The Best Keyboards for Beginners to Help You Play Piano Like a Pro
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The piano is one of the easiest — and most fun — instruments you can pick up. But if you’re a beginner who’s learning to read music for the first time, you might not be completely ready to commit to a full-sized instrument just yet (or have the space for one either). Enter the keyboard piano, a lighter alternative that can help you learn to play like your favorite composer or artist in no time. Here’s everything you should know to find the right instrument for you (plus a few of our top choices on Amazon from brands including Casio and Yamaha).
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In This Article
Best Keyboards for Beginners Buying Guide
How We Chose the Best Keyboards for Beginners
What Are the Best Keyboard Pianos for Beginners?
The Best Keyboards for Beginners
From Yamaha to Casio, here are the top keyboards and digital pianos for practicing, recording music and playing your favorite songs.
TOP PICK: Casio CT-S1 61-Key Portable Keyboard
BEST KEYBOARD KIT: Alesis Melody 61 MKII Music Keyboard
MOST VERSATILE: Donner DEP-20 Beginner Digital Piano
88-KEY PICK: Yamaha P225 Keyboard With Sustain Pedal
BEST VALUE: RockJam 61-Key Keyboard Kit
1. Casio CT-S1 61-Key Portable Keyboard
We’ve played and practiced on Casio keyboards in the past, and this affordable 61-key model is a good fit for players of all levels. With its portable size, anyone starting out on the instrument will appreciate the approachable size and price tag. But just because it’s not a full size doesn’t mean it feels cheap.
The Casio‘s keys are touch responsive, which will come in handy when sustaining notes and chords — or simply when you’re just practicing scales. It comes in three colors: black, white and red. It’s even lightweight at under 10 pounds, which makes it ideal for carrying to lessons or commuting. You can choose among 60 tones, including a can’t-go-wrong stereo grand piano setting. A metronome, meantime, makes sure you’re not rushing or dragging. While it delivers stellar sound thanks to its built-in stereo system, you can also connect a pair of headphones when you’re practicing around others.
“I own a top flight acoustic piano and professional digital keyboards,” described a reviewer on Amazon. “I searched everywhere for a portable, super light-weight keyboard that I could carry on when flying/traveling to use for practicing and composition. The Casio CT-S1 fits the bill well, with a few very minor nits.”
$219.00
2. Alesis Melody 61 MKII Music Keyboard
For a complete keyboard kit that includes a bench, stand, headphones and a mic, this Alesis model has 61 keys, though it’s also available in 32 and 54 keys.
It’s a super versatile and portable option that makes learning a little more fun in the process. Case in point: The keyboard has over 300 built-in sounds, so you can switch between playing the organ one minute, to playing drums or synths the next. There’s even a metronome to help you make sure you don’t rush through your songs.
Write the next iconic rock piano masterpiece? You can record what you play on the keyboard, too. And if you don’t know where to begin or you don’t have a teacher lined up, you can take advantage of the included three-month subscription to the lesson service Skoove.
“This is a fantastic keyboard for anyone who doesn’t need crazy special effects,” wrote one Amazon reviewer. “I’ve been using it for a month with my vocal coach and we both love it! It’s great quality, was really easy to put together and the stand + seat fold down to make it easy to store in a spare closet when not in use. There are some great features (my fave is the transposition because it makes it easy to use the key I want without needing to find different sheet music) and the sound quality is perfect for my needs. I don’t have need for the mic or headphones so I haven’t used them yet, but I imagine they probably work great for practicing alone and not disturbing others too much. All in all, I’m really happy I bought this keyboard!”
$139.99
3. Donner DEP-20 Beginner Digital Piano
Just because you’re learning a new instrument doesn’t mean you have to settle for a low-quality instrument. This Donner digital piano has 88 full-sized keys for a more authentic playing feel to a standard piano. At about 25.5 pounds and measuring a hair over 52 inches wide, it also has a compact frame, so it won’t take up as much space at home.
Like other models in our guide, this piano comes with a sustain pedal that you can connect to the keyboard and press down with your foot so every song you play won’t sound like “Chopsticks.” Donner included hundreds of different playing tones on this digital piano, so you can make it sound like you’re playing an acoustic grand piano, a church organ and even like you have a full orchestra in the room with you. It also comes with its own stand for your sheet music or tablet.
According to one Amazon reviewer: “First and foremost, for an electric piano at this price, it’s a great deal. I wanted a weighted 88 key keyboard/piano that plays like a real piano, and this does. I’ve had this piano for a few days now, and have been playing it a lot. I am very happy with this purchase and recommend it to anyone who is looking for an electric piano in this price range. The construction of this piano is a lot more durable than I was expecting it to be.”
Bonus: You can get $80 off the keyboard when using the coupon before checkout.
$405.99
4. Yamaha P225B Keyboard With Sustain Pedal
Yamaha makes some of the best pianos you can buy — and this 88-key portable piano is no exception. This keyboard bundle comes with all you need for starting out and then some, including a sustain pedal and a music rest for your lesson books and sheet music. “As someone completely new to piano, this has been a great keyboard for me,” a reviewer on Amazon noted after purchasing the keyboard. “It has all of the features I need, and more, which means I will be able to grow into this keyboard as I progress. Overall sound and feel are great.”
