Choosing the best keyboard for beginners can be a difficult task because there are so many good keyboards to choose from. If you are just starting out learning to play the piano or keyboard, then you have to get the best keyboard for your needs and aspirations.
The Piano Proficiency Exam Review Book
23% Off
Logitech K120 Wired Keyboard for Windows, Plug and Play, Full-Size, Spill-Resistant, Curved Space Bar, Compatible with PC, Laptop - Black
$12.99 (as of December 14, 2024 09:52 GMT -08:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
RockJam 61 Key Keyboard Piano With LCD Display Kit, Stand, Bench, Headphones, Simply App & Keynote Stickers
$139.99 (as of December 14, 2024 10:09 GMT -08:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Amazon Basics Wired Keyboard, Full-Sized, QWERTY Layout, Black
$18.04 (as of December 14, 2024 09:52 GMT -08:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)Very often buying a keyboard is the best option for beginners wants to learn the piano. Compared to digital pianos, keyboards are usually cheaper, lighter, and have more options for learning. So if you are a beginner, it’s important to look for a keyboard which has enough keys to make playing enjoyable, a good variety of high-quality sounds, and one that is portable so you can store it when you are not using it.
Picture | Model | Keys | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Yamaha Piaggero NP11 | 61 | 19 lbs |
 | Casio CTK 4400 Piano | 61 | 24.5 lbs |
 | Yamaha NP-V60 | 76 | 15.7 lbs |
Table of Contents
How to Choose the Best Keyboard for Beginners
One of the first differences that you notice about a keyboard and digital piano is that the keyboard is smaller. Keyboards don’t usually have the full 88-key keyboard and may not always feel like a playing real piano.
In general, keyboards have a much wider range of voices or sounds. So, a good quality keyboard usually has a good quality sounding piano sounds, but you get many more voices than a digital piano. You should also look for the amount of polyphony. This is the number of notes that can be heard simultaneously without them being cut – obviously, the higher, the better.
With a keyboard, you should also look for the possibility to connect it to external devices. These devices can boost the sound if you are playing in a large room or let you connect to MIDI or other recording devices.
The Piano Proficiency Exam Review Book
23% Off
Logitech K120 Wired Keyboard for Windows, Plug and Play, Full-Size, Spill-Resistant, Curved Space Bar, Compatible with PC, Laptop - Black
$12.99 (as of December 14, 2024 09:52 GMT -08:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
RockJam 61 Key Keyboard Piano With LCD Display Kit, Stand, Bench, Headphones, Simply App & Keynote Stickers
$139.99 (as of December 14, 2024 10:09 GMT -08:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Amazon Basics Wired Keyboard, Full-Sized, QWERTY Layout, Black
$18.04 (as of December 14, 2024 09:52 GMT -08:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)This review looks at 3 of the best keyboards for beginners to help you choose the best keyboard for you.
Yamaha Piaggero NP-11
Yamaha design and build some of the best keyboards and digital pianos that are on the market. With the Yamaha Piaggero NP-11, you get all the best that Yamaha has to offer in a compact, reasonably priced keyboard.
The NP-11 has a piano style keyboard which gives a look and feel of playing an acoustic piano. The sounds from the keyboards are excellent because they use Yamaha’s Advanced Wave Memory (AWM) sampling. This gives an almost authentic piano sound when playing it.
The digital keyboard is powered using the AC adaptor, or you can also use batteries.
Product Features
What are the best features of the Yamaha NP-11 that make it one of the best keyboards that beginners can buy? Here is a short overview:
- 61-key piano style keyboard
- Touch sensitive keyboard
- 32 polyphony
- 10 voices
- Built-in metronome
- One headphone connection
- MIDI In/Out
- 2 x 2.5 W speakers
- Weighs 9 lbs (4.5 kg)
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2aONqaP4RN4
Benefits of the NP-11
One of the best features of the Yamaha NP-11 is the nice 61-key keyboard. It’s not often that you can get a good quality keyboard in a unit in this price range. You also have the advantage that you can connect to MIDI devices through the MIDI In/Out connection.
The AWM sound sampling system is also found on some of Yamaha’s digital pianos, so you know that this keyboard will sound like the “real thing.” You will also love the fact that the keyboard has stereo speakers.
Although it only has ten voices, if you are serious about learning to play the piano, then that should be plenty.
