You can change the settings by pressing just one "GRAND PIANO / FUNCTION" button: by pressing and holding it, you can select tones, play demo tunes, set the speed of the metronome and much more.
AC power only (no battery power).
Playing the Yamaha P-45 piano is as similar as possible to playing an acoustic instrument thanks to the Graded Hammer Standard (GHS) keyboard implemented here. And the AWM (Advanced Wave Memory) tone generator recreates the original sound.
Type Graded hammer standard (GHS) keyboard, 88 keys
Hard, medium, soft, fixed
64
10 tones
AC
2 x 6 W
Headphones out, Pedal jack, USB-port
132.6 x 29.5 x 15.4 cm
11.5 kg
1 year
Built-in Bluetooth allows you to synchronise the piano with a smartphone or tablet to stream songs from your music library or from training applications. You also get a 3-month subscription to the Skoove Online Learning Platform.
Some commonly used options take a bit of scrolling through the menu.
Roland electronic pianos are highly regarded among professional musicians for their chic sound quality, and this model is no exception: the 128-note polyphony can accurately reproduce the sounds of Chapel Organ, Accordion, Flute, Trombone, Drums etc.
Full-sized piano-style keyboard, 61 keys
Hard, medium, soft, fixed
128
40 tones
AC or 6 x "AA" batteries
2 x 2.5 W
Headphones out, AUX-in, Pedal jack, USB-port
87.7 x 27.1 x 8.2 cm
3.9 kg
1 year
The unique Dance Music Mode is a functional tool for creating tracks: 100 standard and 50 Dance Music rhythms (including House, Hip-Hop and EDM), as well as original sound effects, make you feel like a composer.
Built-in speakers have a relatively low volume.
If you do not have experience playing the piano, but want to learn the basics as soon as possible, we recommend choosing this model. The full-sized piano-style keyboard with Key Lighting System makes learning incredibly simple and intuitive.
Full-sized piano-style keyboard with key lighting system, 61 keys
Medium, soft, fixed
48
400 tones
AC or 6 x "AA" batteries
2 x 2 W
Headphones out, AUX-in, Microphone in, Pedal jack
94.6 x 30.7 x 9.2 cm
3.6 kg
1 year
The 2 built-in speakers have a total power of 20 watts, so you can organise musical performances for relatives and friends without the need for external speakers. By the way, there are 2 x RCA outs for audio output.
Limited variety of tones.
The Alesis Recital includes 88 responsive keys and will be especially useful for those who are learning to play the piano with a tutor: Lesson mode divides the keyboard into 2 areas with the same pitch and voice so that you can follow the teacher’s lead and repeat or play along with them.
Full-sized piano-style keyboard, 88 keys
Hard, medium, soft, fixed
128
5 tones
AC or 6 x "D" batteries
2 x 10 W
Headphones out, AUX-in, 2 x RCA audio out, Pedal jack, USB-port
128.3 x 29.3 x 9.1 cm
7.1 kg
1 year
The device can operate either from a power outlet (power adapter included) or from 6 x "AA" batteries, which will be enough for a long time of active use of the piano. 16 volume levels and a headphone jack allow you to learn to play without disturbing anyone.
There is no way to adjust the sensitivity of the keys.
If your child has an increased interest in music and you are looking for an inexpensive instrument for them, then the RockJam Piano keyboard will be an ideal option. This entry-level device will help your kid understand if playing the piano will become their serious passion for many years.
Full-sized piano-style keyboard, 49 keys
Not adjustable
40
10 tones
AC or 6 x "AA" batteries
2 x 4 W
Headphones out
69.8 x 23.5 x 8.4 cm
1.66 kg
2 years
Close to Acoustic
A common complaint that many musicians make against electronic instruments is that they sound too artificial, not really replicating the nuances of acoustic instruments, especially in playing hard or soft notes. This complaint is fully understood by Yamaha, and has been fully accounted for in the Yamaha P-45B Digital Piano. Playing the Yamaha P-45 piano is as similar as possible to playing an acoustic instrument thanks to the Graded Hammer Standard (GHS) keyboard implemented here. And the AWM (Advanced Wave Memory) tone generator recreates the original sound. That means that pressing softly on a key will replicate the playing of a soft note, and pressing hard will replicate the playing of a hard note, giving you a full range of control over the sound of your projects.
