First, choose a keyboard that accommodates the lowest and highest notes in your arpeggios. A 61-key model may be enough if your exercises stay within that range, while 76 or 88 keys give you more range. Then consider the keyboard type and the space you have available. A touch-sensitive keyboard isn’t necessarily a piano-style hammer-action keyboard, and a headphone socket won’t stop you hearing the keys being pressed.
You want to play with both hands or across several registers without running out of keys. Compare the lowest and highest notes in your exercises with the available keys. Yamaha and Korg specify models with a range of key counts.
You want to practise even repetitions and variations in touch. Compare the metronome, touch sensitivity and exact keyboard type separately, as reflected in the specifications from Yamaha, Korg and Roland.
You need room for the instrument, music stand and seat, and may want to listen through headphones. Compare the space needed for the full set-up and check the model’s connection options. Korg, Yamaha and Roland list headphone options for specific versions.
A good fit if: your exercises fit within 61 keys and you prioritise limited set-up or storage space.
Bear in mind: it has a smaller range than a 76- or 88-key model; touch sensitivity alone doesn’t mean it has hammer action.
A good fit if: 61 keys aren’t enough, but you don’t need the full range of 88 keys. Yamaha specifies 76 touch-sensitive keys and a width of 1.148 mm for the PSR-EW320.
Bear in mind: Yamaha describes the PSR-EW320’s keyboard as organ-style, so don’t automatically compare it with a piano-style hammer-action keyboard.
A good fit if: you want the full range and a lightweight, easy-to-move instrument is important. Korg specifies 88 touch-sensitive LS keys, a metronome and a headphone socket for the Liano.
Bear in mind: Korg lists the Liano as 1.282 mm wide; the dimensions don’t include the music stand.
A good fit if: you want to practise arpeggios with a piano-style touch and have enough space. Yamaha specifies a GHC keyboard for the P-145, while Roland lists a PHA-4 Standard keyboard for the FP-10.
Bear in mind: Yamaha lists the P-145 as 1.326 mm wide. This product specification isn’t an independent comparison of how the keyboard feels to play.
| What to consider | What to check before buying | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Key range | Note down the lowest and highest notes in a few exercises and check that they all fit on the keyboard. | If I play with both hands across several registers, I don’t want any notes to fall outside the keyboard’s range. Range is the top priority for around 31% of consumers. |
| Timing and touch | Check whether the model has a metronome and the touch response you want; compare the exact keyboard type. | If you want to practise even repetitions and variations in touch, there’s more to consider than the number of sounds. Around 25% of consumers put timing and touch first. |
| Space for your set-up | Measure the available width and depth, allowing for the music stand and seat. Check which dimensions refer to the instrument itself. | If I have a fixed, small space for practising, I want to know whether the instrument and playing set-up will fit together. Space is the top priority for around 25% of consumers. |
| Listening through headphones | Check the connection on the exact version and whether your headphones will fit without an extra adapter. | In a shared space, I want to listen through headphones without assuming this will silence the keys themselves. Around 19% of consumers prioritise quiet practice above all else. |
Yamaha lists automatic arpeggio types for the PSR-E383. That doesn’t tell you how well you can practise your own finger movements or timing on the instrument.
If you want to practise manually, start by looking for a suitable key range, touch response and a useful tempo reference.
The models reviewed have different keyboard types, including organ-style, LS, GHC and PHA-4 Standard. Touch sensitivity alone doesn’t tell you how the keys will feel.
Compare the keyboard type on the exact version and, if possible, try the same exercise on the models you’re considering.
Korg lists the Liano’s dimensions without the music stand. You’ll also need space for the stand and the player to create a complete playing area.
Measure the whole set-up and check which items are included with the version before you buy.
The models reviewed offer a variety of key counts and keyboard types.
The CT-S300 reviewed is a compact Casiotone option if you’re considering a keyboard with fewer keys.
The Liano is an 88-key option with an LS keyboard, metronome and headphone socket.
The FP-10 is an 88-key option in this selection, with a PHA-4 Standard keyboard.
These Joybuy picks are 61-key models for arpeggios whose lowest and highest notes fall within that range.
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This 61-key model suits exercises where all the notes fall within its range.
The product name specifies weighted keys; if the feel of the keys is important to you, check which keyboard type this version has.
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This 61-key model is an option if your arpeggios fit within its range.
The product name lists a metronome and music stand; check which items are included with this version.
No, not if all the notes in your exercises fit within a smaller keyboard’s range. Check the highest and lowest notes against the range: Yamaha specifies models with 61 and 76 keys, among others, while Korg lists 88 keys for the Liano.
Measure the space for the instrument, music stand and seat before you choose. Korg lists the Liano’s dimensions without the music stand, so don’t assume that space is included in the stated measurements.
Check whether the power supply, music stand, stand, pedal and headphones are included with the version you’re buying. Korg lists an adapter, music stand and pedal switch as included with the Liano; check which other accessories are sold separately.
According to the Dutch government, when you buy at a distance you usually have a 14-day cooling-off period; check which exceptions apply to your purchase. The Netherlands has no fixed statutory guarantee period: you’re entitled to a product that works properly, depending on what you can reasonably expect from it.
