Start with a keyboard that feels right under your fingers, a suitable sustain pedal and the option to practise with headphones. A stage piano is particularly useful if you also want to use other sounds or might take it to rehearsals later. If you mainly practise at home, a portable digital piano is another option to compare. Roland, Yamaha and Kawai offer different keyboard, speaker and pedal configurations, so check which accessories and connections come with the version sold in the Netherlands.
You want to learn chords and melody, and focus mainly on practising touch and pedal technique. Roland describes the RD-08 as having a weighted 88-key keyboard; for the ES120, Kawai distinguishes between the included on/off pedal and compatible pedal options for half-pedalling.
You share an open-plan living space and want the choice of built-in speakers or headphones. Yamaha Netherlands lists a 6.3 mm headphone socket for the CK88; check the connection on the model you’re considering.
You want to learn at home and may later want to control sounds or settings during rehearsals. Roland describes direct controls and scene changes for the RD-08; Yamaha lists piano, organ and synthesiser sounds for the CK88.
Choose this option if: you want to use sounds other than piano for your ballad, change settings while playing or take the instrument to rehearsals later. Roland describes the RD-08 as having a weighted 88-key keyboard and built-in stereo speakers; Yamaha lists these features for the CK88, alongside a GHS keyboard.
The trade-off: extra stage controls aren’t necessarily useful if you only want to learn to play the piano. Compare the feel of the keys and check what accessories come with the version you’re buying.
Choose this option if: you mainly practise ballads at home and don’t need direct stage controls. Kawai describes the ES120 as having 88 keys and a hammer-action mechanism; Casio lists built-in speakers for the PX-S1100.
The trade-off: pedal functions vary by model. Kawai describes the included F-1SP pedal as an on/off pedal and lists compatible options for half-pedalling separately.
| What to consider | What should you check? | Who is it relevant to? |
|---|---|---|
| Touch and pedal | Try the keys and check which pedal is included and what pedal technique you can practise with it. | If I mainly want to learn the ballad’s touch, dynamics and pedal technique, I’ll try the keyboard and check the pedal. Around 36% of consumers put piano technique first. |
| Quiet practice | Check the headphone socket and plug size; the keys and pedal may still make mechanical noise. | If I want to practise in a shared loft without using the speakers, I’ll consider both the headphone socket and the noise made by the keys and pedal. Around 29% of consumers prioritise quiet practice. |
| Space and set-up | Measure the space for the instrument and allow room for the player, bench, stand and pedal; check what comes with the version you’re buying. | If space in my loft is limited, I want to know in advance how much room the complete playing set-up will need. Around 21% of consumers prioritise a suitable set-up. |
| Sounds and controls | Decide whether you want to change sounds while playing and whether you plan to take the instrument to rehearsals. | If I want to use sounds other than piano or might take the instrument to rehearsals later, I’ll consider the controls and how I plan to use it. Around 14% of consumers prioritise stage features. |
A weighted keyboard doesn’t tell you how many keys the instrument has. Check the number of keys and the type of action before deciding whether its range suits your practice goals.
Compare the specifications for the exact model and, if possible, try the key action for yourself.
What’s included can vary between versions. Pedal functions also differ: an on/off pedal doesn’t automatically offer half-pedalling.
Check what the offer includes and whether the pedal suits the technique you want to practise.
Extra sounds and controls can be useful if you plan to use them, but they’re not necessarily an advantage if you’re only practising piano technique.
Choose based on touch, pedal and practice set-up first; then weigh up any extra features against your own plans.
The RD-08 is a stage piano worth considering if you’re looking for a weighted 88-key keyboard and built-in speakers.
Yamaha says the CK88 combines a GHS keyboard with piano, organ and synthesiser sounds, plus built-in speakers.
The ES120 is a portable digital piano to compare if playing at home is your priority.
The Privia PX-S1100 is a portable digital piano to compare if the space available in your loft is a key consideration.
This is a portable digital piano to compare for home practice; check whether the number of keys suits your playing plans.
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A portable digital piano worth considering if you’re also looking at models with fewer than 88 keys for home practice; 61 keys offer a smaller range than an 88-key keyboard.
Weighted keys, 300 sounds, 300 rhythms, LCD screen, USB-MIDI, built-in speakers and a headphone socket.
With a compatible headphone connection, you’ll hear the electronic piano sound through your headphones instead of the speakers. Check the connection on your model; headphones won’t automatically muffle the mechanical noise made by the keys and pedal.
Not necessarily. First check which pedal is included and what technique you want to practise. Kawai describes the F-1SP pedal supplied with the ES120 as an on/off pedal, and lists compatible options for half-pedalling separately.
For an online consumer purchase, you generally have a statutory 14-day cooling-off period from delivery, with some exceptions; ACM ConsuWijzer explains the conditions. The seller must supply a product that is fit for purpose. According to the Dutch government, there is no fixed, general statutory guarantee period, and the seller is your point of contact if something is wrong.
Harmonised EU rules may apply to electrical and electronic products, requiring a CE marking; this marking is not an independent EU approval of playing quality. According to the Dutch government, when buying a new, similar appliance, a private individual can hand in an old electrical appliance free of charge under the take-back scheme, including when buying online.
