Start by checking the range of your exercises: a 61-key keyboard may be enough if it covers all the notes you need, while 76 keys give you more room to play. Yamaha lists 76 keys and a split function for the PSR-EW320. Also check whether a learning function supports your chosen pattern and whether the complete setup will fit in your spare room.
You want to play the part with your left hand and check that the lowest notes, any right-hand part and your preferred sound split all fit within the keyboard’s range. Yamaha and Korg provide model specifications that let you check these details for each version.
You want to listen through a suitable headphone socket in the spare room, without assuming that this will make the keys and playing movements silent. Yamaha and Korg list the socket for their specific models.
You’re looking for left-hand guidance or accompaniment to practise your timing, and want to know whether a feature helps you learn notes or adds music automatically. Yamaha and Casio describe practice features for built-in songs; check that these suit the material you’re practising.
First check that your exercises fit within the keyboard’s range, then compare the practice features, headphone socket and space required.
| What to consider | What to look for when buying | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Key range and playing the part yourself | Compare the lowest and highest notes in your exercises with the range of the exact version. Yamaha lists 61 keys for the PSR-E383 and 76 for the PSR-EW320. | If I want to play all the notes myself, my pattern needs to fit on the keyboard. Around 33% of consumers put key range first. |
| Quiet practice | Check whether the model has a headphone output and whether the plug fits. Bear in mind that the keys and playing movements may still be audible. Yamaha lists a standard stereo socket for the PSR-EW320; Korg lists a 3.5 mm headphone socket for the EK-50. | If I want to practise in a shared home without using the built-in speakers, the socket matters. Around 27% of consumers prioritise quiet practice. |
| Fitting it in the spare room | Measure the available width and depth, and leave room for your playing position and a stand if needed. Casio lists dimensions of 930 × 256 × 73 mm for the CT-S300; Yamaha gives the PSR-EW320’s width as 1.148 mm. | If I want to move or put away the keyboard after practising, the complete setup needs to fit in the room. Around 20% of consumers put fitting it in the room first. |
| Learning and accompaniment options | Distinguish between note guidance, a split function for different sounds and automatic accompaniment. Yamaha describes left-hand lessons with built-in songs for the EZ-310; Korg lists a split function and accompaniment styles for the EK-50. | If I want to learn step by step or set up different sounds, the feature needs to suit my way of practising. Around 20% of consumers prioritise learning support or accompaniment. |
Touch sensitivity changes how a key responds to the way you play it, but it doesn’t add keys or missing low notes. Yamaha lists 61 keys for the PSR-E383 and 76 for the PSR-EW320.
First check the notes in your exercises, then compare the touch sensitivity and other features of the exact version.
The socket varies by model: Korg lists a 3.5 mm headphone socket for the EK-50, while Yamaha lists a standard stereo socket for the PSR-EW320.
Compare the socket on the exact model with the one on your headphones and check whether you’ll need a suitable adapter.
Accompaniment can add music, while you may want to play the notes yourself when practising a left-hand pattern.
Check separately what the split function and automatic accompaniment do, then choose according to what you want to practise yourself.
The stated model dimensions describe the instrument, not the whole playing area in your spare room.
Measure the depth too, and allow room to sit and play, as well as for any accessories.
Yamaha describes models with different key ranges and practice features, including lessons for left-hand parts using built-in songs.
Casio describes the CT-S300 as compact and touch-sensitive, and the LK-S450 as having light-up keys and practice options for built-in songs.
Korg lists 61 touch-sensitive keys, a split button and accompaniment styles for the EK-50.
No. Korg lists both a split button and accompaniment styles for the EK-50. Check which feature gives the left hand its own sound and which adds accompaniment, so you can choose the one that suits your practice.
Choose a built-in song that suits your level. Yamaha describes lessons for the left hand, right hand or both hands on the EZ-310. If you want to use a pattern of your own, check whether the same teaching method is available for it.
Check that the specific electronic device carries the required CE marking. The Dutch government states that electronic devices placed on the market in the EU must have a CE marking; this guide doesn’t confirm that any individual listing meets this requirement.
When you buy from a business at a distance, you’ll usually have a 14-day cooling-off period, although there are exceptions. If a product is faulty, the seller in the Netherlands must provide a solution; there is no fixed time limit for the statutory guarantee. The Dutch government explains these consumer rules.
