Start with the keyboard: try playing successive notes at both a slow and a faster pace to see whether they respond evenly. Then choose a piano to suit how you practise. A compatible sustain pedal helps with legato, while the headphone and audio connections determine how you can use the piano in a shared rehearsal space; a lighter model may offer fewer connection options.
You practise broken chords at tempo and want the keys to respond predictably whether you play softly or firmly. Yamaha and Roland describe the keyboards on their models; try the feel for yourself, as manufacturers' descriptions are not an independent comparison.
You want to join notes smoothly without chords running into one another, so you’re looking for a compatible sustain pedal. Yamaha Music explains how a pedal can keep notes sounding after you lift your fingers from the keys.
Sometimes you practise with headphones and sometimes through a sound system. Your choice depends on the connections on the exact model and how often you plan to transport the piano; Roland, Casio and Kawai describe a range of connection options.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Touch and key range | Try the same passage softly and firmly, slowly and at a faster pace. Check that the number of keys suits the music you practise. | I want to be able to control successive notes at different touch strengths. Around 33% of consumers put an even touch first. |
| Sustain pedal | Check which pedal is included, whether it is compatible with the model and what functions it offers. | If I want to join notes without them unintentionally overlapping when I change chords, I need a pedal I can control precisely. Around 27% of consumers put pedal control first. |
| Transport and set-up | Compare the weight of the piano itself and check that the power supply and stand are suitable for the rehearsal space. | I regularly take my piano with me and want to know in advance what else I’ll need to carry and set up. Around 20% of consumers put portability first. |
| Headphones and studio audio | Check whether the headphone and audio connections are separate or share a socket, and make sure your cables are compatible with the studio equipment. | When I switch between quiet practice and playing through a sound system, the connections need to work for both. Around 20% of consumers prioritise practising in shared spaces or through amplification. |
That description doesn’t tell you whether the key range and touch will feel right for the passages you play. A 61-key model has a more limited range than an 88-key keyboard.
Check the number of keys and, if possible, try playing repeated broken chords on the model you’re considering.
What’s included varies by model and bundle; an additional pedal may be optional.
Compare the contents of the bundle on offer with the pedal compatibility of the exact model.
According to Casio, the Casio CDP-S110BK has a combined PHONES/OUTPUT socket. This is not the same as a separate studio output.
Check the connections on the exact model and ask the rehearsal space what equipment and cables are available.
The P-145 is a compact model with 88 GHC keys, designed for piano playing and a portable set-up.
According to Roland, the FP-30X has an 88-key PHA-4 Standard keyboard and connections for headphones and external powered speakers.
According to Casio, the CDP-S110BK has 88 Scaled Hammer Action Keyboard II keys and is designed for a compact set-up.
Kawai describes the ES120 as a portable piano with a weighted keyboard, headphone sockets and separate stereo Line-Out connections.
These Joybuy products have 61 keys and are designed for practising with a more limited key range. Check whether that range is sufficient for the broken chords you play; if you need the full piano range, consider an 88-key model.
Image unavailable
The headphone socket lets you practise quietly; check that the limited key range suits your repertoire.
61 keys; weighted keyboard; headphone socket.
Image unavailable
This model may suit headphone practice if 61 keys are enough for the passages you play.
61 keys; MIDI; metronome, sustain effect and recording function.
No, you can practise broken chords without a pedal. A compatible sustain or damper pedal lets notes continue sounding after you release the keys. Release it in good time to avoid unwanted overlap, and check which pedal is compatible with the piano.
First decide whether you want to practise with headphones or through external equipment. Roland lists separate audio outputs for the FP-30X, and Kawai lists stereo Line-Out connections for the ES120; Casio describes a combined PHONES/OUTPUT socket on the CDP-S110BK. Check the connections on the exact model and agree with the studio which cables you’ll need.
It depends on the range of the passages you practise. A 61-key model has a more limited range than an 88-key piano, so check that your music fits within it.
Electronic devices sold on the EU market must meet the applicable safety requirements and, where required, carry the CE marking. The Dutch government emphasises that a brand name or general model specification does not prove that the specific product on offer meets those requirements.
For a standard online consumer purchase, you generally have a statutory cooling-off period of up to 14 days after delivery, according to ACM ConsuWijzer. There are exceptions, for example for a product made to your specifications; check the terms that apply to your specific order.