Verdict
This is a great keyboard for beginners who are serious about learning to play the piano. It is reasonably priced, and because it has a piano-style keyboard, there is less of a learning curve if you decide to buy a digital piano later.
Click to Buy the Product on Amazon
Casio CTK 4400
The name Casio is synonymous with great keyboards, and they are one of the world leaders in the keyboard market. The Casio CTK 4400 is a feature-packed digital keyboard and is an excellent keyboard for beginners.
The CTK-4400 features a massive bank of 600 voices, which is certainly enough for any beginner. Among the voices are pianos, brass instruments, string instruments, woodwinds and many more interesting sounds.
The Casio CTK-4400 is also a teaching keyboard thanks to its built-in lesson system which helps you master songs in no time at all. It also features some great connectivity allowing you to connect it to MIDI devices, computers and smartphones via the USB socket.
Product Features
What are the great features that you can expect to get with the Casio CTK-4400? Here is a list of the features:
- 61-key keyboard with standard size keys
- Touch responsive keyboard
- 48-note polyphony
- 600 built-in voices
- Built-in sampler
- Reverb and chorus
- 152 built-in songs
- Built-in teaching system
- 6-track recorder
- MIDI
- USB
- 2 x 2.5 W speakers
- Weighs 9.5 lbs (4.5 kg)
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AiqhqYL8Yxk
Benefits of the Casio CTK 4400
One of the best features that the Casio CTK 4400 offers is the amazing range of sounds and the built-in teaching modules. You will also like the fact that it has 48-note polyphony, which isn’t as much as a digital piano, but it is more than most keyboards.
Verdict
The Casio CTK-4400 is one of the top 3 digital keyboards for startup piano players. It is great for beginners, and it is very easy to start playing songs.
Click to Buy the Product on Amazon
Yamaha NP-V60
With the NP-V60, you get one of the best digital keyboards that Yamaha makes. The keyboard is packed with amazing features, some of which are also found on high-quality digital pianos.
One nice feature that Yamaha have added to the NP-V60 is the graded keyboard. This mimics how an acoustic piano feels when you play it. The keys at the lower end are heavier than those at the top end. However, the keys are only made to feel heavier, so the keyboard is still very light and portable.
The NP-V60 features 32-note polyphony which is standard on most keyboards, but it still provides enough voices and sounds to play most songs, especially if you are a beginner. The fact that the keyboard has 76 keys is a definite plus because you have a better range of octaves to play songs on.
Product Features
Why should you seriously consider buying the Yamaha NP-V60? Here is an overview of its great features.
- 76-key piano style keyboard
- Graded soft touch keyboard
- Touch sensitive keyboard
- 32 polyphony
- Over 500 voices
- Reverb and chorus
- 160 preset styles
- Built-in 6-track recorder
- Built-in metronome
- One headphone connection
- USB to Host connection
- 2 x 6 W speakers
- Weighs 15 lbs (7 kg)
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wr9ISFPBKjk
Benefits of the Yamaha NP-V 60
The best feature of the Yamaha NP-V60, and why it is ranked among the best keyboards for beginners, is the fact that it has a keyboard which is just as good as some digital pianos. The real feel to the keyboard means that it is an easier transition to a digital or acoustic piano.
You also get a fantastic range of sounds which will help you play any style that you choose.
Verdict
The Yamaha NP-V60 is a great piano for beginners and is just as good as some digital pianos. The graded soft touch keyboard is a feature that you won’t often find on digital keyboards and is a must if you are serious about learning the piano.
Click to Buy the Product on Amazon
YAMAHA P71 88-Key Weighted Action Digital Piano with Sustain Pedal and Power Supply (Amazon-Exclusive)
$449.99 (as of December 14, 2024 15:29 GMT -08:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Alesis Recital – 88 Key Digital Piano Keyboard with Semi Weighted Keys, 2x20W Speakers, 5 Voices, Split, Layer and Lesson Mode, FX and Piano Lessons
$229.00 (as of December 14, 2024 15:29 GMT -08:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
Best Choice Products 88-Key Weighted Full Size Digital Piano, Electronic Keyboard Set for All Experience Levels w/U-Stand, 3 Sustain Pedal Unit, Stool, Keyboard Cover, 2 Headphone Jacks
11% Off
