A weighted keyboard whose keys get progressively lighter from bass to treble, imitating an acoustic piano where the bass hammers are physically larger. Yamaha calls its version Graded Hammer Standard, and it is stated on the listing.
Why an acoustic piano is graded
The hammers at the bass end are larger and heavier, so the keys that drive them resist more. Nothing about that is a design choice — it is a consequence of string length.
What a digital instrument does about it
A graded action varies the key mechanism across the keyboard to reproduce the same gradient. It costs more to build than a uniform action.
When it matters
If you will move between the digital instrument and an acoustic piano. If you never will, a good uniform weighted action is not a compromise you will notice.
The questions players ask
Is graded better than a uniform weighted action?
It is closer to an acoustic piano, which matters if you will play one. On a stage instrument, plenty of players prefer a consistent weight across the range.
How do I tell which I have?
The listing states it, or it does not. Where a maker publishes "graded", they mean it; where they publish only "weighted", assume uniform.
Last reviewed 2026-08-19