This can all be done on this full-sized 88 key keyboard, providing a full piano width with matte finish black keys, and giving you the full range of notes playable on any standard piano. Also, thanks to the Duo function, you can split the keyboard into two separate but identical zones, letting another person play alongside you for a proper duet. This feature is especially great for students who are being tutored by a teacher, letting them both play simultaneously on the same keyboard.
Easy Settings
This electric piano offers plenty of other features besides the Duo function. For instance, changing the settings of this piano simply couldn't be any easier. You can change the settings by pressing just one "GRAND PIANO / FUNCTION" button: by pressing and holding it, you can select tones, play demo tunes, set the speed of the metronome and much more. This lets you concentrate more on your musical creations rather than on the functions of the piano.
Speaking of the extra functionality, there is plenty here on offer. This piano provides 10 stereo sampled voices along with a range of instruments, with a total polyphony of up to 64 voices. This is an astounding range that will let you compose a complete symphonic masterpiece with just one instrument. You can even combine two voices into one in order to create a more versatile sound if you wish.
The keyboard itself has a slim design that is highly portable, and should fit comfortably on any full-sized keyboard stand. Included is a USB port that lets you connect the keyboard to your computer for use with music composition software. Please note, however, that despite the portable nature of the keyboard, it is only powered through an AC adapter, as no battery compartment is included. However, anyone who doesn't find this to be a problem will certainly love all of the other features and capabilities of this digital piano from Yamaha.
Additional Info
| Last updated price | £366.00 |
| Stock | In stock |
| ASIN | B00UBJ4L32 |
Exceptional Sound Quality
The sound quality of a digital piano is probably one of the single most important characteristics of any model. As such, you will be pleased to hear that Roland electronic pianos are highly regarded among professional musicians for their chic sound quality, and this model is no exception: the 128-note polyphony of the Roland GO-61P Digital Piano can accurately reproduce the sounds of Chapel Organ, Accordion, Flute, Trombone, Drums etc. Essentially, using this digital piano gives you access to a wide range of instruments, all of which can be used together to create an orchestral masterpiece.
This can all be done on this 61 key portable keyboard that has full-sized keys for easy playing. The key travel of this keyboard is just as good as with any other keyboard, including a full piano, and allows for easy but distinctive key presses with a fully expressive touch response, meaning that the amount of force used on the keys indicated how hard or soft the note is to be played. This gives you dynamic range of sounds that can be used in your compositions. Likewise, the keyboard sensitivity can also be set to a fixed level if you don't wish to use such tonal expressions in your playing, so you can adjust it to be however you wish.
Highly Portable
One of the best aspects of this keyboard is in its high degree of portability. The keyboard itself is rather slim and lightweight, which makes it quite easy to transport, while still being sturdy enough to not feel fragile. With options to use it with both AC power and on battery power (6 AA batteries required, not included), you can use this keyboard virtually anywhere you go. The same characteristics that give it such portability also make it quite easy to store away when not in use, so those who have little free space in their homes will be able to store it quite easily in order to free up space.
Of course, this upright piano has a lot more to offer than its portability. You get a wide variety of ports on this model, including connectors for headphone jacks as well as an AUX input for other devices. There is even an input for a peddle if you wish to use one with this keyboard. Furthermore, the built-in Bluetooth allows you to synchronize the piano with a smartphone or tablet to stream songs from your music library or from training applications. You also get a 3-month subscription to the Skoove Online Learning Platform, a great bargain for beginning musicians. Whether you are a beginner or a professional, this excellent keyboard from Roland will give you everything you need to create and play at your best.
Additional Info
| Last updated price | £222.00 |
| Stock | In stock |
| ASIN | B01MS4980F |
Best Digital Piano for Beginners...
Not everyone looking for a digital piano is a maestro. Many are just looking to get started with playing a musical instrument, and a digital piano is a great model for getting started on. This is especially true of the Casio LK-265AD Full Size Key-Lighting Keyboard. If you do not have experience playing the piano, but want to learn the basics as soon as possible, we recommend choosing this model. The full-sized piano-style keyboard with Key Lighting System makes learning incredibly simple and intuitive, thanks to a number of innovative features that are geared towards helping people learn how to play a keyboard.
To start with, this keyboard has a 61 key layout that gives beginners and masters alike a full range of notes to use. For beginners especially, a number of features are built-in to the keyboard that help teach the basics of playing, including the Voice Fingering Guide. The Step-Up Lesson System helps beginners through the basics, with lessons moving from the simplest of pieces to more complex as the user's level increases. A Lesson Lite system is also included for small mini-lessons that are easier to complete in a short time. All of these features are aided by the Key Lighting System, which lights individual keys along with the lessons in order to help beginners find them easily. You simply couldn't ask for a more user-friendly lesson system for beginners.
