If your main aim is to practise blues chords, choose a standalone keyboard and check the headphone socket, touch response and practice features on the specific model. If you also want to improvise with rhythm and accompaniment, compare how the accompaniment styles are controlled, and check the connections, power supply and any extra items you may need.
You want to practise chord changes while other people are at home, so you’re looking for headphone use and a comfortable listening volume that you can adjust. Casio describes headphone use for the CT-S300; Thuisarts advises keeping the volume at a sensible level.
You want to learn the recurring 12-bar form and the I, IV and V chords, with support from lessons, a metronome or a rhythm, for example. Yamaha describes lesson functions for the PSR-E383; Berklee PULSE covers the I, IV and V chords in the blues progression.
You want to improvise over your own chord changes while automatic accompaniment plays along. Yamaha describes automatic accompaniment as a feature of keyboards with Styles.
First, consider how you want to practise quietly and which features you need to learn chords and timing. Then see whether an accompaniment style suits the way you want to play along.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Practising quietly | Check the headphone socket on the specific model, whether your plug will fit and whether headphones are included. | If I want to practise at home without using the built-in speakers, I need to know whether my headphones will connect and whether I can set the volume comfortably. Around 40% of consumers prioritise quiet practice. |
| Learning chords and timing | Compare the touch response and check which lesson or metronome features the model has. Yamaha lists lesson functions for the PSR-E383; Casio describes a metronome in the CT-S300 manual. | If I’m learning the 12-bar form and chord changes, I want to practise them slowly and keep track of my timing. Around 40% of consumers prioritise learning chord changes. |
| Playing along with accompaniment | Check how you control chords, tempo and variations, and whether an available style suits your practice. | If I want to improvise over my own chord changes, I’m looking for accompaniment that I can control to suit my needs. Around 20% of consumers prioritise playing along with accompaniment. |
The Casio CT-S300 manual states that headphones are sold separately. According to Korg, the EK-50 has a 3.5 mm stereo headphone socket.
Check what’s included with the specific offer and compare the plug with the socket before you order.
You may need to buy compatible headphones or a plug adapter separately.
The number of styles doesn’t tell you whether you’ll find the pattern, tempo and chord controls you want for your practice.
Check which styles are available and how to change chords yourself. Practise the progression without accompaniment, too.
The keyboards mentioned are described as having touch response; that doesn’t mean they have the same key action as a digital piano.
If the feel of the keys matters to you, try the keyboard and check the key action listed for the specific model.
The PSR-E383 is one option for anyone looking for lesson features, touch response and automatic accompaniment in a single keyboard.
The CT-S300 is a compact option for practising and storage at home.
The EK-50 is an option for players who want to control variations in automatic accompaniment.
The GO:KEYS 3 is another option for players who want to create their own chord progressions and improvise with accompaniment.
Start by practising the recurring 12-bar form slowly, using the I, IV and V chords. Berklee PULSE describes these chords in the blues progression. You can use a metronome, then add accompaniment once you can manage the changes yourself.
No. Keep the listening volume comfortable and not too high. Thuisarts advises, among other things, using the volume limiter on headphones or earphones.
Compare your headphone plug with the socket on the specific keyboard, and check which power supply and accessories are included with the model on offer. For example, Korg lists a 3.5 mm headphone socket and a mains adapter included with the EK-50; this doesn’t tell you anything about other models.
According to the Dutch government, products are covered by a statutory guarantee, but the Netherlands does not have a fixed statutory guarantee period. For distance purchases from a business, a 14-day cooling-off period applies in many cases, with some exceptions. Check the information provided with your order.