$732.03
5. RockJam 61-Key Keyboard Piano Kit
If you’re looking for a full keyboard kit — complete with a sustain pedal, a padded, collapsible bench, and a portable stand — you might consider this RockJam model. Better yet, it won’t break the bank and costs under $150 on Amazon. It boasts 61 full-sized keys, along with a touch display so you can choose up to 200 different tones or rhythms to play along to. New players can also record tracks, no matter where they’re at.
The keyboard has over 41,800 ratings on Amazon at the time of this writing. One Amazon reviewer wrote: “The keyboard was easy to put together. For me personally, the seat is too small and is not adjustable. I love the sticky keys that show you where each note is! The different tones, rhythms and percussion sounds are quite nice for a keyboard this size. As an experienced pianist and organist (43 years), this instrument is worth the money, but I believe the protection plan is also a good investment … just in case! Would I buy it again? Yes, I would.”
$149.99
What Are the Best Keyboard Pianos for Beginners?
Whether you’re learning new chords, how to read sheet music, or trying to play your favorite song from the radio, you can get by without a ton of buttons or unnecessary effects — a simple setup and a power source are all you’ll really need to start playing some tunes or scales. Here are a few features and accessories we think are the most important to think about when looking for the best keyboard for beginners.
Number of Keys: Keyboards come in different sizes, each with a different number of keys. In general, the most popular keyboards and digital pianos come with 49, 61, 73 or a full 88 keys, like a real piano. As a beginner, you should be able to learn the basics with fewer keys, but we like starting with more keys so your instrument can grow with you as you progress in your playing. That way, you can play everything, no matter which octave it’s in.
Weight and Portability: Our favorite keyboards and digital pianos have weighted keys, which mimic the feel of playing the actual piano. Those keyboard pianos will likely feel a little heavier than options that don’t have weighted keys. Whichever option you choose, keep in mind how much you’ll be moving your keyboard and how much you’ll need to carry it with you.
Cover: If you’re planning to commute with your keyboard, a keyboard cover can help protect your instrument from scratches and any damage that might occur, whether it’s sitting in the back of your car on the way to a lesson or a show, or you just want to keep it safe from spills at home. Some models come with covers, but you may need to purchase one on your own.
Music Holder or Music Rest: If you’re just starting to learn the piano, you’ll want to make sure that you can easily read your sheet music or lesson books and that you can prop them up with a music stand. Most digital pianos, including some of our picks in this guide, feature a built-in stand. We think it’s a useful attachment if included, but it’s not a make-or-break accessory.
Keyboard Stand: Where are you going to keep your keyboard? If it’s not on a table, you’ll probably need a stand to set it on when playing. Many beginner keyboards are sold along with stands, but if yours doesn’t include one, they’re easy to find and set up with most brand’s instruments — a foldable, X-shaped design will be able to easily hold up your keyboard and break down when you’re hitting the road.
How We Chose the Best Keyboards for Beginners
Along with the above criteria, we picked keyboard pianos for new players based on top-rated Amazon reviews, ease of use, and from reliable brands we have experience testing. We also based our keyboard recommendations based on our own decade’s worth of piano-playing experience.
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1. Yamaha Compact Portable Keyboard With Headphones
This bundle comes with all you need for starting out and then some, including headphones so you won’t disturb roommates, as well as a cushioned bench so you don’t have to sit on an uncomfortable stool when practicing.
Meanwhile, a stand comes included to hold up your keys wherever you go, and there’s even a portable pedal that plugs into the keyboard so you can practice sustained, drawn-out notes. Most importantly, the 25-pound keyboard itself has slightly weighted keys that will feel closer to jamming on the real thing.
Yamaha Compact Portable Keyboard With Headphones
2. Alesis Melody 61 MKII Music Keyboard
This keyboard is a super versatile and portable option that makes learning a little more fun in the process. Case in point: It has over 300 built-in sounds, so you can switch between playing the organ one minute, to playing drums or synths the next. There's even a metronome to help you make sure you don't rush through your songs.
Write the next iconic rock piano masterpiece? You can record what you play on the keyboard, too. And if you don't know where to begin or you don't have a teacher lined up, you can take advantage of the included three-month subscription to the lesson service Skoove.
Alesis Melody 61 MKII Music Keyboard
3. Donner DEP-10 Beginner Digital Piano
This Donner digital piano has 88 semi-weighted keys for a slightly more authentic playing feel to a standard piano. At about 19 pounds and measuring 52.3 inches wide, it's also easy to carry with you and won't take up as much space in your apartment, a small office or your home studio.
Like other models in our guide, this piano comes with a sustain pedal that you can connect to the keyboard and press down with your foot so every song you play won't sound like "Chopsticks."
Donner included eight different playing tones on this digital piano, so you can make it sound like you're playing an acoustic grand piano, a church organ and even like you have a full orchestra in the room with you. You'll need to purchase your own stand or set it on a desk or table when playing.
