Choose a standalone keyboard if you mainly want to practise melodies, chords and accompaniment on an instrument you can move around. If you’re mainly looking to develop your piano technique and reach, compare digital pianos too. For each model, check the headphone socket, how much space it needs and which accessories are included.
You want to practise regularly with housemates or neighbours nearby. Look for a headphone socket and, if necessary, agree practice times; the Dutch government advises trying to reach an agreement with your neighbours first if noise becomes a problem.
You want to learn a melody and play along with chords or accompaniment. Yamaha describes the PSR-E383 as having lesson functions and accompaniment styles; Roland lists chord progressions and accompaniment for the GO:KEYS 3.
When learning the ballad, you mainly want to focus on piano technique and the feel of the keys. Roland describes the FP-10 as having an 88-key PHA-4 Standard keyboard.
Ideal if: you want to learn a pop ballad with melody, chords and accompaniment, and need to be able to move the instrument.
Bear in mind: key size and playing feel vary by model; compact keys are not the same as a weighted piano keyboard.
Ideal if: you mainly want to learn the ballad as a piano piece and are looking for an 88-key piano keyboard.
Bear in mind: check the space required and which accessories are included; a model’s specifications alone won’t tell you how it will sound in your loft.
In a loft, your choice mainly comes down to quieter practice, piano feel, accompaniment and the space available.
| Consideration | What should you check? | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Quieter practice | Check the headphone output and plug size, and whether connecting headphones mutes the speakers. | I want to practise regularly without disturbing housemates or neighbours unnecessarily. Around 33% of consumers give quieter practice top priority. |
| Touch and range | Compare touch response and keyboard type; check that the range suits what you want to learn to play. | If I want to practise the dynamics of a piano part, playing feel matters more than extra sounds. Around 27% of consumers put piano feel first. |
| Melody and chords | See whether the lesson functions and accompaniment suit the way you practise; built-in accompaniment doesn’t mean your ballad is included. | I want to practise step by step or play along with chords. Around 20% of consumers choose accompaniment as their top priority. |
| Setting up and putting away | Measure the space for the instrument and player; also check which items are included with that version. | If I want to put the instrument away after playing, it needs to fit in the space I have available. Around 20% of consumers mainly consider the space needed to set it up. |
Key size and keyboard type vary by model. Alesis describes the Melody 61 Mk 4 as having compact keys, while Roland specifies a different, 88-key piano keyboard for the FP-10.
Compare the key size, touch response and keyboard type of the full model, not just the number of keys.
A headphone socket can mute the built-in speakers, but it doesn’t tell you anything about the agreements or noise rules that apply in your home. Alesis states that the socket on the Melody 61 Mk 4 mutes the speakers.
Check how it works on the exact model and agree practice times if necessary. Rules can vary between local authorities.
A standalone version and a bundle can contain different accessories. For example, Alesis lists different contents for the Melody 61 Mk 4 and its bundle.
Before you order, check the contents of the version on offer, item by item.
You may need to buy headphones, a stand or a stool separately if they aren’t included with the version you choose.
The PSR-E383 is a 61-key keyboard worth comparing if you’re looking for touch response, lesson functions and accompaniment styles.
The CT-S300 is an option worth comparing if both portability and touch response matter to you.
Roland’s models offer different options: the GO:KEYS 3 for chord progressions and accompaniment, and the FP-10 for an 88-key piano keyboard.
The Melody 61 Mk 4 is an entry-level keyboard with built-in speakers, practice features and a headphone output.
No, not if you mainly want to practise melodies, chords and accompaniment; a standalone keyboard may offer the features you need. If you’re mainly looking to develop your piano technique and reach, compare digital pianos too, such as the 88-key Roland FP-10.
Check the connection and plug size for the exact model. Alesis specifies a 1/8-inch headphone output for the Melody 61 Mk 4 that mutes the built-in speakers; don’t assume other models work the same way without checking.
No, the contents vary by version. According to Alesis, the standalone Melody 61 Mk 4 includes a power adapter and music rest, while the bundle described by Alesis also includes items such as headphones, a stand and a stool.
That partly depends on the rules and agreements that apply to your address. The Dutch government points out that local authority rules on neighbour noise can vary and advises agreeing music practice times with your neighbours. Check your local rules and any agreements that apply to your home.
When you buy from a business at a distance, you generally have a 14-day cooling-off period, and the seller must inform you about it, according to the Dutch government. You’re also entitled to a product that works properly; there’s no fixed statutory guarantee period in the Netherlands, and the seller is your point of contact if a product is faulty.