...And For Professionals
Although this keyboard has a great number of features intended for helping beginners learn how to play, this model is not simply limited to such a demographic. In fact, this keyboard has a wide number of features that make it ideal for professionals as well. For instance, the unique Dance Music Mode is a functional tool for creating tracks: 100 standard and 50 Dance Music rhythms (including House, Hip-Hop and EDM), as well as original sound effects will give you more than enough tools at your disposal for creating the best dance tracks imaginable.
Along with this feature, this keyboard contains many of the same features found on other high-end models. The keys are all touch-sensitive, letting you play notes hard or soft based on the sensitivity of the key presses. This works with the hundreds of tones that are built-in to the keyboard, giving you a wide variety of sounds to use in your compositions. The standard array of ports are also present, including ones for headphones, auxiliary input, and a pedal jack. The keyboard can even connect to a mobile device through the Chordana Play app, letting you download and play songs. The only nitpick here is that the built-in speakers have a rather low volume, but those who have external speakers to connect to shouldn't find this to be an issue. In the end, this model from Casio is not only the perfect digital piano for beginners, but a great model for the advanced pianist as well.
Additional Info
| Last updated price | $0.00 |
| Stock | May be out of stock |
| ASIN | B071WLY4NJ |
Full Sized Keyboard
Many of the digital piano models available don't have a full-sized keyboard included, often opting for fewer keys for the sake of portability. While this is fine for some users, many others need or want all of the keys available. That is exactly what you get with the Alesis Recital 88-Key Beginner Digital Piano. This model includes 88 responsive keys and will be especially useful for those who are learning to play the piano with a tutor: Lesson mode divides the keyboard into 2 areas with the same pitch and voice so that you can follow the teacher’s lead and repeat or play along with them, or even for two equally skilled players to play a duet together, something that simply isn't possible on smaller keyboards.
Along with the full allotment of keys, you also get five separate voices, including both acoustic and electric piano voices as well as an organ voice, bass, and synth, as well as plenty of built-in effects, including chorus and reverb. There is even a 128 note polyphony, the largest range of all of the keyboards presented in this review. The keys are also touch-sensitive, playing your notes loudly or softly based on the pressure exerted on the keys, so there are plenty of tools here for the budding musician.
Powerful Speakers
Many digital pianos are known for having rather weak speakers, often requiring connecting to more powerful speakers when used in a performance. Not so for this model. The 2 built-in speakers have a total power of 20 watts, so you can organise musical performances for relatives and friends without the need for external speakers. By the way, there are 2 x RCA outs for audio output in case you do need to connect to more powerful speakers, so this keyboard will have all of your bases covered on that front.
All of the standard ports are included on this keyboard. Along with the aforementioned RCA outputs, you also have a headphone jack for using headphones when you don't want to disturb others, an auxiliary input for a microphone or another audio input device, a pedal jack, and a USB connector for connecting your keyboard to a computer or another device. The keyboard is powered by both an AC adapter as well as 6 AA batteries (not included), so you have the option of playing this keyboard wherever you want, even if there is no power socket available. As a nice bonus, a music rest is also included for holding sheet music, something that is often missing from other models. Even though this budget piano is limited in the number of tones in comparison to some other models, those who don't need such a selection will find this to be a superior model in every other aspect.
Additional Info
| Last updated price | £209.99 |
| Stock | In stock |
| ASIN | B01DZXE9NC |
Bargain Keyboard for Beginners
Not everyone needs a professional level digital piano, especially when the keyboard is to be primarily used by a beginner who is just learning how to play. The manufacturers of the RockJam RJ549 49-Key Portable Digital Piano know this, and have geared this product towards these same people while providing it at a very affordable price. If your child has an increased interest in music and you are looking for an inexpensive instrument for them, then the RockJam Piano keyboard will be an ideal option. This entry-level device will help your kid understand if playing the piano will become their serious passion for many years.
Many of the features of this keyboard are geared towards beginners. For example, key note stickers are included that show the notes played by each key, letting a beginner easily come to grips with quickly finding and playing individual notes. Furthermore, these stickers are easy to both install and remove, as they can be very easily peeled off without leaving any sticky residue behind. The keyboard can even interface with the Simply Piano app for tablets, giving your children an intuitive teaching tool that will help them quickly learn how to play a variety of different songs.
