Practising quietly at home
You share your home and want to practise hymn parts while other people are in. Both the headphone socket and the sound of the keys and stand in the room will affect your choice.
Who is this guide for?
Learning melodies and chords
You’re looking for a piano or organ sound and want to be able to put the instrument away after practising, as long as its range suits the parts you play.
Practising full parts
You play written parts for both hands and are weighing up the range and key action against the storage space available and any accompaniment features.
What should you look for?
| What to consider | What to look for | Who is this most relevant for? |
|---|---|---|
| Noise for people you live with | Check the headphone socket and the plug you’ll need. Also listen to see whether the keys and stand can still be heard; the Dutch government advises making arrangements when noise could disturb neighbours. | If I practise at home while others are in, I want to listen through headphones without assuming that they’ll silence the mechanical sound of the keys. Around 26% of consumers say limiting noise is their top priority. |
| Piano or organ sound | Listen to the sounds on the exact model and decide which ones suit the hymn parts you play. | If I’m learning a melody or chord part, I want a sound that suits what I’m practising. Around 21% of consumers say finding the right hymn sound is their top priority. |
| Storage at home | Measure the space where you’ll play and store the instrument, including room for the music rest and a seat. Weight matters if you’ll be moving it often. | If I need to put the keyboard away after practising, I want to know whether the whole instrument will fit in my home. Around 21% of consumers put easy storage first. |
| Chord accompaniment | Check how the model recognises chords and whether its accompaniment features suit the way you practise. | If I want to practise chord changes with an accompaniment pattern, I’m looking for features that support this. Around 16% of consumers say accompaniment is their top priority. |
| Range and key action | Compare the lowest and highest notes in your sheet music with the keyboard’s range. Try weighted keys if you’re focusing on piano practice. | If I play full written parts, I want to know whether every note fits on the keyboard and whether its key action suits what I’m practising. Around 16% of consumers put a full piano range first. |
Common mistakes when choosing
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Choosing based only on the number of keys
The number of keys and the action vary by model. A shorter keyboard may not cover some notes in your parts, while more keys don’t automatically mean a weighted piano action.
Compare a few of your parts with the instrument’s range, and try a key action that suits what you want to practise.
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Assuming headphones mean complete silence
Headphones affect what you hear, but they don’t mean the keys or stand will be inaudible to other people in your home. Local arrangements and rules may also apply.
Check the connection and setup, and agree practice times with the people you live with if needed.
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Assuming accessories from the same range will fit
Accessories can vary by model. For example, Roland says that the CB-GO61KP bag isn’t compatible with the GO:KEYS 3; Korg says that pedals for the EK-50 are sold separately.
Before buying, check the full model name, accessory compatibility and what’s included in the package.
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Confusing automatic accompaniment with the part you’re practising
Accompaniment styles respond to chords, but they won’t play your own written left-hand part for you.
Choose accompaniment if you want to use it to practise chords or tempo. Otherwise, prioritise a suitable range, sound and key action.
Brands and models compared
Yamaha
The PSR-E383 and PSR-EW320 are keyboard options with accompaniment, while the P-145 is designed for piano playing with weighted keys.
- Yamaha describes the PSR-E383 as offering piano and organ sounds and touch-sensitive keys. For the PSR-EW320, Yamaha lists 76 keys and a headphone output.
- Yamaha specifies an 88-key weighted GHC keyboard for the P-145 and describes practising with headphones.
- According to Yamaha, the PSR-EW320 is 1.148 mm wide. The P-145’s weighted keyboard is designed for a different kind of practice from organ-style keys; the optional LP-5A pedal unit isn’t included as standard.
- Check which headphone connection you’ll need for the exact PSR-E383 version.
Casio
The CT-S300 is a touch-sensitive keyboard to consider if you’ll be moving or storing the instrument regularly.
- Casio lists the CT-S300 as 930 mm wide and weighing 3,3 kg, and specifies touch response.
- Before choosing it for private practice, check which headphone plug the exact version requires.
Korg
The EK-50 combines a 61-key keyboard with accompaniment styles controlled by chords.
- Korg specifies touch-sensitive keys and a 3,5mm headphone socket for the EK-50.
- Korg lists the EK-50 as 994 mm wide and weighing 7,5 kg without the music rest or batteries. Compatible pedals are sold separately, and the EK-50 doesn’t support half-pedalling.
Roland
The GO:KEYS 3 is a 61-key option if you want to practise hymn parts alongside chord-controlled accompaniment.
- Roland describes automatic accompaniment controlled with the left hand.
- Check that the sounds and connections suit what you want to practise. An accessory for another GO:KEYS model won’t necessarily be compatible with the GO:KEYS 3.
Joybuy products
These Joybuy products are 61-key keyboards for hymn parts that fall within that range, and their product descriptions list a headphone socket. Check the connection and CE marking on the exact version, and make sure its range suits your sheet music.
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MLS-931 digital piano, 61 keys, black
Worth considering for hymn parts that fit within a 61-key range and if you want to listen through headphones.
The product name mentions weighted keys. The product description lists 300 sounds, 300 rhythms and a headphone socket.
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Electronic keyboard, 61 keys, black
Worth considering for hymn parts that fit within a 61-key range and if you want to use headphones while practising.
The product description lists 500 sounds, 300 rhythms, a recording function, a headphone socket, a metronome and a music stand.
Frequently asked questions
How can I tell whether 61 keys are enough for my hymns?
Compare the lowest and highest written notes in the parts you actually want to learn with the range of the exact instrument. For example, Yamaha specifies 76 keys for the PSR-EW320 and 88 for the P-145; the number of keys alone won’t tell you whether your parts will fit.
Can I always play whenever I want if I use headphones?
Headphones let you listen without using the built-in speakers as your sound source, but they don’t guarantee that the keys or setup will be inaudible. Agree arrangements with the people you live with; the Dutch government says that neighbour nuisance may be covered by local authority by-laws in many municipalities.
Do I need to buy a pedal or stand for practising?
That depends on the parts you play and the version you choose. Korg says that the EK-50 comes with a music rest and that pedals are sold separately; Yamaha lists the LP-5A triple-pedal unit for the P-145 as optional. Check what’s included in the package and whether accessories are compatible before ordering.
Is there one nationwide time limit for playing a keyboard in a flat?
The rules that apply can vary by local authority and property. The Dutch government says that neighbour nuisance may be covered by local authority by-laws in many municipalities and advises making arrangements, so check your local authority’s rules and the arrangements for your home.
What should I check for product safety?
Check the applicable CE marking and product information for the specific electronic instrument. The Dutch government says that electronic devices on the EU market must have a CE marking; this general rule doesn’t automatically confirm the features of an individual listing.