Pianist practising touch
You repeat minor scales to check your fingering and dynamics. Compare the keyboards and try the action for yourself.
Who is this choice relevant to?
Player who travels between venues
You take your instrument to rehearsals and weigh up how it feels to play against the effort of transporting it and setting everything up.
Player in a shared studio
You want to choose between practising with headphones, listening through the instrument itself or connecting to the studio’s audio equipment.
What should you look for when buying?
| What to consider | What to look for when buying | Who is this important for? |
|---|---|---|
| Touch and fingering | Try the same scale on the instruments you’re considering and check the exact keyboard type. | If your main aim is to practise evenly and with varying touch, how the instrument feels to play comes first; around 33% of consumers rank touch as their top buying priority. |
| Transport and setup | Check the dimensions and weight of the instrument. Also consider which stand, bag and power supply you’ll need for your setup. | If you regularly take the instrument to a rehearsal space, portability and ease of setup matter; around 27% of consumers make transport their top priority. |
| Sound in the studio | Check which connections the exact model has and whether the room has the equipment you need. | If you practise in a shared space, you’ll want to know in advance whether you can use headphones, built-in speakers or the studio’s audio system; around 20% of consumers choose sound options as their main consideration. |
| Tempo and playback | Try using the rhythm or metronome controls and check whether any recording function suits your practice routine. | If you want help keeping time or to listen back to your playing, these practice features may be more relevant than extra stage sounds; around 20% of consumers put practice controls first. |
Pitfalls to avoid
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Assuming a 61-key keyboard is the same as an 88-key stage piano
A 61-key model has a smaller range than the 88-key instruments mentioned here. The term ‘weighted keys’ on its own doesn’t prove that it has the same type of hammer action.
Compare the full model name, number of keys and exact keyboard type before treating instruments as equivalent.
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Assuming every instrument can be heard on its own
Audio setups vary between instruments. A model designed for external audio needs a suitable connection and audio equipment in the studio.
Compare the connections on the exact model with the equipment already available in the room.
If the necessary audio equipment or cabling isn’t available, you may need to arrange it separately.
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Prioritising extra sounds over practice needs
Extra piano, organ and synth sounds aren’t automatically useful if you mainly use the instrument for scales.
First assess the keyboard, controls and listening setup. Give extra sounds more weight if you also want to use them at rehearsals.
Brands to compare
Roland
The RD-88 EX combines a weighted 88-key keyboard with built-in speakers and customisable scenes.
- Roland specifies a PHA-4 hammer-action keyboard and built-in stereo speakers; this combination may suit self-guided practice.
- The specifications can’t tell you how the keyboard will feel to you. Also consider whether you need the extra sounds.
Yamaha
The CK88 combines piano, organ and synth sounds with a weighted 88-key keyboard and built-in speakers.
- Yamaha specifies a GHS keyboard, a headphone socket and line outputs for different listening setups.
- The extra sound sections are only relevant to this practice setup if you’ll use them too.
Nord
The Piano 6 88 is a piano- and stage-focused option for a studio with suitable external audio, or for use with headphones.
- Nord specifies a hammer-action keyboard with triple sensors, piano layers, audio outputs and a headphone output.
- Plan your audio setup in advance. The extra sound layers may be unnecessary if you only practise scales.
Kawai
The ES520 is a portable digital piano to consider if piano-focused practice matters more to you than extensive stage controls.
- Kawai specifies a Responsive Hammer Compact II keyboard and built-in stereo speakers.
- Kawai positions the ES520 as a portable digital piano. Check its connections separately if you want to use it for band rehearsals.
Joybuy products for practice
These Joybuy options are digital pianos and 61-key keyboards for piano-focused practice. Check whether the smaller keyboard range suits the way you practise scales.
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MLS-931 digital piano, 61 keys
An option to compare if you want to practise piano and use a headphone socket or built-in speakers.
The product name lists 61 keys, a weighted keyboard, 300 sounds and 300 rhythms.
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Electronic piano keyboard, 61 keys
May suit you if keeping time or listening back to your playing is important when practising.
The product name lists 61 keys, speakers, a metronome and a recording function.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need lots of built-in sounds for minor scales?
No, you don’t need lots of built-in sounds to practise scales. Start by looking at the keyboard and piano sound; extra organ and synth sounds matter most if you’ll also use them for rehearsals.
How do you set up a stage piano for practising in the studio?
Decide in advance whether you want to listen through headphones, built-in speakers or the room’s audio system. Then check the connections on the exact model and which cables or stand your setup requires.
How can you practise minor scales more evenly?
Choose the scale pattern you want to practise and play at a tempo that lets you check the notes. A rhythm or metronome may suit your approach; also try out any recording function to see whether it’s useful for listening back.
What rights do you have when buying online in the Netherlands?
For online consumer purchases, you generally have 14 days to change your mind from the date of delivery, subject to legal exceptions; ACM ConsuWijzer explains this period. Separately, the seller is responsible for the statutory guarantee if a product doesn’t meet what you could reasonably expect, as explained by the Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets.
What should you check when buying an electrical instrument for the Dutch market?
Check the product information for the exact instrument and its power supply for the relevant safety information. Business.gov.nl explains that electrical and electronic equipment is subject to relevant EU requirements and that manufacturers must prepare the required conformity documentation when the applicable requirements have been met.