Great Range of Effects
Although this model is geared towards beginners, that doesn't mean it leaves out many of the advanced features found on more expensive models. In fact, the number of features it has is quite surprising given the low price of this model. For instance. this keyboard includes 10 built-in tones that model a variety of musical instruments, including both string and wind instruments, giving you a virtual orchestra to choose from. There are also 10 built-in rhythms, ranging from a waltz to rock and roll, giving beginning composers a great starting point for creating their own masterpieces. There is even a range of demo songs and percussion effects that will let you create your own rhythm if you so desire.
When you do create your own compositions, the keyboard includes a 40 note record and playback feature for saving your short tunes for later use. About the only thing missing from this digital keyboard is a sensitivity function for the keys, although this will hardly be missed by any beginners who are just learning how to play. The 49-key piano gives beginners plenty of notes to use, though, and the portability of this unit includes the ability to run on both AC power and 6 AA batteries. In short, if you are a beginner who needs the basics plus some extra features to help in learning how to play, this model will be exactly what you need.
Additional Info
| Last updated price | £55.00 |
| Stock | In stock |
| ASIN | B07F8KF4LC |
What Is a Digital Piano?
A digital piano is an electronic instrument that is fully capable of replacing a traditional acoustic piano. Thanks to the weighted or semi-weighted keyboard infused with hammer action technology, the keys boast superb playability, realistic feel, and enhanced sensitivity. .Just like in the conventional pianos, the natural weighting of keys recreates a varying degree of touch sensitivity, from heavier to lighter in the lower and higher registers. The high-quality digital pianos from the leading manufacturers are capable of reproducing the sounds of the world’s best classical instruments. The cutting-edge sound technology enables the most accurate and realistic reproduction of sound. Thus, the digital piano offers an impressive playability and performance of a real acoustic instrument, yet with smaller dimensions, weight, and price of a digital analog.
In our review, we have selected the best digital piano models available on the market from top world producers that offer a truly fantastic value for the price. We believe, that anyone from a beginning musician to a professional music veteran will absolutely enjoy playing on this high-end innovative musical equipment.
If you are infatuated with music and know how to play not only percussion but also string instruments, then you can easily master ukuleles, which in turn can complement the evening rest at the campfire with pleasant live tunes. Well, for guitarists to improve their professional skills it might be worthwhile to purchase a new model of modern electric guitars.
What Features to Compare
The Number of Keys
The size of the digital piano keyboard is one of the main features that can affect the quality of your practice and performance. The full-sized keyboard should have 88 keys that cover the conventional range of all seven octaves. The model with a full keyboard will allow real professionals to reproduce any musical composition without running out of keys. There are options available with fewer keys, coming all the way down to as little as 25-key piano to a more popular model with 61 keys. Perhaps, kids could start learning to play the piano on small-range instruments. Yet, sooner or later you will have to update the instrument even for your little musical enthusiast.
Key Material
The texture and feel of the key surface are also important. In some individual models, the manufacturers imitated the material of best in the world keyboards featured on the classical instruments. If you intend to practice for long hours, the keys can get slippery which would ultimately affect your performance. Hence, you may wish to consider if the keys have a special coating that absorbs moisture or prevents slippage, which is most suitable and beneficial for long play. Go for the models, that look and feel almost as good as the world’s best classical grand pianos.
Key Weighting
The keys have the same weight, feel, and sensitivity as the acoustic instrument. The key action mechanism of the digital keyboard must also be able to simulate the response of the acoustic instrument. Due to this, the keyboard of the digital instrument should be furnished with a weighted hammer-action technology that simulates the workings of the authentic hammer & string mechanism. Traditionally, when pressing a key on the acoustic piano, you set into action the hammers that hit the strings, thus producing a real acoustic piano sound. In the digital version, the built-in sensors and hammer-action technology imitate the touch and feel of the traditional mechanism. Note, that better quality models offer fully-weighted keys with incredible touch sensitivity when the sound intensity depends on the strength of your stroke. Although more pricey than semi-weighted keyboards, they will help you enjoy superior playing experience and performance.
Maximum Polyphony
The piano polyphony denotes the maximum number of notes the instrument is capable of producing at a time. Generally speaking, the more notes, the more professional the instrument is. The piano polyphony can range from as low as 1 note and all the way up to incredible 256-note polyphony (probably, just a clever marketing gimmick).
