I often get asked by parents or adult students what the best digital piano for beginners is. I always suggest that it’s worth getting a proper instrument from the outset. If you don’t have a proper instrument to practice on, you will not get the full benefit of being able to put into practice what you learn in your lessons. At this stage, it doesn’t need to cost a lot of money. Something in the range of £250-£400 would be optimal.
Digital pianos are a great option for many people as they are more affordable, take up less room, are portable and can be used with headphones. They also have the ability to record and playback so you can listen to and learn from your own performance. Plus the fact, you won’t have any expensive tuning or repair bills!
So what elements should you be looking for in a digital piano for beginners?
Number, size and weight of the keys
You should choose a piano with 88 keys (the full range) if you have the space. Anything less than this will restrict you later on with regards to the pieces you’ll be able to play.
The keys should be of full length & width (the same as an acoustic piano) and a box shape rather than the flat synth-style keys found on cheaper keyboards.
Lastly, it’s important that the keys are weighted. Having weighted keys creates a more similar feel to a real piano and will make it easier to transition between the two. Some digital pianos have semi-weighted keys which is better than nothing but just be aware, they will still feel significantly different to an acoustic piano. You want the feel and action to mimic a real acoustic piano as much as possible.
Audio Output
Bear in mind that speaker quality varies on digital pianos. Sometimes, you will get a better quality sound through your headphones than you would through the built-in speakers. This is not necessarily a problem, as certainly when starting out you would most likely prefer to use headphones anyway – to save the sanity of those you live with or the neighbours! You can always upgrade to a separate speaker later on. Some digital pianos don’t come with any built-in speakers so if this is something you want, make sure you check the specifications.
In terms of the actual sound of the piano, you will want a realistic sound that will inspire you to want to play! Most models have a number of different sounds or ‘tones’. Depending on what you want to be able to play will depend on the sounds you want. For example, if you’ll be wanting to play a lot of pop and rock, you will most likely want a good electric piano sound. If you’ll be playing more classical music, you will want a realistic acoustic piano sound or perhaps, organ.
Portability
If you just want your piano to practice with at home, then portability won’t be so much of an issue. However, if you plan to travel with it, you will need an instrument that is lightweight and not too large. The size of the piano is also a factor if you’re pushed for space. Some people opt for very slimline versions that don’t stick out too far from the wall. Or a slightly shorter keyboard without too much casing either end if you’re really tight for space.
Connectivity
This is very much personal preference and will depend on what other devices you might want to connect your piano to. Connections to consider include MIDI (to connect to certain music software), USB and other audio outputs to connect to other devices. A lot of digital pianos will include these as standard.
Accessories
Items you will need to go with the piano are as follows:
Headphones – a pair of headphones would be extremely useful for being able to play to your heart’s content without being conscious of the noise!
A Stool – preferably an adjustable one to enable you to set it at the correct height. I can recommend a cushioned one. You want it to be comfortable enough to sit on for long periods of time.
A Stand – digital pianos at the budget discussed in this post won’t come with a built-in stand or casing so you will need a separate stand. An X-type stand is best as it will be more sturdy and is adjustable in height.
A Sustain Pedal – a sustain pedal will really add dimension to your playing. You won’t be using it from day one, but will definitely find it useful a couple of months in. A lot of digital pianos come with one anyway, but if not they are easy and fairly cheap to buy.
A Music Stand – some digital pianos come with a slot-in or pop-up stand for sheet music or a tablet, others don’t. Check before you buy – a separate music stand is fairly cheap.
So what is the best digital piano for beginners?
I have listed my three favourite options below:
Roland GO:PIANO
88 keys, semi-weighted.
The first option (Roland GO:Piano) is the cheapest and has semi-weighted keys. This is a brilliant and affordable option for beginners.
Buy the Roland GO: Piano on Amazon or through Anderton’s music store.
Casio CDP-S110
88 keys, fully-weighted.
If you can afford to spend a bit more (and you have space as they are longer), an 88-key piano with fully weighted keys is ideal. The Casio CDP-S110 is a fantastic option – it’s slim line and can work on the battery for up to 13 hours if you aren’t always near a power source. It has a realistic feel of an acoustic piano and can be used with Casio’s own free Chordana Play Piano App.
Buy the Casio CDP-S110 on Amazon or through Anderton’s music store.
Yamaha P145
88 keys, fully-weighted.
Lastly, if you are prepared to spend nearer £400, the Yamaha P145 is a fantastic instrument with some stunningly realistic piano sounds and a great natural feel of the keyboard. It has a sleeker and simpler interface than the others, whilst still being portable.
Buy the Yamaha P145 on Amazon or through Anderton’s music store.
In summary, all three of these pianos are great instruments for beginners. It really depends on your budget, the space you have and whether you are looking for specific features (such as battery-powered, connection to apps, specific sounds etc). I can also highly recommend visiting Anderton’s music store for further information on the best digital piano for beginners.
Of course, in addition to the piano, you will need a stand, stool and a pair of headphones. There are bundles available on Amazon, Anderton’s and other online music stores that include all of the above.
I hope this post has helped in your quest to find the best digital piano for beginners. Please feel free to leave a question or comment, I’d like to hear from you.
If you are looking for piano lessons for your child, check out my beginner piano lessons for kids in my Introduction to Piano course.
If you are an adult student and are wondering which book to buy, check out my post on The Best Piano Books for Adults for some helpful tips and advice.
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