A used keyboard can give you a high-end instrument for less money, but as with all used purchases, let the buyer beware. Some used instruments are in good condition; others have been cared for poorly. If you know an experienced musician, ask him or her to weigh in on whether a used keyboard is worth your investment. Check your potential purchase carefully, turning it on and making sure all keys and buttons work. School of Rock focuses on teaching students to enjoy playing their instruments first.
We love providing students with everything they need to start playing immediately, from the keyboard to accessories, lessons, day camps and even that first concert. Our kids and adults grow from total beginners to performers who go onstage—and on tour. Along the way, they build confidence and make lasting memories and friendships with others pursuing their lifelong passion for music.
Share Facebook Twitter. Having said that, a good beginner keyboard should have certain characteristics. Unweighted keys are easier to push down while weighted keys respond like a traditional piano, making a keyboard with weighted keys a good piano for beginners. While not a necessary feature in a music keyboard for beginners, MIDI compatibility may become more important to the student if he or she gets into electronic music or chooses to interface the keyboard with a computer.
Computer Connectivity: Many of the best keyboard brands offer computer connectivity. Buying a beginner keyboard with computer connectivity now may help avoid the need to upgrade the keyboard in the future. When a keyboard buying guide lists storage as a feature, it usually refers to user settings—a keyboard with different sounds, for instance, may have an additional blank settings for new sounds and user presets.
Keyboard output is a much more important feature, as it allows the use of amps and recording equipment. Sound: Keyboard sound is one of the most important considerations when choosing a good beginner keyboard. The best keyboard brands produce sounds equivalent to those produced by a true piano.
Other considerations include polyphony the number of sounds a keyboard produces at any given time and multitimbrality the ability of the keyboard to play sounds such as drums, strings and woodwinds as a background or complement to the tune being played.
Keyboard Size: A keyboard with full-size and weighted piano keys is perhaps the best keyboard to learn piano for adults. Such keyboards tend to have fewer sound options, however. For students interested in electronic music, a good beginner keyboard has smaller and unweighted keys but more sound functions.
Buying keyboard accessories In addition to the keyboard itself, you will need something to sit on as he or she plays and a stand to hold sheet music. Types of Keyboards Keyboards for beginning piano students differ from keyboards for students planning on rocking out or composing electronic music. What Is a Workstation Keyboard? Advantages of a Workstation Keyboard Great for composition Allows preprogramming of simultaneously played music features Has weighted keys Offers professional industry standards and advanced play options Disadvantages of a Workstation Keyboard They tend to be priced at the higher end of the scale The sheer number of features can intimidate and overwhelm new students What Is an Arranger Keyboard?
Advantages of an Arranger Keyboard Conforms to professional industry standards Is well suited for composition Has auto-accompaniment that encourages students to play Disadvantages of an Arranger Keyboard Starting prices can be higher than those of less advanced keyboards Beginners can find the range of programmable options overwhelming What Is a Synthesizer?
Advantages of a Synthesizer Is designed for playing with other musicians Provides output to amps or recording equipment Bridges the gap between a piano and digital equipment Offers multiple sound options Disadvantages of a Synthesizer There is a wide range of quality between brands Students may outgrow keyboard capabilities Unweighted keys can make the transition to full piano more difficult What Is a Digital Piano?
Advantages of a Controller Keyboard Can be used for computer composition Outputs MIDI information to synthesizers and computer software Disadvantages of a Controller Keyboard Must be plugged in to a computer or laptop No onboard sounds A poor choice for beginner keyboardists These types of keyboards are hardly the only options available.
Pro Tip: use headphones for quiet practice No one becomes a musical virtuoso overnight—practice is essential. As you learn new songs, you can record your progress with the built-in recorder. If you get past the onboard demo songs, you can play along with your fave songs via the USB thumb drive port. It also comes with three months of free Skoove premium piano lessons. There are some basic built-in effects, including reverb, chorus, and pedal noise.
