For a short intro featuring different instrument sounds or accompaniment, a compact keyboard is often the better choice. If your piano part needs a wider range or a specific piano-style touch, a portable digital piano may be more suitable. Then compare the range and key action of the exact model, and check that its audio output, power supply and any accessories you need are right for the rehearsal room.
You want to practise an intro using piano, organ or other keyboard sounds, perhaps with automatic accompaniment. Start by looking at the sounds and controls on a standalone keyboard. Yamaha lists these features for the PSR-E383, for example.
You want to hear your intro clearly in the rehearsal room. In this case, how the exact instrument connects to the available audio system matters more than the number of built-in sounds alone.
You’re practising a piano intro where the keyboard range or key action is important. For example, compare an easy-to-play 88-key keyboard with a model featuring hammer action. Yamaha describes the P-145 as having a GHC keyboard.
A good fit if: you’re practising a short intro with different sounds or accompaniment and want to take a compact instrument with you. Yamaha lists 61 touch-sensitive keys and accompaniment Styles for the PSR-E383.
Bear in mind: check that 61 keys cover your part and that the audio output is compatible with the rehearsal room’s equipment.
A good fit if: your intro needs a wider range or you mainly practise piano. According to Korg, the Liano has 88 touch-sensitive keys with a lightweight LS keyboard; the specification consulted is for the US version.
Bear in mind: a lightweight keyboard feels different from hammer action, and an 88-key instrument takes up more space.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who should consider this? |
|---|---|---|
| Sounds and accompaniment | Compare the sounds and any accompaniment patterns on the exact model with what your intro requires. Yamaha lists a range of Voices and automatic accompaniment Styles for the PSR-E383. | If I want to practise my intro with a recognisable instrument sound or accompaniment, I want to be able to select it easily. Around 33% of consumers prioritise sounds and accompaniment. |
| Connections and audibility | Check which inputs are available on the mixer or amplifier in the rehearsal room, then compare them with the instrument’s audio output. Allow for a suitable cable if needed. | If I want to play through the equipment already there, it needs to connect properly. Around 27% of consumers prioritise connectivity and audibility. |
| Transport, space and power | Check the dimensions, weight and power requirements of the version you’re buying, and find out exactly what’s included. | If I take the instrument to rehearsals, I want to know whether I can transport and set it up with the space and power available. Around 20% of consumers put portability and set-up first. |
| Key range and touch | Try out the lowest and highest notes in your part across the instrument’s range. If you’re playing piano, compare the key action too: 88 keys don’t automatically mean the same playing feel. | For a piano part, I want all the notes to fit on the keyboard and the key action to suit what I’m practising. Around 20% of consumers choose primarily based on range and playing feel. |
USB-to-host and an audio output don’t necessarily do the same job. Casio lists USB-to-host for the CT-S300, while Korg specifies a combined headphone and line-out connection for the Liano.
Before buying, compare the output on the exact model with the input on the mixer or amplifier available.
Korg describes the Liano as having a lightweight LS keyboard, while Yamaha lists a GHC keyboard for the P-145. So the same number of keys doesn’t guarantee the same playing feel.
Take your piano part and preferred key action into account, and try the keyboard if possible.
Power supplies, cables, stands and pedals can vary by version or bundle. This is especially important if you want to use the instrument in the rehearsal room straight away.
Check what’s included in the specific offer and what equipment is available in the rehearsal room.
The PSR-E383 is a keyboard with sounds and accompaniment; the P-145 is a portable digital piano with 88 keys.
The CT-S300 is worth considering if you want to take a compact keyboard with touch-sensitive keys to rehearsals.
The Liano is an option if you want 88 keys with a light touch rather than hammer action.
The GO:KEYS 3 range is worth considering if you want to develop an intro with different sounds or accompaniment.
This selection features 61-key instruments for practising song intros, with built-in sounds. Some offers also include a stand, bench or stool. When choosing, check the audio connections and what’s included with the version you’re considering.
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A good fit if you want to practise an intro with different sounds and are looking for a 61-key instrument.
The product description lists a weighted, touch-sensitive keyboard, 300 sounds, 300 rhythms and stereo speakers.
Also listed: a headphone socket, audio inputs and outputs, USB-MIDI and a music stand. Check which audio connection is compatible with the equipment in your rehearsal room.
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A good fit if you’re looking for a compact keyboard with different sounds and rhythms to practise an intro.
The product description lists 500 sounds, 300 rhythms, built-in speakers, audio inputs and outputs, and a headphone socket.
Also listed: dual tone, recording and playback, USB-MIDI, a metronome and a lesson function.
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A good fit if you’re looking for a keyboard set to practise an intro with different sounds and rhythms.
The product title lists 300 tones, 300 rhythms, and a set with a stand and bench.
The product description lists speakers, a headphone socket, audio connections, USB-MIDI and OTG. Check which connection you need for the rehearsal room.
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A good fit if you’re looking for a keyboard with built-in sounds and speakers for practising on your own.
The product title lists 500 sounds, a 3-level learning mode and an LCD screen.
The product description lists dual speakers, an adjustable stool and a mains adaptor. Check which items are included with the version you choose.
No, it depends on the range of your part. According to Yamaha, the Yamaha PSR-E383 has 61 keys; the Korg Liano and Yamaha P-145 have 88 keys, according to their manufacturers. Check that the lowest and highest notes in your intro fall within the range of the keyboard you choose.
First check which input is available on the mixer or amplifier, then compare it with the audio output on the exact instrument. Korg lists a combined headphone and line-out connection for the Liano. The USB-to-host connection listed by Casio for the CT-S300 doesn’t, by itself, tell you whether there’s a suitable analogue connection.
Don’t assume a MIDI controller produces sound on its own. Novation describes the sounds for the Launchkey 25 as being accessed through software on a computer. Check whether you already have a suitable computer with software or another sound source, or choose an instrument that produces its own sounds.
Yes. If you’re buying a new electronic instrument offered for sale in the EU, check that the required product information and CE marking are present. According to the Dutch government, electronic devices placed on the EU market must meet the applicable safety requirements. This alone doesn’t confirm that a particular offer meets them.
For a consumer purchase in the Netherlands, if a product doesn’t work as you could reasonably expect during normal use, the seller must put it right free of charge, for example by repairing or replacing it, according to ACM ConsuWijzer. Keep your proof of purchase and contact the seller. A commercial warranty period doesn’t replace your statutory rights.
