For left-hand accompaniment at home, a portable digital piano is often all you need if you’re mainly practising timing, touch and playing together. A more advanced stage piano is worth considering if you also need zones, external sounds or studio integration. Choose according to the way you practise, and check which audio and MIDI connections your recording setup requires if you’re considering a more advanced model. The features mentioned are based on published model specifications, not on an independent playing test.
You want to combine left-hand rhythms and bass or chord patterns with your right-hand playing. A metronome, responsive keys and possibly a split function may be important. Yamaha lists a metronome and split function for the P-225; Kawai lists a split function for the ES120.
You want to connect your piano to a computer and perhaps control different sounds with your left and right hands. Check which zones and audio and MIDI connections the exact model offers. Roland lists three zones and a built-in USB audio/MIDI interface for the RD-88 EX.
You practise in a shared living space or at a small desk. Check whether the headphone sockets, available space, stand and pedal suit your setup. Kawai lists two headphone sockets for the ES120.
First, decide whether you mainly want to practise your own left-hand part or also use different sounds and software in your studio. The features you’ll actually use matter more than a long list of stage sounds.
| What to consider | What to look for when buying | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Left-hand patterns and timing | Check for a metronome, whether the split point is adjustable, and whether you can record and listen back to parts in the way you want. Yamaha lists a metronome, split function and two-track MIDI recording for the P-225; Kawai lists a split function and drum rhythms for the ES120. | I want to practise tempo and playing together with focus, and hear the hands using different sounds if needed. Around 33% of consumers give focused accompaniment practice top priority. |
| Touch and dynamics | Try repeated chords and soft bass notes on the exact model. Compare the key response in the mode you’ll practise in; specifications alone can’t tell you which feel is right for you. | If I want precise control over my left-hand movements and dynamics, I want to try the keyboard itself. Around 27% of consumers put touch control first. |
| Connecting to a home studio | Decide whether you want to record MIDI, instrument audio or both, and check which signals each model sends via USB. Roland lists USB audio/MIDI for the RD-88 EX; Nord lists MIDI via USB for the Piano 6. | I want to combine my piano with software or other sound sources, so I need to know which signals my recording setup requires. Around 20% of consumers name studio integration as their top priority. |
| Quiet practice and setup | Check the headphone sockets and dimensions, and see which items are included with the offer. Yamaha gives the P-225’s dimensions as 1.326 × 129 × 272 mm without the music rest; Kawai lists two headphone sockets for the ES120. | I want to practise quietly at home and fit the instrument, stand and pedal into the space available. Around 20% of consumers prioritise practical, quiet placement. |
Automatic accompaniment plays a backing part; that’s not the same as learning to play a bass or chord pattern yourself.
Decide whether you want to hear a rhythmic backing part or practise the left-hand part yourself. Casio lists rhythms and automatic accompaniment for the PX-S3100.
Roland lists USB audio/MIDI for the RD-88 EX, while Nord specifies MIDI via USB for the Piano 6. These descriptions don’t confirm that the models offer the same audio-recording capabilities.
Note whether you want to record MIDI, audible instrument audio or both, then check the connections on the exact model. Depending on your setup, you may also need audio equipment or cables.
The piano’s dimensions don’t tell you how much space the complete setup with a stand and pedal will take up.
Measure the space available with the components you plan to use, and check the manual and the contents of the specific offer. The stand, pedal or headphones may vary depending on the offer.
The P-225 is a portable digital piano with practice features for home use.
The RD-88 EX is aimed at players who want to use zones and computer integration alongside piano sounds.
The ES120 is a portable option for home practice, with a split function, rhythms and separate headphone connections.
The PX-S3100 is worth considering if you want to use rhythms and automatic accompaniment as well as playing accompaniment yourself.
The Piano 6 is a performance option if multiple sound layers and splits are part of your playing or studio setup.
No, not if you want to play with the same piano sound in both hands. If, for example, you want to use a different sound in your left hand, check whether the exact model has a split function and an adjustable split point that suits you. Yamaha lists a split function for the P-225, as does Kawai for the ES120.
It depends on the signal you want to record. Roland lists a USB audio/MIDI interface for the RD-88 EX; Nord lists MIDI via USB for the Piano 6. Before buying, check whether you want to record MIDI notes, instrument audio or both, and what connection route the model you’ve chosen offers.
Follow the manual for the exact model for power and connections, and allow for the complete setup, including the stand and pedal. Yamaha notes in its manual that the power requirements, among other details, are shown on or near the rating plate.
According to ACM ConsuWijzer, for a standard online consumer purchase you generally have 14 days from delivery to change your mind; there are exceptions. If the product breaks or doesn’t meet what you could reasonably expect, the seller is responsible for the statutory guarantee. The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets states that there is no fixed statutory guarantee period in the Netherlands.
