Find the Best Keyboard for Your Budget
Starting piano lessons? Using a keyboard is a fun and effective way to learn piano. Many piano players opt to buy a digital keyboard over an acoustic piano for convenience, space, affordablility, and easy transport. When buying a new keyboard, there are several important factors to consider.
Sounds
Some keyboards offer 100’s of different sounds such as organ, clavinet, wurlitzer, and even drum grooves to play over. Think carefully whether or not you will actually use these sounds. If you are a classical pianist you will probably only have the need for a very good piano sound.
Action
Action is how the weight of the keys feel when you press them down. Some keyboards have keys that are “weighted” and others do not. If the keyboard does not have weighted keys, the keys will press down with very little resistance, which will not feel like the sensation of playing a real piano. Keyboards that are “touch resitant” are not weighted but will recognize when you are playing in different velocities.
Size
A full size piano has 88 keys. Keyboard typically come with 88 keys, 73 keys, or 61 keys. Any of these sizes are fine for a beginner, once you get smaller than 61 keys it starts to become hard to play with both hands on the keyboard. For more advanced classical music it is helpful to have a full size keyboard.
Polyphony
Polyphony refers to the number of notes a kyeboard can play at the same time. Some low cost toy keybaords can only play one at a time. Greater polyphony allows smoother and more natural transition between notes. Digital pianos usually come with polyphony of 32, 64, 98, and 128.
Speakers
Some keyboards feature built-in speakers and others can only make sound by plugging into a separate set of speakers. You will get better sounds by plugging your keyboard into high quality speakers but it is more convenient and affordable to use the built-in speakers. Almost all keyboards with built-in speakers have the option of plugging into alternative speakers.
Here are some great keyboard options:
Yamaha YPT 300
This is a great beginner’s keyboard, featuring 484 instrument sounds. Jammin’ With You is now pleased to offer this models to our students at a discount price.
Size: 61 keys
Polyphony: 32 note
Built-in Speakers: Yes
Action: Touch sensitive
Price: $170-$250
Casio WK-225
This is a great keyboard to learn piano on while having access to many of the technology featutes of a full-featured digital keyboard. This Casio features 600 sounds to choose from and a 6 track recorder.
Size: 76 keys
Polyphony: 48 note
Built-in Speakers: Yes
Action: Touch-sensitive
Price: $179-$230
Casio Privia PX130
This keyboard gives you the most bang for your buck. It is a superior keyboard for it’s price point and is suitable for a performance setting. Many musicians prefer this keybaord over more expensive models because of it’s light weight at just under 25 lbs.
Size: 88 keys
Polyphony: 128 note
Built-in Speakers: Yes
Action: Weighted
Price: $499
Yamaha CP33
This keyboard has excellent action that comes very close to the touch of a real piano. The CP33 has a superb piano sound and is a great choice for someone only looking for great acoustic piano sounds. This product lacks in competitive organ, clavinet, wurlitzer sounds.
Size: 88 keys
Polyphony: 64 note
Built-in Speakers: No
Action: Weighted
Price: $999
Nord Stage 2 88
The Nord Stage is the Ferrari of performance keyboards. The Nord Stage is well worth the money for anyone looking for a library of excellent sounds. The Nord is ideal for playing funk, soul, R&B, and electronic music with its wealth of very quality instrument sounds such as electric piano, organ, and Wurlitzer. Note that this product comes in smaller sizes.
Size: 88 keys
Polyphony: full
Built-in Speakers: No
Action: weighted
Price: $4,199