Sound and Amplification Systems
In a digital piano, the sound and amplification systems are one of the most important things to consider, since they ultimately determine how authentically your instrument will sound as well as affect the quality of your performance and music you play.
FAQ:
Q: Why do I need to care about polyphony?
A: For instance, a kids’ piano with a minimum possible polyphony of 1 will not be able to produce a three-note chord. Chances are, you will hear only one of them. If you are a newbie in music and like doing your math, you may wonder how is it possible that the piano with 88 keys in total can produce more notes than that? Why would it even make any sense to press all the keys at the same time? Hint: that’s definitely not the way it works. Just remember that digital pianos just like the acoustic analog are usually furnished with one or few pedals. Thus, any player has a possibility to sustain quite an impressive run up of notes with the help of a pedal. 64-note polyphony may prematurely cut off the sound of the older notes or not play the new ones. Hence, 128-note polyphony range is advisable.
Q: Which piano should I better get a real acoustic one or a digital replica?
A: There is no single answer to this question, as there are individual preferences, financial or other constraints, and a bunch of other factors that can all influence your decision. However, we can help you make up your mind by pointing out some pros and cons to digital and acoustic pianos.
- The most important one is a Cost Factor. Digital piano offers a lot more than an ordinary acoustic instrument and at the same time is a lot more affordable. A decent average acoustic piano may come at around 3K, while more refined brands may offer entry level instruments from 10K and above. On the other hand, you may get a substantially cheaper digital alternative at a bargain price of1K (or even lower) without sacrificing on sound, feel, or performance.
- Think about a world of possibilities that such digital instrument can offer. What an average acoustic piano does best is it feels and sounds exactly like a mid-range acoustic piano. As for the digital piano, it can not only feel and sound like the world’s best classical grand piano, but also reproduce a range of other sounds, including various flavors of other acoustic or electric pianos, strings, organs, or even a harpsichord.
- What if you become more active, creative, and productive at the night time? Trust me, your neighbors (or let alone family members) will not be pleased if your inspiration strikes in the middle of the night and you feel that overwhelming urge to speak the language of music or express yourself with the help of your instrument. Even if you mute the sound of your acoustic piano with the help of the pedal, it might still be loud and reverberating enough to disturb the peaceful and quiet sleep of your family members. On the contrary, the digital piano not only allows you to control the volume without compromising the sound quality but also connect your headphones and become the only witness of your performance. With a digital piano, you are free to play the night away till the wake of dawn!
- If you have not settled down yet, plan to reallocate in the future, and hence cannot afford to purchase too bulky and heavy objects and put the roots down just yet, and still, you are desperately willing to purchase yourself a quality instrument, then portable and space saving digital piano will be a very wise investment.
Q: How long can a digital piano last?
A: We all know that if properly maintained the acoustic pianos are built to last for ages.This could be the family inheritance that is passed down from one generation to the next. However, if you haven’t been lucky enough to inherit such musical instrument from your grandparents you are free to start the tradition yourself with one of the digital pianos from our review. With good care and no heavy abuse, these high-quality models from top world manufacturers are certainly designed to last for many decades to come.
Q: Does a digital piano require any maintenance?
A: As we all know, the acoustic piano needs special care and maintenance. To sound at its best, there is a number of maintenance procedures to improve or restore the sound and appearance of the instrument, including tuning, voicing, regulation, restoration, and rebuilding. Fortunately, the digital piano requires none of them. Unless you have a small kid, who loves banging the keys on every suitable occasion and eventually destroys some of them, no repairs should be needed.
The only thing you need to do is to protect the keyboard from dust and cover it with a key lid. Use a clean, damp, soft cloth to clean the keyboard. You may even apply some alcohol to wipe the keys if you remove excess moisture afterward with a dry cloth.
Sources:
1. Digital Piano Buying Guide, eBay. March 10, 2016.
2. DIGITAL PIANO BUYERS GUIDE, Sam Ash Music Stores. January 26, 2016.
3. How to Choose Between Digital or Acoustic Piano, wikiHow.
4. How to Buy a Digital Piano, wikiHow.
5. How to Play the Piano, wikiHow.
6. Keyboard Buying Guide, Best Buy.
7. Digital piano, Wikipedia. April 4, 2017.
8. Electric Piano, Wikipedia. June 15, 2017.
9. Electronic Piano, Wikipedia. December 23, 2017.