All of your selections are displayed on a nice LCD screen that also shows notation and chord names. The icing on the cake is that it comes with a piano bench, so you feel like a real pro. The only potential pitfall with the PSR-E is that it has so many sounds, they could become a distraction for younger kids. The PSR-E is a new arranger keyboard from Yamaha that offers some awesome features at a budget price.
It has 61 touch-sensitive keys and a max polyphony of 48 notes. Like most arranger keyboards , the PSR-E comes with a massive library of sounds , in this case. The thing that sets it apart from the competition is that Yamaha has taken the live grand piano sound from their more expensive models and put it in the PSR-E You get some built-in effects, with 12 reverb types and five chorus types. Your favorite sounds and songs can be stored for faster recall. The PSR-E has a built-in 2-track recorder that can record five songs or a maximum of 10, notes.
Yamaha included their YES Education Suite, which offers beginner lessons on a range of piano essentials. Touch Tutor mode monitors the velocity of your playing to help you control your dynamics.
It comes in a bright red color that somehow makes it more fun. The Roland Go:Keys is near the top of our price range as a beginner keyboard. But, it does justify the extra money with some great features. The 61 velocity-sensitive keys have an ivory feel finish that just adds a more professional touch than most beginner keyboards.
Roland has included a whopping voices in the Go:Keys model, but more importantly, they are very high-quality sounds. The Go:Keys has Bluetooth connectivity, which means you can use smartphones to stream music straight to the keyboards built-in speakers. Using the keyboards touchpads, you can trigger and alter programmed samples in real-time, which is a useful performance tool and a great production aid.
Korg has included over voices and 41 drum kits. More astonishing than the number of sounds is the surprisingly high quality. There are over styles, each of which offers multiple intros, outros, and other variations. As the EK is an arranger keyboard, it comes with some fantastic songwriting and performance features. Starting with the built-in audio player and onboard sequencer. It also has a more sophisticated effects engine than most beginner keyboards.
There are four stereo multi-effects processors, offering 34 effect types and a vast variations. Once you are ready for your first performance, you can use Set List mode to store all of your sounds and styles for quick recall.
The argument for buying the PX is that it will last you for many years without outgrowing it. Any Privia will always be one of the best digital pianos to learn on. It comes with 88 scaled hammer-action keys with simulated ebony and ivory textures. The PX has a max polyphony of notes. There are 11 built-in effects, including multiple reverb, chorus, and brilliance types. It also comes with a 2-track MIDI recorder to capture and playback your progress.
To look at the PX, you can see where your extra investment is going. It comes set in a sleek wooden stand complete with a sliding key cover.
If you want something a little more serious to learn on, the Korg B2SP could be the one. It has piano tones to rival any in its price range and the convenience of being a lightweight keyboard piano when needed.
The electric piano and organ sounds are so good; they might be the reason you choose this piano over another. No harm in adding some organ chops to your CV! The B2SP is an entry-level digital piano from Korg that comes with a lovely wooden stand and three-pedal unit. It can also be used as a portable keyboard piano without the stand.
Technically that makes it one of the best keyboard pianos for beginners, too. You now get a total of 12 sounds , including some of the best grand piano tones in the entire price range. The B2SP features stunning grand pianos from Germany and Italy, covering a range of suitable tones from classical to jazz.
Korg has gone the extra mile with the additional sounds, too; the electric pianos and jazz organs are beautiful. It comes with 12 built-in songs, without the onboard tutorials that some pianos offer.
But, Korg makes up for it by providing three months of free Skoove premium lessons, along with some Korg sound-design and production apps. You can play along to any music you like using the provided audio input. Furthermore, you can record your performance to your smartphone , although it requires an additional Lightning-USB camera adapter. There are some built-in effects, albeit very minimal, including reverb and chorus.
