The Best Piano Keyboards

If you’ve come this far in your piano journey, you’re only steps away from owning a new electric keyboard! And through technological innovation, you can get so much more than just a piano, which is important for beginners. Investing in a full keyboard set with all the techy bells and whistles saves time, money, and the headache of finding compatible parts later. Plus, most sets include a piano stand, a comfy seat, headphones, and a microphone. These top-rated keyboards and their advanced features, like recording and playback, backtracking, teaching modes, and free phone apps make playing much more exciting.

Buying Guide for Piano Keyboards

Why should you invest in a piano keyboard?

Having a personal piano at home (or at the office or studio) allows you to practice whenever you have a few minutes of downtime. And with so many electric, portable options, it’s easier than ever to transport your keyboard back and forth. Today’s piano keyboards provide an optimal learning environment for kids and adults, whether beginner, intermediate, or expert, including important features that encourage muscle and sight memory and teach you how to keep rhythm and tempo. Add headphones and a microphone, and you’re ready to record your own hit singles—even if they never leave the house.

What should you know before buying a piano keyboard?

• Key Count: A traditional piano has 88 keys, but electric keyboards offer different options. Practicing on a 61-key board is a great start for beginning players.
• Power: Some keyboards are battery-powered, and others connect to power sources. You’ll even find options that offer both and include a convenient charger.
• Features: Make sure your keyboard includes these features to help you learn quickly and efficiently: default piano function, demo songs, pre-programmed rhythms, and recording and playback functions.

What if you don’t have a huge space or soundproof walls?

Luckily, today’s digital keyboards are generally compact with collapsible stands and chairs, making them easy to store when extra space is needed. Place your piano keyboard in an unused corner or in a guest room with low traffic; most models won’t take up more than 40 by 16 inches. Plus, most keyboard kits come with headphones, so you can jam privately and quietly without waking or disturbing your entire household or your neighbors.

Our Picks for the Best Piano Keyboards

Pros: For a middle-of-the-road price, you’ll receive a complete learning solution in this Donner electric piano keyboard. The set includes a lightweight, portable electric keyboard (with surround sound, heavy bass, and warm tones for optimal performance), high-quality speakers, and an enormous music library featuring 500 tones, 300 rhythms, and 40 demo songs. It’s an excellent tool for beginning producers and performers, with convenient USB MIDI ports, a microphone, and headphones—the perfect opportunity to create your own music. Your new piano also includes a free teaching app and three teaching modes to help beginners get familiarized with traditional piano.

Cons: The instructions included with your new piano may leave you feeling less than prepared. For more info and guidance, research a few user videos on setup and functions.

Bottom Line: Here’s a quality set at a totally fair price. You’ll get more songs and sounds than competing keyboards, plus learning materials for learners at all levels.

 

Pros: Talk about a steal. This nearly full-sized electric keyboard from ZENY is an expert teacher of piano keys and playing pace with a smart LED screen that displays correct keys and chords for every featured demo song. Add 300 rhymes and timbres to the equation, and you’re on your way to growing your musical knowledge and skills in no time. Its height-adjustable, padded stool and music stand allow every member of the family (or band) to practice without compromising comfort and form. Simply plug in your new keyboard (or insert AA batteries on the go), connect the convenient microphone and headphones if you want a more private session, and play to your heart’s content.

Cons: Its excellent price doesn’t come without some compromise. As long as you know the keyboard isn’t constructed with top-of-line materials, you won’t be disappointed.

Bottom Line: This is a quality investment for half the price of other models that don’t include headphones and a microphone. It’s lightweight and easy to move, so you’re not limited to playing at home.

 

Pros: If you’re familiar with the piano or looking to learn it, you’ve probably heard of Yamaha, the world’s largest piano manufacturing company. This high-end, listen-and-learn Yamaha YPT-260 keyboard piano is a portable, user-friendly instrument designed for entry-level and intermediate players working toward expertise. With hundreds of tracks and real-time band backing that automatically follows a player’s lead, it’s like you have a mini recording studio in your home. The included Yamaha Education Suite is a free, nine-step lesson plan and downloadable songbook featuring hundreds of sounds, accompaniment styles, and beginner songs for tons of fun and learning.

Cons: This model doesn’t allow you to lock the keyboard to its stand, so it may not sit as securely as other models you’re used to.

Bottom Line: Notable brand? Check. Excellent price? Yep. Learning materials? You bet. You can’t go wrong with a Yamaha keyboard, especially if you’re just starting out.

 

Pros: Looking for the basics and then some? You’ll find it in this WOSTOO keyboard piano—it provides a quality baseline for learning and growing on the piano. Designed for beginners, the simple, colorful keyboard boasts standard-size keys, double speakers, and a clear display for adjusting volume and tempo. It’s a safe, fun way for kids to play along with pre-programmed timbre, percussion sounds, rhythms, and demo pieces with the touch of a button. The portable piano is also programmable and encourages players to create their own beats with record and playback options like similar, more expensive models. Just plug in the microphone, and give it your best shot!

Cons: This beginner’s piano is powered by batteries alone, so you might want to stock up on those, too.

Bottom Line: If you have music-savvy kids or fear you missed your savant calling, this is a versatile and inexpensive way to get some practice in. Keep extra batteries on hand to keep the music flowing.

 

Pros: Ready to rock? This compact electric piano keyboard from RockJam is a cool, sleek option that offers important playing features, like full-size keys, a free training phone app, and an LED panel that engages 200 tones, 200 rhythms, and 30 demo songs. With high-quality record and playback options, you can experiment with sound layering to help add depth to your unique piece and create fun, interesting loops. The kit also includes headphones, a sturdy, adjustable keyboard stand, and a thickly padded seat for hours of comfy play. Want extra help learning the keys? Encourage muscle memory with included keyboard stickers—just peel and stick them to the appropriate keys, according to the directions.

Cons: This set includes a strap for the piano stand instead of sturdier hardware to help your keyboard sit securely on its stand.

Bottom Line: For the same price as a pair of AirPods, you’re investing in an end-to-end tool that helps you quickly and comfortably produce your own music. Plus, there’s an innovative instructional app.

Final Thoughts

We hope you’re even more excited about your piano journey now that you have multiple quality keyboards to choose from. Any of these top-rated options will support a comfortable, fun learning environment. Happy playing!