Choose according to the range of your folk tunes and how you want to practise. Touch-sensitive keys are useful if you want to work on melody and dynamics, while automatic accompaniment is suited to practising chords and rhythm. Then check that the dimensions and connections of the exact model will fit your practice studio.
You want to practise pitch, timing and dynamics before moving on to more involved accompaniment. Yamaha and Casio describe the models listed here as having touch-sensitive keys; the Yamaha PSR-E383 also has learning functions.
You want to combine folk tunes with left-hand chords or automatic accompaniment. Yamaha describes automatic accompaniment styles for the PSR-E383, while Korg’s EK-50 has chord-controlled Styles. Check that the styles available suit your repertoire.
You need to be able to position or move the keyboard in the room, or connect it to headphones or studio equipment. Dimensions and connections vary by model; Casio and Korg publish details including dimensions and connections for the keyboards mentioned here.
First check that your melodies fit within the keyboard’s range. Then decide whether you want automatic accompaniment, and finally measure the space available and check which connections you need.
| What to consider | What to look for | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Melody and keyboard range | Compare the lowest and highest notes in your pieces with the keyboard’s range; also check whether the keys are touch-sensitive. | I want to play the notes in my folk tunes and practise dynamics; around 33% of consumers prioritise melody, keyboard range and touch response. |
| Chords and accompaniment | Try the available styles with one of your own melodies and check how the model recognises left-hand chords. | If I want to practise melodies with chords or automatic accompaniment, the accompaniment needs to suit my repertoire; around 27% of consumers prioritise this. |
| Positioning and transport | Measure the available width and depth, including space for a music rest and cables; compare the dimensions and weight of the specific model. | I need to be able to set up the keyboard in my practice room and may need to move it; around 20% of consumers prioritise positioning and transport. |
| Shared use and connections | Check the connection type and plug size, and see whether you need a headphone socket or separate audio outputs. | When sharing a studio, I want to be able to listen privately or connect the keyboard to the equipment properly; around 20% of consumers make shared use and connectivity their main priority. |
A large number of accompaniment styles doesn’t tell you whether the time signature or feel will suit your folk tune.
Before you choose, try representative melodies and chords with the available styles.
Depth, space for a music rest and room for cables all matter too. Dimensions vary by model.
Measure the full space available and compare it with the dimensions of the exact model.
A headphone socket and separate left and right audio outputs are different types of connection.
Check which inputs your studio equipment has and which outputs the keyboard you’re considering offers.
The PSR-E383 is worth comparing if you’re looking for 61 keys, learning functions and Styles; the PSR-EW320 offers 76 keys for parts that need a wider range.
The CT-S300 is a compact option to compare if you regularly set up and put away your keyboard in the practice studio.
The EK-50 is designed for playing with automatic, chord-controlled Styles and has separate audio outputs.
According to Medeli, the MK61 is a 61-key model with rhythms and a built-in learning system.
The GO:KEYS 3 is worth a look if you want to create and repeat your own chord progressions as well as play melodies.
Compare the lowest and highest notes in the pieces you want to learn with the keyboard’s range. If those notes fall outside it, you could consider a keyboard with a wider range, such as the 76-key Yamaha PSR-EW320. Don’t choose based on the number of keys alone.
Yes, if the exact model has a suitable headphone socket. Korg lists a stereo mini-jack headphone output for the EK-50; headphones won’t prevent the keys from making mechanical noise in the room.
Check what’s included in the specific offer and compare it with your set-up. You may need a stand, headphones, suitable cables or batteries, for example. Korg lists an included adapter and music rest for the EK-50, but AA batteries are sold separately. Medeli lists a power supply and music rest as included with the MK61.
Check that the specific model on offer carries the required CE marking. The Dutch Government explains that electrical appliances placed on the EU market must meet the relevant European product safety requirements; a product description in Dutch doesn’t prove that they do.
When you buy as a consumer, the product must meet reasonable expectations. According to the Dutch Government, you should contact the seller if there’s a fault; the Netherlands doesn’t have a fixed statutory two-year guarantee period for every product.
For a standard online consumer purchase, you generally have a 14-day cooling-off period from the date of delivery. ACM ConsuWijzer explains that there are exceptions, so check which terms apply to your specific purchase.
