Who is this choice relevant to?

Pianists working on their touch

You practise scales, repeated notes or dynamics and want to know how the keyboard responds. Try the keys for yourself: a keyboard type on paper won’t tell you exactly how it feels under your fingers.

Home players with other people in the house

You want to practise in a spare room without having to use the speakers all the time. Look for a headphone socket, and bear in mind that the keys or pedals may also make mechanical noise.

Players sharing a practice space

You want to create a practical place to play without permanently setting up the spare room. Measure the space for the instrument, stand, bench and seating; performance features only matter if you’ll use them too.

What should you consider when choosing?

Portable digital piano

Choose this option if: you mainly practise piano technique at home and want an instrument to play through speakers or headphones.

The trade-off: check that the key action suits your exercises and whether the pedal and stand are included or need to be bought separately.

Stage piano

Choose this option if: you’ll also use the instrument for performances or layering sounds. Roland lists three sound zones for the RD-88 EX.

The trade-off: extra performance features aren’t automatically necessary for finger exercises; don’t take the name to mean it has a better practice keyboard.

What to consider What to check when buying Who is this important to?
Key action for exercises Check the keyboard type and try soft notes, repeated notes and scales across the keyboard. If I mainly want to practise my technique, I want to feel whether the key action suits the way I play. Around 36% of consumers prioritise key action for finger exercises.
Quiet practice at home Check for a headphone socket and test how much noise the keys and pedal make. When other people are nearby, I want to listen to the electronic piano sound through headphones. Around 29% of consumers prioritise being able to practise privately.
Space and setup Measure the space needed for the instrument, stand, bench and seating together. If the spare room has more than one purpose, I want to know in advance whether there’s room for a practical place to play. Around 21% of consumers prioritise space and setup.
At home and on stage Check which performance features you need and whether the instrument also has built-in speakers. If I want to perform as well as practise, I’m looking for features that suit both situations. Around 14% of consumers prioritise use at home and on stage.

Don’t compare keyboards as if their names indicate a quality ranking. Yamaha describes the P-145 as having a GHC keyboard, Roland lists a PHA-4 Standard keyboard for the FP-10, and Casio specifies a Scaled Hammer Action Keyboard II for the CDP-S110. Try the key action for yourself and check the pedal and stand setup for the specific version you’re considering.

Common buying mistakes

  • Assuming a stage piano has a better practice keyboard

    A stage piano may offer performance features, but that alone doesn’t tell you how suitable its key action is for your finger exercises.

    Try the keyboard with the same exercises you plan to do at home, and choose performance features only if you have a specific use for them.

  • Assuming ‘weighted keys’ means a full-size keyboard

    The description of the keyboard type doesn’t tell you how many keys the instrument has. These are two separate features.

    Check both the number of keys and the exact keyboard type of the version you’re considering.

  • Measuring only the instrument

    The stated cabinet depth of the Casio CDP-S110 is 232 mm, but that isn’t the amount of space needed for the complete playing setup.

    Remember to measure the stand, bench, seating position and the space you’ll need to play.

  • Assuming a pedal or console is included

    What’s included can vary by model and version. Yamaha lists the LP-5A three-pedal unit as optional for the P-145; Casio lists an SP-3 damper pedal with the CDP-S110.

    Before buying, check what’s included with the exact version and make sure the pedal is compatible with your intended setup.

Brands to consider

Roland

The FP-10 is a portable digital piano for home use; the RD-88 EX is a stage piano with sound-zone features.

  • According to Roland, the FP-10 has a PHA-4 Standard keyboard, built-in speakers and headphone connectivity. Roland lists three zones and built-in speakers for the RD-88 EX.
  • These specifications don’t prove that the key action or sound is better than that of other brands. Compare them based on your own exercises and how you plan to use the instrument.

Yamaha

Yamaha presents the P-145 as a compact portable digital piano for beginner pianists.

  • Yamaha specifies an 88-key GHC keyboard.
  • The LP-5A three-pedal unit is optional. Yamaha’s description of the playing feel is a manufacturer’s claim; try the key action and check the pedal setup you need.

Casio

The CDP-S110 is a portable digital piano whose cabinet depth may be worth checking if space is tight.

  • Casio specifies 88 keys with Scaled Hammer Action Keyboard II, a cabinet depth of 232 mm, speakers, a PHONES/OUTPUT socket and an SP-3 damper pedal included.
  • The cabinet depth isn’t the amount of space needed for the complete setup. Casio’s description of the playing feel isn’t an independent performance test.

Joybuy products

Related products will be available soon.

Frequently asked questions

Do you need a stage piano for finger exercises?

No, a stage piano isn’t essential for finger exercises. Portable digital pianos can also have weighted 88-key keyboards. Choose a stage piano mainly if you’ll actually use its extra performance features, and try the key action for yourself.

What should you check when setting up in a spare room?

Measure the space for both the instrument and playing area, including the stand, bench and seating. Also check whether the pedal you want is included with that version and whether the setup suits the way you plan to practise.

Does practising with headphones make the piano silent for other people?

No, headphones block the electronic piano sound from reaching other listeners, but the keys and pedals may still be audible. Test the complete setup; according to the Government of the Netherlands, rules on nuisance to neighbours may vary by local authority.

How can you tell whether a pedal is included?

Check what’s included with the exact version and whether the pedal suits your setup. Included accessories vary by model: Yamaha lists the LP-5A unit as optional for the P-145, while Casio lists an SP-3 damper pedal for the CDP-S110.