Choose a digital piano that lets you follow sheet music clearly and has a key range and touch that suit what you’re practising; a music stand and metronome can help. If you practise with headphones, check how many headphone sockets it has and set the volume to a comfortable, low level. A portable model may need a separate stand or pedal, while a cabinet-style model takes up more permanent space.
You want to practise often without the piano sound filling the room. Being able to use headphones and adjust the volume comfortably is important. Headphones won’t automatically block out the mechanical sound of the keys and pedals.
You want to follow the notes on a music stand, practise in time and choose a touch that suits your lessons. Check that the key range is suitable for the pieces you play; ABRSM offers additional sight-reading resources.
You’re choosing between a portable piano with a separate set-up and a cabinet-style model that can stay in place. The dimensions and the accessories included with your chosen version determine how much space you’ll need.
Start with your top priority: listening without speakers, following sheet music, the keyboard touch or a complete set-up.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Quiet listening | Check the number and type of headphone sockets on the exact version. Yamaha says the P-145 is suitable for headphone use. VeiligheidNL warns that listening at high volumes can damage your hearing, so start with the volume low. | When I practise in a shared home, I want to hear the piano through headphones and keep the volume comfortably low. Around 36% of consumers say quiet listening is their top priority. |
| Sheet music and tempo | Try your own sheet music on the music stand while seated at the piano. Check whether the exact model has a metronome and how to use it. | I want to follow the notes clearly and practise passages at a chosen tempo. Around 29% of consumers say practising sight-reading is their top priority. |
| Key range and touch | Compare the range of your repertoire with the keyboard, and try the touch for yourself. Yamaha lists 88 weighted GHC keys for the P-145; this is not an independent assessment of how it feels to play. | I want the key range and touch to suit the pieces I’m practising. Around 21% of consumers say piano-style touch is their top priority. |
| Space and set-up | Measure the space for the piano, bench and sheet music. Check whether a stand and pedal are included with each version; Yamaha lists the LP-5A pedal unit for the P-145 as an optional extra. | I want a set-up that fits my available practice space, including the accessories I need. Around 14% of consumers say space for their set-up is their top priority. |
A stand or pedal may be an optional extra with a portable model. Korg, by contrast, lists a stand and pedals for the LP-380U. So compare the exact version and measure the space you’ll need for the bench and sheet music too.
Before buying, check which accessories are actually included with your chosen version. You may need to buy a suitable stand or pedal separately.
A portable model may need a separate stand or pedal, so allow for the extra accessories and the space required for your set-up.
The number of sockets varies by model. Two outputs are especially useful if you want to listen alongside someone, such as a teacher.
Check the number and type of sockets on the exact version, and make sure both headphone plugs will fit.
With headphones, you hear the piano through them instead of through the speakers, but the sound of the keys and pedals may still be audible in the room.
Try the piano where you plan to practise and start with the listening volume set low.
These brands have models or product ranges to suit different practice set-ups. The features listed apply to the models described, not automatically to every product from that brand.
The P-145 is a portable option for piano practice without a permanent cabinet.
The FP-30X is a portable option if two people want to listen through headphones at the same time.
The ES120 is a portable piano with two headphone sockets and separate audio outputs.
The LP-380U is a cabinet-style model for a permanent practice spot.
The European Privia PX-S7000 range is an option if an integrated stand and pedal unit suit your permanent set-up.
These Joybuy products are 61-key keyboards with features that may suit practising with sheet music and headphones. Check that the key range is suitable for your repertoire.
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An option for practising with sheet music and headphones, if a 61-key keyboard suits your repertoire.
61 keys; headphone socket; metronome and music stand; USB-MIDI.
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An option for practising with sheet music if you’re looking for a weighted keyboard and 61 keys are enough for your repertoire.
61 keys; weighted keyboard; headphone socket; metronome and music stand; MIDI controller.
No, headphones don’t automatically make practice completely silent. You hear the piano through the headphones instead of the speakers, but the sound of the keys and pedals may still be audible. Keep the listening volume low; VeiligheidNL warns that listening at high volumes can damage your hearing.
No, special built-in lessons aren’t an essential feature of a piano. Start with sheet music that matches your level and check that you can read it clearly from your seat. ABRSM offers additional practice resources for recognising musical features and patterns.
Before connecting the instrument, check the power supply and adapter specified for that particular model. The Kawai ES120 manual specifies the required mains voltage and warns you to keep the instrument dry and not to use a damaged cable; check the manual for other models separately.
According to ACM ConsuWijzer, the retailer is responsible if a product used normally doesn’t meet the expectations you were entitled to have. Your statutory rights are separate from any manufacturer’s warranty, and there isn’t one fixed statutory warranty period for every piano. For an ordinary product bought online, you generally have up to 14 days after delivery to change your mind, subject to statutory exceptions.
Not in every case: a CE mark is required when the applicable EU rules specify it for that product. Check which product rules apply to the particular piano and the power supply provided with it. The European Commission explains when CE marking is required.
