Start with a digital piano that has a headphone socket compatible with your headphones and a comfortable key action for playing bass with your left hand and chords with your right. A basic model may be all you need if you can keep time yourself; choose one with built-in rhythms or automatic accompaniment if you want support while changing chords. Headphones mute the sound from the speakers, but they won’t make the mechanical sound of the keys inaudible.
You practise in a shared home and want to hear your playing through headphones. Check the connection on the exact model you’re considering and bear in mind that the keys still make a mechanical sound. Roland, Casio and Korg describe the headphone options available on the models mentioned.
You practise left-hand bass, right-hand chords and dynamics, so you’re mainly looking to compare key action and sustain control. Yamaha, Roland and Casio list different keyboards and pedal options for the models mentioned.
You want to practise chord changes to a built-in beat. Decide whether drum rhythms will do or whether you’re looking for automatic accompaniment; Kawai describes drum rhythms for the ES120, while Casio lists automatic accompaniment for the PX-S3100.
This guide is for consumers who want to practise blues progressions at a low volume at home.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Headphones and key noise | Check the plug type and socket; if possible, try out the mechanical key noise. | If I practise in a shared home, I want to listen privately without assuming the keys are silent. Around 31% of consumers prioritise quiet practice at home. |
| Key action and chords | Play bass notes and chords on the models you’re considering; check the touch-response setting and pedal. | If I want to master bass notes and chords, I want to be able to judge the key action for myself. Around 25% of consumers prioritise piano technique above all else. |
| Timing and accompaniment | Decide whether you’re looking for a metronome, drum rhythm or automatic chord accompaniment. | If I want to practise chord changes with a groove, I need to know what kind of support the instrument offers. Around 25% of consumers prioritise rhythm or accompaniment. |
| Space and essentials | Measure your playing area and check which stand and pedal are included with each version. | If I want to set up the piano in a limited space, I need to know in advance how much room and which accessories I’ll need. Around 19% of consumers prioritise space and clarity about what’s required. |
Headphones don’t silence the mechanical sound of the keys. Listening privately also doesn’t automatically prevent the volume from being too high.
Check the connection and try out the key noise in the setting where you plan to practise. In the P-145BT/P-143BT manual, Yamaha advises against listening at a high or uncomfortable volume for extended periods.
A drum rhythm gives you a beat to play along to, but it isn’t the same as an accompaniment part that plays along with your chords. Kawai lists drum rhythms for the ES120; Casio also lists automatic accompaniment for the PX-S3100.
Decide in advance whether you only want to hear a beat or also want accompaniment for your chord changes.
What’s included varies by model and version. Yamaha lists the LP-5A three-pedal unit as optional, Roland lists the DP-10 pedal for half-pedalling as optional, and Casio lists an SP-3 sustain pedal with the CDP-S110.
Check the exact offer and compare the included accessories with your setup and pedal requirements.
Yamaha describes the P-145BT as an entry-level 88-key model for anyone looking for a portable piano.
Roland positions the FP-10 for home practice, with 88 PHA-4 keys, headphone use and a metronome.
Casio describes the CDP-S110 as a slimline basic piano and the PX-S3100 as a model with rhythms and automatic accompaniment.
Kawai describes the ES120 as a portable piano offering a mix of piano and electric piano sounds, along with drum rhythms.
The Korg B2+ is an 88-key piano with a selection of piano-focused sounds.
Digital pianos for consumers who want to practise privately and are looking for rhythm features; check which features and accessories are included with each model and version.
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Suitable if you’re looking for a 61-key model to practise with rhythms; check that the listed features suit the way you practise.
61 keys; weighted keys; 300 sounds; 300 rhythms.
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Suitable if you’re looking for a 61-key keyboard for private practice; check that the connections are compatible with your headphones.
61 keys; black; metronome; built-in speakers.
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Suitable if you’re looking for a 61-key model with a stand and bench; check that the set fits the space you have available.
300 sounds; 300 rhythms; 3-level learning mode; USB-MIDI.
No, not if you mainly want to practise chord changes and timing yourself; a metronome may be enough. Roland lists a metronome for the FP-10. If you want an accompaniment part to play along with your chords, you could look at the PX-S3100, for which Casio lists automatic accompaniment; Kawai describes drum rhythms for the ES120.
Headphones mute the sound from the speakers, but they don’t guarantee that other people won’t hear the mechanical sound of the keys. Check the connection and try out the key noise in the room where you plan to practise.
Check what’s included with the exact version and which pedal you need. Casio lists an SP-3 sustain pedal with the CDP-S110; Roland lists the DP-10 pedal for half-pedalling as optional for the FP-10.
Choose a comfortable volume that’s right for you, and avoid listening at a high or uncomfortable level for extended periods. Yamaha warns against this in the P-145BT/P-143BT manual.
According to ACM ConsuWijzer, for a standard online purchase you generally have up to 14 days after delivery to change your mind; check which exceptions and returns terms apply. You’re also entitled to a legal guarantee if the product doesn’t meet reasonable expectations under normal use. A commercial guarantee doesn’t replace your statutory rights, and there’s no fixed statutory guarantee period for every product in the Netherlands.
