Choose a compact 61-key keyboard if your arpeggios fit within that range and you want to put the instrument away after practising. Choose an 88-key digital piano with weighted keys if you need a wider range and a piano-like feel. Yamaha describes the PSR-E383 as having 61 touch-sensitive keys and the P-145 as having 88 weighted GHC keys. Also check the headphone socket, the space you have available and which accessories are included. Headphones won’t eliminate the mechanical sound of the keys.
You practise while other people are at home and want to check your headphone set-up and agree practice times in advance. The Government of the Netherlands lists agreeing what time music can be played as one possible step when dealing with noise complaints from neighbours.
You play arpeggios across a wide range or want to practise with a weighted action. Yamaha, Casio and Korg describe models with weighted keyboards, so compare the keys themselves rather than just the number of sounds.
You share a small room and need to decide whether a shorter keyboard will do or whether you need the range of 88 keys. Compare the instrument’s dimensions with the space needed for the stand, music rest and seat.
Start with the range of keys you need and how you want to listen. Then measure the space available and check which features and accessories you really need.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this important to? |
|---|---|---|
| Practising with as little disruption as possible | Check that the model has a headphone socket and agree practice times with the people you live with. | I want to practise while others are at home and know in advance how the listening set-up works. Around 36% of consumers prioritise reducing disruption. |
| Key range and touch | Compare the lowest and highest notes in your exercises with the keyboard, and try the action if it matters to your technique. | I want my arpeggios to fit within the keyboard’s range and care about how it feels to play. Around 29% of consumers put range and touch first. |
| Space to play and store the instrument | Measure the space, including the stand, music rest, seating area and cables, then compare it with the dimensions of the model. | I share a small space and want to know whether the instrument will fit while I’m playing and afterwards. Around 21% of consumers give the most weight to the space available. |
| Practice features and accessories | Decide whether you want to play arpeggios by hand or use automatic patterns, and check which pedals and other accessories are included. | I only want to pay for features and parts that suit the way I practise. Around 14% of consumers prioritise extra practice features and accessories. |
Headphones let you listen without sound from the speakers, but the keys may still be audible in the room.
Try the action in a quiet room and agree practice times with the people you live with.
Yamaha describes the PSR-E383 as having 61 touch-sensitive keys and the P-145 as having 88 weighted GHC keys. These are different features, and the instruments have different key ranges.
Choose based on the notes you play and the feel you want, not just the number of sounds or features.
Accessories vary by model and version. Yamaha lists a three-pedal unit as an optional extra for the P-145; the stand and PU-2 pedal unit for the Korg B2+ are separate accessories.
Check the exact model and which parts are included before you choose.
A suitable stand or a more advanced pedal unit may need to be bought separately.
Worth considering if you’re comparing a 61-key keyboard with a portable 88-key digital piano.
The CDP-S110BK is a portable digital piano to consider if space for setting it up is a factor.
Consider the ES120 if you want two people to listen through headphones at the same time.
The B2+ is an 88-key piano to consider if you’re looking for a weighted keyboard and a headphone socket.
This Joybuy selection features 61-key models for players whose arpeggios fit within that range.
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The 61 keys suit arpeggios that fit within that range.
Weighted, touch-sensitive keys; 300 sounds and 300 rhythms; LCD display; USB-MIDI; speakers; headphone socket; music rest.
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The 61 keys suit arpeggios that fit within that range.
Features a MIDI controller, recording function, speakers, metronome and music rest.
Not necessarily. Headphones let you listen without sound from the speakers, but you’ll need to assess the sound of the keys separately in your own home. Check the socket on the version you choose and agree practice times with the people you live with.
No, not if you play the notes yourself. In that case, compare the key range and feel first. Yamaha lists 152 arpeggio types as an extra feature for automatically generated patterns on the PSR-E383.
Measure the space for the instrument, stand, music rest, seat and cables. Korg lists the B2+ dimensions without the music rest as 1312 × 336 × 117 mm and notes that the stand is an accessory.
For online purchases from a business, the Government of the Netherlands says you’ll usually have a 14-day cooling-off period, with some exceptions. If an item is faulty, the seller must offer a solution. There’s no fixed statutory guarantee period in the Netherlands, and the seller is your point of contact.
