For practising major scales in a converted loft, a compact 61-key keyboard is a good fit if you’re looking for a smaller set-up and touch sensitivity. A digital piano with 88 keys is a better choice if a piano-style touch and a wider range matter more. Check the range of notes your exercises require, measure the space you’ll need for seating and sheet music, and make sure the connections and accessories suit how you plan to use the instrument. Headphones reduce the sound of the instrument, but they won’t eliminate the physical noise of the keys.
You share the building with other people and want a suitable headphone connection, without assuming that headphones will prevent all noise. Roland and Korg describe headphone use for their models; the Dutch government advises people dealing with noise from neighbours to try agreeing arrangements together first.
As well as playing the right notes, you want to practise with a piano-style touch, so you’re comparing the type of keyboard and its range. Yamaha, Roland and Korg describe different key and keyboard designs for the models mentioned.
You’re comparing the instrument’s dimensions and weight, while also making sure you have a stable place to play. Casio and Korg publish model specifications that you can compare with the space available in your loft.
Choose this if: your exercises fit within its range and you want a shorter instrument that’s easier to place or store.
Bear in mind: it has a narrower range than an 88-key model. Touch sensitivity doesn’t automatically mean it has a weighted piano keyboard.
Choose this if: you want to practise piano technique or scales across a wider range and have enough room to set it up.
Bear in mind: keyboards vary by model. The Roland FP-10 has a PHA-4 Standard keyboard, while the Korg Liano has an LS keyboard.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Quiet practice | Check the headphone socket and make sure you have a compatible plug. Bear in mind that some key noise may remain, and consider any arrangements for your home. | I want to practise without the instrument’s sound carrying unnecessarily through the shared building; around 33% of consumers say quiet practice is their top buying priority. |
| Key range and touch | Compare the number of octaves and the notes you need for your learning materials, and decide whether you’re looking for a piano-style touch. | I want the feel and range of the keyboard to suit my scale or piano lessons; around 27% of consumers prioritise a piano-style touch and range. |
| Fitting and storage | Measure the width and depth of the set-up, including space for seating and a sheet music holder if needed. | I need to set up or store the instrument in a limited loft space; around 20% of consumers say set-up and moving the instrument are their main considerations. |
| Practice support | Check whether the model has a metronome or the practice features you’re looking for. | I want to practise keeping a steady tempo on my own and would benefit from suitable practice features; around 20% of consumers put this kind of support first. |
Manufacturers describe different keyboards for models including the Yamaha PSR-E383, Roland FP-10 and Korg Liano. Touch sensitivity alone doesn’t mean an instrument feels the same to play as a weighted piano keyboard.
Choose a keyboard type to suit your learning goals and, if possible, try the touch for yourself before deciding.
If you later find that you need a piano-style touch, you may need a different instrument.
The stated dimensions of the casing don’t account for the entire playing space. The dimensions given for the Korg Liano exclude the sheet music holder.
Measure the available space in your loft, allowing room for seating and sheet music if needed, before choosing a 61- or 88-key model.
Headphones change how you hear the instrument, but that doesn’t mean the physical sound of the keys will be inaudible or that you no longer need to agree arrangements about noise.
Check the connection, try out the set-up and, if necessary, agree arrangements with housemates or neighbours. The Dutch government advises people dealing with noise from neighbours to try agreeing arrangements together first.
The PSR-E383 is a 61-key keyboard to consider if you’re looking for a standalone keyboard with learning features.
The CT-S300 is worth comparing if dimensions and weight are important for your loft set-up.
The FP-10 is a digital piano option for anyone who wants to practise with 88 keys and a piano-style touch.
The Liano has 88 touch-sensitive keys and may suit you if you’re looking for the full key range in a relatively lightweight instrument.
A Joybuy option for practising on 61 keys, with a headphone socket.
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An option if you’re looking for 61 keys and a headphone socket for practising in a shared home.
The product details list a weighted keyboard, a metronome and USB-MIDI. The product name also mentions 300 tones, 300 rhythms, an LCD screen, speakers and a music stand.
It depends on the number of octaves and the lowest and highest notes in your exercises. Yamaha describes scale exercises covering different numbers of octaves, so compare your learning materials with the range of the instrument you’re considering.
Start by working out the notes and fingering, then practise slowly. You can use a metronome afterwards if you like. Yamaha presents this as practice advice, not a set tempo that every learner must follow.
Compare the model’s dimensions with the space available, allowing room for seating and sheet music. Korg gives the Liano’s dimensions excluding the sheet music holder and lists a pedal switch as included. Check what comes with the version you choose.
For a consumer purchase in the Netherlands, the seller must put a faulty product right. According to the Dutch government, there is no fixed statutory guarantee period for all products in the Netherlands; a manufacturer’s guarantee does not replace your statutory rights.
No. The European Commission explains that a CE marking is not an individual safety approval from the EU. Whether a specific product listing and its power adapter meet the applicable requirements must be assessed for each product.