The sounds are surprisingly good, relatively speaking. Our pick as the best first keyboard for kids. It has 37 mini keys, and it has a look of the Yamaha keyboard of yesteryear. It has a layout that lists the song, voice, and style types like a menu or TV channel guide on the front panel — simple but effective. There are voices , from pianos to brass, and lots more.
It also features accompaniment styles and 30 onboard songs. The onboard songs are very child-friendly and perfect for the younger student. One of the things that kids struggle with most once they learn the right notes is timing. The PSS-F30 has a built-in metronome that ranges from bpm to help keep perfect time.
It makes it easy for small hands to play more complex chords, and it lets kids get used to how these chords sound. When people talk about keyboards and digital pianos, it can get a bit confusing for a newbie.
You think you understand, then you start to hear terms like keyboard piano, and you are back to square one. Keyboards are portable instruments, and digital pianos are often stationary because they have a wooden stand or cabinet. I only want to play for fun. Is Yamaha p enough for my whole life?!!!!!! How about roland fp? The sound of the FP can hardly be called metallic, the instrument will handle classical music just fine. Thank you so much for the wonderful info in this article.
I have always had an acoustic piano, the last one for about 45 years. Since I was planning to move into a condo, I was concerned about possibly having to move it into a second story dwelling.
I also felt that I should have the ability to use headphones out of consideration of possible neighbors. It was harder to sell my piano than to sell the home my children grew up in! Many thanks! Ivamae, thank you for the kind words! Thanks for the very helpful guide. On the other hand, a lot of portable digital pianos are easily transportable, and in most cases, you can separately buy a furniture-style wooden stand designed just for that particular model, which in your case would probably be a better option.
Sure, check out this guide, all digital pianos listed there are fully-weighted and budget friendly. I particularly recommend taking a look at the Casio Privia PX Hope this helps. I am a novice. I am 80 years old. Want a hobby to work at full time. My only current hobby is ball room dancing. I want to buy a good Baby Grand Digital Piano. The information above is great. However I am still lost. I am looking for other options. Will you provide other options. Hi Elaine, of course! In fact, I always recommend getting a proper digital piano with fully-weighted keyboard for all of my students including those who are just starting out.
Any plans to include this new company in your reviews? Hey Andreas, thanks for the suggestion! Korg B1 bundle in amazon with it bench and furniture stand for dollars or Casio Privia PX bundle also in amazon, with the bench and stand as well, I really love the design of Korg B1 but I want an expert opinion.
Thank you for this very helpful post?? Also check out my comparison on these two here and here. Thank you so much for this review. It helps a lot. My used upright lasted over 30 years. What can I expect from a digital and what are things that can go wrong which can or cannot be fixed? Hi Gracelyn, appreciate your comment! Here is the link or just add lifespan to the URL of this page. I hope this helps. So thank you! Hi Lucas, I will buy a piano with the pitch bend and modulation wheel.
Could you suggest which the best is? Thanks, Algot. To be honest, not a big fan of Kurzweil lower end digital pianos their key actions in particular , so I may be a little biased here but who knows maybe the SP1 will prove me wrong. Notify me of followup comments via e-mail. Keys Modern acoustic pianos have 88 keys. Most digital pianos and keyboards have 88, 76, 73, or 61 keys. Action Type There are 3 most common types of key actions: 1 Non-weighted - most organs, synths and entry-level keyboards are not weighted.
Spring-loaded mechanism adds more resistance to the keys compared to the non-weighted action. It uses small hammers rather than springs attached to each key to recreate the mechanical movements and resistance similar to the acoustic piano action. Extra Features Extra features include all the additional functionality not directly related to piano-playing.
This may include preset songs, rhythms, recording functions, lesson modes, sound design options, etc. Price The price ranges are based on prices of digital pianos from major brands such Yamaha, Casio, Roland, etc.
Instruments from lesser-known China brands cost less but we don't recommend them. Don't require a lot of space Easy to move around Affordable Versatile Perfect for beginners and musicians on the move.
