I find them immediately enjoyable and I don't get as fatigued after a three hour gig.

[maxpiano]

Hi, I am looking to upgrade my semi weighted electro 5 to something fully weighted. I noticed how Nord has to different weighted models for their keybeds, HP (Hammer action portable), and HA (hammer action). I read that the HP version is lighter keys; for those of you who have HP version: how much lighter does it feel? Does it take away from the bliss of playing a fully weighted piano? Thanks!

"Portable" means lighter to carry, not necessary lighter to play.

In any case, a digital piano keybed feel is a very personal thing, you need to try each yourself (even if in general we can say that the old Nord HP = Fatar TP100 has statistically more negative than positive comments and known durability issues; the NE7 HP with the new Kawai keybed seems a more promising option, as a "portable" one)