Choose a compact, touch-sensitive keyboard if your exercises fit within 61 keys and space or portability matters to you. A digital piano with 88 weighted keys is a better fit if you want to practise piano-style playing or pieces with a wider range, but it needs more room to set up. With either option, check the headphone socket, the space needed for the complete setup and which accessories are included. Using headphones does not automatically make your playing inaudible to others.
Practises in the attic, where noise may be a concern for housemates or neighbours, and wants to check the headphone socket and practice setup. The Dutch government advises people to try agreeing arrangements when noise may disturb neighbours.
Wants to practise arpeggios with weighted keys and the full piano range, provided there is room for a longer instrument. Yamaha and Roland describe models with 88 keys and a piano-focused keyboard.
Needs an instrument that fits in the available space and may need to be moved, without losing sight of the keys and connections they need.
Choose this option: if you practise arpeggios within the range of 61 keys and want to move the instrument regularly.
Bear in mind: 61 touch-sensitive keyboard keys are not the same as 88 weighted piano keys.
Choose this option: if you want to practise piano-style playing or pieces with a wider range, and have enough space.
Bear in mind: allow room for the instrument and the complete setup, and check which pedals are included with your chosen version.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who should prioritise this? |
|---|---|---|
| Sound while practising | Check the headphone socket on the exact model and, if needed, agree practice times with housemates or neighbours. | I want to practise with headphones while being considerate of others in or around the house. Around 33% of consumers in this situation put sound during practice first. |
| Key range and touch | Compare the lowest and highest notes in your exercises with the instrument’s range; also consider whether you need weighted piano keys. | I want to know whether my exercises fit the keyboard and whether I also want to practise piano-style playing. Around 27% of consumers in this situation make range and touch their top priority. |
| Available space | Measure the space and access route, including room for a stand, stool and music rest. | I need to fit the instrument in the attic and don’t want to overlook the space needed to play. Around 20% of consumers in this situation put available space first. |
| Practice features and version | Check which practice features, power supply, music rest and pedals are included with the exact model or bundle. | I want to practise independently with helpful features and know in advance which accessories will suit my setup. Around 20% of consumers in this situation put practice features and the version first. |
Headphones let you listen without using the speakers, but that alone does not mean others will hear nothing. The Dutch government advises people to try agreeing arrangements first if noise is disturbing neighbours.
Check the socket on the exact model and, if needed, agree when you’ll practise.
A large selection of instrument sounds does not tell you whether the keyboard covers all the notes in your exercises. Yamaha specifies that the PSR-E383 is a 61-key keyboard; that is a different option from a digital piano with 88 weighted keys.
First compare the lowest and highest notes you need, then look at extra sounds and features.
Accessories vary by model and version. Korg says that a damper pedal is included with the B2+, while the STB1 stand and PU-2 pedal unit are sold separately. Yamaha lists the LP-5A console for the P-145 as optional.
Check what comes with your chosen version before planning your setup.
If a stand or pedal unit is sold separately, you may not be able to create your preferred setup straight away with the basic version.
These examples from Yamaha include both a 61-key keyboard with practice features and portable digital pianos with 88 keys.
The CT-S1BK is a compact keyboard, while the CDP-S110BK is a slim, piano-focused option.
The FP-10 is a portable digital piano with an 88-key, piano-focused keyboard.
The B2+ is an 88-key digital piano with specified connections and accessories.
This selection focuses on compact 61-key instruments for practising arpeggios. Check that the range covers the notes you want to play.
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Suitable for practice within the range of 61 keys; check that the lowest and highest notes in your exercises are covered.
The product information lists touch-sensitive keys, a metronome and a headphone socket. Headphones do not guarantee that your playing will be inaudible to housemates or neighbours.
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Worth considering if your exercises fit within 61 keys and you want to use a metronome while practising.
The product information lists a metronome, music stand and headphone socket. Check that the 61-key range suits your exercises; a headphone socket does not mean that others will hear nothing.
Find the lowest and highest notes in the exercises you want to play, then compare them with the range of the exact model. A 61-key keyboard may suit exercises within that range; an instrument with 88 keys offers a wider range for pieces that span more notes.
Measure the usable space and access route, allowing room for your playing position, stand and music rest. The dimensions Korg gives for the B2+ exclude the music rest, so measure the complete setup too.
No. Don’t assume that just because there is a headphone socket. The Dutch government advises people to agree arrangements first if noise is disturbing neighbours, for example by deciding when music can be played.
According to ACM ConsuWijzer, online purchases generally come with a statutory cooling-off period of up to 14 days after delivery; check which exceptions apply. The product must also meet what you could reasonably expect under normal use.
According to the Dutch government, electronic devices offered for sale in the EU must carry the applicable CE marking. The European Commission explains that this marking is the manufacturer’s declaration that the product meets the relevant EU requirements; CE is not an independent performance test.