Home practice Classroom environment Gigs On the road. The closest you can get to an acoustic State-of-the-art hammer mechanisms and speaker systems No-compomise playing experience The best of acoustic and digital worlds. Expensive compared to classic DPs Even heavier and less portable than console DPs Can be hard to find in local music stores. Features oriented at stage performers sound shaping, hands-on control. No built-in speakers in most cases Relatively expensive Not necessarily beginner-friendly.
Gigs Studio Events. Touch Sensitivity The volume produced by the instrument changes depending on how hard or soft you play the keys. Many digital pianos allow you to adjust touch sensitivity make the keyboard more or less sensitive to the force of your keystrokes to better suit your playing style. Polyphony The number of notes a piano can play at once. The more polyphony the better , especially when layering several sounds or using backing tracks, etc. When you reach the polyphony cap, the piano starts to drop the earliest played notes to free up memory for the new ones, which affects the sound and its fullness.
Dynamic Range The difference in volume between the loudest possible note and the softest one. Wide dynamic range from the softest pianissimo to the loudest fortissimo. Great for playing music other than piano Allows for fast note repetitions Most non-weighted keyboards are very portable. Feels closer to an acoustic piano than a non-weighted action Great for playing organ and electric piano sounds Relatively light and portable.
Still lacks realism and piano-like feedback, despite being heavier than synth action Not the best choice for piano players May be hard to transition to an acoustic piano after practicing on this type of action.
The most realistic type of keyboard actions Helps develop proper finger strength and technique The best choice for piano players. Relatively heavy and not as portable More expensive than non-weighted and semi-weighted actions Not as versatile due to its heavier feel. You can also adjust the number of beats per measure, the tempo, and the volume of the metronome.
Polyphony is the number of notes a digital piano can produce at the same time. Most contemporary digital pianos are equipped with 64, , or note polyphony. Here are the most popular modes that digital pianos may offer: 1 Split Mode — divides the keyboard into two parts, allowing you to play a different instrument sound in each part. Audio In jacks are found more commonly in digital pianos and entry-level keyboards.
Generally speaking, a Mic In jack is rare to find on a digital piano. Another important thing is how often you use your digital piano. Do I absolutely need 88 keys? Most digital pianos have 88 keys. Do I need all 3 piano pedals? Does my digital piano need to be tuned? Can I adjust the volume of my digital piano? Yes, all digital pianos and keyboards allow you to adjust the volume, which is very convenient. Can I connect headphones and practice in silence?
Can I record and play back my playing? How much polyphony do I need? How much speaker wattage do I need? Do wooden keys make a difference? What are the basic things I should look for in a digital piano? How do digital pianos differ from one manufacturer to another? You may wonder why there are so many manufacturers and models of digital pianos. As a general rule, the more money you spend, the more realistic the sound and feel will be.
Newer Comments ». Jesus Garcia January 19, Anyway, thanks for all the posts you have written! Keep the energy.. Best regards. Lucas Welter January 19, April August 26, Lucas Welter September 2, Thank you, April, I appreciate your kind words. Yuvi January 29, Lucas Welter January 31, Hi Yuvi, thanks for your comment! Yuvi January 31, Thank you very much for your time and suggestions Lucas. SamuelK April 7, Lucas Welter December 12, Karl Modigh April 14, Lucas Welter April 14, Andy April 17, Lucas Welter April 18, Pete April 19, Yeah no fault here… Only issue, why not give physically modeled piano sounds some love in this article?
Lucas Welter April 19, GK June 27, Grace June 28, Lucas, this is the best site ever!! FreeMan August 3, Ivamae September 9, Lucas Welter November 11, Norm September 12, Lucas Welter November 9, Jerrod October 20, Elaine December 17, So in depth!
Lucas Welter December 17, Algot December 18, Thanks for the helpful guide. Andreas Bischoff December 23, Regards, Andreas. Lucas Welter December 29, Ramses Ariel December 29, Lucas Welter December 30,
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