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Hello again — Chris here from ePianos. In part two of our deep dive into the superb Yamaha Smart Pianist app, we’re heading into one of my favourite areas: voice selection.
If you’ve ever wished your digital piano could show you more of what it’s capable of, this app is for you. In this episode, I’m using a Yamaha CSP-275, but even if you’re on a different model, many of the features we’re exploring today will still apply.
The Smart Pianist app doesn’t add new sounds to your piano — instead, it unlocks access to the full library of voices already built into your instrument. This is especially helpful with minimalist pianos like the CSP and YDP ranges that don’t have many physical buttons.
When you open the ‘Voice’ section in the app, you’ll see a clean interface with “Main” marked in orange — showing which voice is assigned across the whole keyboard.
The real magic starts when you press the ‘Layer’ button. This adds a second voice — shown in blue — to your playing. Suddenly, you’re blending two sounds together, like grand piano with lush strings or an ambient pad.
Just tap the piano image on screen and you’ll enter a huge voice library, organised by category: Grand Pianos, Uprights, Electric Pianos, Organs, Strings, Guitars, and more.
If you’re using the CSP-275 like I am, you’ll find Yamaha’s finest samples in there: the majestic CFX concert grand, the rich Bösendorfer, and even a rock piano that cuts through like a lead guitarist.
One voice I always point out is the ’70s Ballad Upright’. It’s absolutely perfect for playing Imagine by John Lennon. Whoever at Yamaha designed that sound deserves a round of applause.
Other gems include:
And remember, if you find a voice you love, just press the star icon to add it to your favourites for easy access later.
If your layered sound isn’t quite right, open the Mixer (bottom right in the app) to adjust the volume of each part. You can also apply different reverb settings, shift the pan position (left or right speaker), or move the voice up or down an octave.
One of my favourite tricks? Use Slow Strings instead of standard ones. They fade in gradually and complement piano playing beautifully.
You can split the keyboard too. Switch on the Left voice section (it appears in pink), and assign something like a bass guitar or string pad just to that side. It’s especially good paired with a jazzy electric piano on the right — a DIY trio in your living room.
Once you’ve got a setup you love, save it by opening the Registration Memory (file icon, bottom left), tapping “Save Current Setting,” and giving it a name. I saved one as Chris’s Nice Piano — you can probably do better!
I’ve had loads of fun crafting combinations like:
It’s amazing how dynamic these setups can be when you play with a bit of emotion — the piano responds beautifully.
Feeling a bit too experimental? Want to return to a simple piano sound? Tap the reset icon (bottom left on the voice box), and double-tap any dial to return it to default settings.
This is just scratching the surface of what Smart Pianist can do with voice control. If you enjoyed the video, please give it a thumbs up — it really helps us out as a small independent business.
Part three is coming up soon, where I’ll dive into the brilliant Style section — think rhythm accompaniments, band backing, and more creative fun.
If you haven’t already, make sure to check out Part One of this series — it covers the Piano Room and getting started with the Smart Pianist app. A great foundation before diving into the voices!
We’re very selective with the secondhand instruments we take in — they already tend to be in good condition. Our superb team of engineers refurbish and repair them to a high standard. That’s why we include a 1-year warranty as standard. We offer UK mainland delivery, and can collect your part exchange at the same time. If anything needs attention later, our engineers can be sent out quickly across the UK.
Use our Part Exchange Form to tell us what you’ve got — you can even upload photos so we can give you a fair and speedy quote.
Give us a ring today on 01295 266788 — we’re always happy to chat.
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