Most people would love to have a real piano, but space and removals often dictate that a keyboard would be the more practical option. Over my years in teaching, parents have often asked me for help with choosing a piano keyboard for beginners, so I thought I’d share my thoughts here.
The choice is often a bit overwhelming. Parents usually don’t want to spend too much but equally don’t want to waste their money on something that isn’t up to the job. But nowadays, digital keyboards can reproduce a very realistic sound, which can replace the sound of the wire strings and felt hammers with a digital recording.
In my opinion these digital piano keyboards are perfect for pupils who are just starting to learn to play the instrument. With the intention to progress on to a full size acoustic piano once they are sure their child has taken to the instrument and definitely wants to continue. It’s the perfect start!
My tips for choosing a piano keyboard for beginners
Make sure the keyboard is a full size
1. As long as an acoustic piano with 88 keys and 7 octaves. The keys should also be the same size as a real piano. These two points are really important for learning the correct finger spacing and scale of the instrument. It means that they’ll able to adjust to other pianos and keyboards that the player might need to play elsewhere in the future.
2. A synthesizer offers more options with different effects and can reproduce the sounds of many other instruments. There is a wide choice available from reasonable starter ones to the more sophisticated versions great for budding composers when used with computer programs. However all these extra features can be both confusing and distracting for a young beginner. So are not essential for a beginner’s keyboard.
3. Make sure your keyboard comes with an adjustable stand. You might need to purchase one separately. You can then use any chair or stool that fits comfortably for the pupil’s hands to be at the same level as the keyboard.
4. Choose a keyboard with weighted keys. This means that you need to press them down but they spring back up like a real piano. Cheaper keyboards don’t usually have this feature. Learning to play on weighted keys builds finger strength and technique and means you can always adjust easily to a real piano.
5. Touch sensitive keys means that they respond in volume according to how hard or softly you play them. This facility is usually only available on higher end keyboards. While it’s very convenient it’s quite different from an acoustic piano, which might cause problems later on. So this is something to watch out for. Most digital pianos should have an option to turn it off if they do come with it.
Try to keep it simple for young beginners
6.Too many extra features and special effects can be a little overwhelming. After all learning to play and read 88 notes in the right order is quite a challenge already!
As in all things you get what you pay for and you can pay a lot for a high end instrument. Personally I don’t think it’s necessary to start at the top end for a young beginner. An excellent choice is the Yamaha P45B Portable Digital Piano (see the review below).
There are cheaper options available but they won’t have all the features discussed above and you’ll only find yourself having to replace it after a year or so. The Yamaha P45 is a perfect compromise as it’s still reasonably priced, sounds fantastic, ticks all the boxes and will not disappoint. And importantly, it’ll suit a child all the way through without an upgrade.
If money is tight you can always start off with a second hand keyboard and it’s always worth keeping a look out for freecycle schemes in your area. It’s amazing what some people throw out!
A Good Piano Keyboard for Beginners : Yamaha P45B Portable Digital Piano Review
*Disclaimer: the links here are Amazon affiliate links (thanks for supporting us!) but I did purchase this keyboard for my daughter’s 23rd Birthday present and this review is not affiliated with or sponsored by Yamaha in any way.*
I grew up always playing an acoustic piano at home, but knew that I needed something a little lighter (!) and more portable for when I moved out. This keyboard has been perfect. Overall the sound is excellent for a digital piano and the keyboard feels very good quality. The keys are really well weighted – which is one of the things I was looking for most – and it is a real pleasure to play.
It has quite a few modcons including things like a built in metronome as well as a few synthesizer sounds (organ, harpsichord etc.) but to be honest, I haven’t really found much use for them. It comes with a music stand which is fairly sturdy, but I had to purchase the adjustable keyboard stand separately.
The one slight downside is that the sustain pedal that comes with the keyboard isn’t really up to par. I bought this one as a replacement and have been very impressed. In my opinion it is well worth the extra money to upgrade. Although I’ve played for many years, I would definitely recommend the Yamaha as a good piano keyboard for beginners. Nice and simple!
If you’re still not sure, there are tons of reviews of this keyboard and others on Amazon, so definitely check them out before you buy!
What is the number of keys recommended for beginners? 88 keys?
Hi Elaine, Yes 88 is best, because although it seems easier at first with a smaller keyboard and fewer keys, it is better to learn on the full size so they get used to the proper size and correct number of keys.
Hi,
How is https://www.amazon.com/Alesis-Recital-Beginner-Full-Size-Semi-Weighted/dp/B01DZXE9NC/ref=sr_1_4?s=musical-instruments&ie=UTF8&qid=1515259773&sr=1-4&keywords=keyboard+piano this as an option for a beginner?
Please let me know. Thanks.
Hi Priyank, By strange coincidence I recently bought this exact Alesis keyboard! I wanted to see how it compared with the more established but more expensive Yamaha competition. I will be posting a full review soon, but in the mean time I can reassure you that the quality of build and sound is excellent for the price – the output is not as powerful as the yamaha, but the quality of tone is realistic and pleasant to listen to. I would recommend it as a very good choice for a beginner on a budget. Have fun with it! Sara
Hello Sara, I am also interested in your professional opinion of the Alesis recital beginner/pro you mention reviewing in the future. I have to aquire a keyboard this month for my daughter so would like to know if its a good option or not.
Cheers
Hi Adrian, Yes thats right, I do intend to be reviewing the Alesis keyboard soon. It’s a really good option for beginners as it’s full size, with weighted keys and and a good tone. You do have to purchase the stand and pedal separately, but I think it’s a good thing to be able to make your own choice. You can also practice with headphones plugged in to keep the noise down – which comes in handy sometimes in a busy family! I would definitely recommend it as a good first keyboard. Sara
I am looking for a keyboard for me. I’m 19. I’m looking for a budget keyboard to take my lessons and will upgrade 2-3 years later when I am good at basics. Can you recommend some to me. Thank you..
Hi Luci,
I’m not sure where you’re based, but if you’re using Amazon.com then there is a good deal on a Casio CTK2400 – http://amzn.to/2wrWc1X If you’re based in the UK then the link for the same keyboard is – http://amzn.to/2eOoZVm
Although I don’t have one myself, it’s a good basic keyboard and it’s got lots of very positive reviews. It would definitely be a good and affordable way to get started.
Good luck and have lots of fun with it!
The P35 is still a bit too expensive on eBay for us. Is there another model you could recommend for less than £100 used. Thanks.
Hi James,
It’s well worth looking for a second hand deal in your area, keyboards are the sort of thing that kids grow out of and people sell on, so do have a look around for a bargain before you buy new.
But the Yamaha NP12 Digital Piano http://amzn.to/2mkZjDX is a good compromise. It is a bit above your budget, but it would probably last you a lot longer than a cheaper model.
Remember to choose a keyboard with at least 61 real sized keys and don’t worry about lots of extra special gizmos – simple is best with a good stong output and volume control. As with most things you get what you pay for and the more expensive models are just closer to the real thing, but this keyboard would be fine for a beginner. I like this one because it’s a good good size and it’s simple. The reviews are good and while it wouldn’t stand up to professional use, it does the same job as the real thing.
I am keen to purchase a keyboard (piano) for my 4 year old daughter to get her interested. I totally agree that one should not go for those with too many options and synthesizer etc. However, not sure which one would be suitable for someone her age?
Hi Mohit, It really depends on your budget. The yamaha digital piano (http://amzn.to/2eN1Yjc) which I recommend in this post sounds brilliant and has 88 weighted keys, if you can afford it your daughter will not outgrow this keyboard as it is very close to a real piano and excellent value for money. But if you don’t want to invest quite so much until you know she really enjoys it, then this one might be a better option – http://amzn.to/2f432Ep Although this one is 76 keys and will have a soft touch action rather than more realistic weighted keys. In the post I point out the most important features that you should try and look for, but there will always be an element of compromise. Good luck!
Hi , Thank you for a such a helpful article. what do you think of Yamaha P45B Digital Piano as an alternative ?
Hi, I’m sure there is very little difference between the P35 and the P45. We bought the P35 a couple of years ago now, so it may just be a more recent model. The Yamaha keyboards are excellent value for money and the sound quality is really good. However you do have to be careful about the accessories (i.e stand and pedal attachment) that they include in the bundles, as these can sometimes be rather disappointing. It’s probably better to get them separately and to choose carefully.
I want to buy a keyboard for a 7 year old, what do you suggest?
Hi Susan,
Of course this depends on your budget, so I have suggested 2 options; the first one ( http://amzn.to/1OIDkiu ) is the Yamaha keyboard that I talk about in the post as this is the one that we are really pleased with, and the 2nd ( http://amzn.to/1OIEEBQ ) is really good value as it’s 35% off at the moment, but you may prefer to order a separate stand as the some people comment that while the keyboard is very good, the accessories were a bit flimsy.
Good luck! I hope your daughter loves her new keyboard!
I want to learn to play the piano, can you help me:
Is this piano just at the beginning?
https://www.klaviano.com/pianos-for-sale/kawai/kawai-cl26/kawai-cl-26-103440.html#tresc_ogloszenia
Hi Majk, The First piano lessons were designed for young beginners, with a playful, no pressure approach. However I do believe older people have used my methods, with very successful outcomes especially when they don’t have any experience with reading music first. 🙂
i like very much music
The article was very informative. I would like to have some view regarding Casio instruments. I am looking for my 14 year old son.He is a beginner. If you could suggest some models it will nice.
Thank you