The piano is a leading musical instrument worldwide due to many reasons. This musical instrument is recognized as the popular integral ingredient that has been effective in characterizing most genres ranging from Jazz to Classical and any other variety that comes in between. The best electric keyboard pianos have a great impact on both live music and recorded thus cannot be understated.
The majority of individuals learn the electric keyboard piano as the first instrument. They also maintain a lifelong passion and interest and use it as a major building block in developing new composition as well as performance skills in other sectors.
This article will take you through the best electrical keyboard pianos, provide you with a buying guide, and answer some of your questions about it.
Top 5 Best Electric Keyboard Pianos on the Market
Benefits of Buying an Electric Keyboard Piano
One of the major benefits of buying an electric keyboard is the additional features that will improve your learning and also make playing more interesting.
Below are the benefits of purchasing an electrical keyboard.
1. Practise with your headphones on
Most electric keyboards allow you to plug in your headphones which is helpful to both the learner and those surrounding him or her.
Apart from avoiding distractions, headphones can also prevent or rather block noise nuisance enabling you to practice freely with maximum concentration.
2. Twin piano mode
Most electrical keyboard pianos boast a twin piano mode that splits the piano into two similar and identical key ranges. This makes it possible for two performers or a teacher and a student to play alongside each other in the same register.
Some models support the connection between two different sets of headphones. This means that the players on the right and left sides can play and listen together in pair mode.
3. Play with different musical sounds
Electric keyboard pianos boast a wide variety of sounds. These musical sounds include strings, electrical pianos of the 80s, harpsichord, and 10 types of piano.
Some electric pianos have synth sounds for maximum versatility. This is advantageous for young children since they like experimenting and also mixing sounds to make their musical experience more exciting.
4. Record your performance
Recording your performance is important when analyzing different aspects of your playing to identify your weaknesses and strengths. The record equipped with the electrical keyboard enables you to playback and pick out any problem that you might notice.
Listening to your recording is an ideal way to resolve problems with melody and timing. An electric keyboard piano lets you transfer your performance to your smartphone or computer and then edit it to print out your score.
5. Develop a sense of rhythm with a click
Timing is a crucial way of playing your piano well. However, it is an issue with beginners since they are still developing their mental memory and muscle and might need to speed up or slow down according to the level of difficulty.
The electric keyboard piano features metronomes that assist you in developing your rhythm as well as timekeeping skills.
Reviews of the 5 Best Electric Keyboard Pianos
1. Best Sale – RockJam 61-Key Keyboard Piano Kit for Starters
Brilliant features
- LCD panel display.
- 100 easy to play rhythms.
- Affordable.
- Sturdy construction.
- IOS and Android compatibility.
- Comes with padded bench.
Watch out for
- 61 keys.
The RockJam 561 electric piano features 61 full sized keys resembling the real piano experience. The piano gives you the traditional piano feel while at the same time maintaining a compact design that can be powered by batteries or mains power.
The better part of it is that it features an LCD panel that engages the 50 tones, 100 rhythms, teaching functions as well as 30 demo songs to its functionality. It also has a record and playback setting that lets you build layers to your sound.
The package comes inclusive of a pair of padded headphones with a 3.5mm connection that works with your piano straight from the package box. The headphones can be adjusted to fit players of all ages and with the extra-long lead, you are not restricted while you play.
The included bench in your keyboard package is heavily padded for your health thus allowing you to sit comfortably for longer hours as you play.
The keyboard stool is also easy to collapse when not in use thus space-saving. It is also made from stool hence can support both children and adults.
It also comes with keynote stickers within the 61-key keyboard piano that are easy to fit and provides you with a visual indication of the right keys to play.
2. Best Cheap – Alesis Melody 61 MKII Electric Keyboard Piano for Small Children
Brilliant features
- Compact and space-saving design.
- Split and dual-mode function.
- 300 built-in tones.
- 40 demo songs.
Watch out for
- Lacks sheet music.
Learning to play your keyboard keys has been made easier by the Alesis Melody keyboard. It combines 61 piano keyboard styles, 40 demo songs, 300 built-in sounds, and split modes as well as 300 built-in rhythms that boost your playing.
Additionally, Alesis piano comes with a stand that is easy to assemble, a bench that features three adjustable settings. Moreover, the portable keyboard features headphones that mute the speakers automatically for privacy and peace of mind during practice.
Other incredible accessories that come alongside the package include a power adapter, a music rest for storing music sheets as well as a microphone that allows you to sing along as you play.
Furthermore, you can layer multiple sounds in split or dual-mode across your keyboard which is an added advantage for a tutor and student learning.
3. Best Rated – Yamaha P71 88-Key Digital Piano Keyboard
Brilliant features
- Stylish design.
- Dual-mode function.
- 10 different voices.
- Lightweight.
- Produce sound like a grand acoustic piano.
- Weighs 25 pounds.
Watch out for
- 88 keys.
The Yamaha P71 is an exclusive model that has been designed to be your best home digital piano for learning, rehearsing and creating your music. It has a slim and stylish design with a depth of about 12 inches thus a space-saving digital piano.
The Yamaha P71 is a full-sized keyboard that features fully-weighted keys with Yamaha premium keyboard piano voices that provides you with the perfect feel and sound possible.
With the 88 fully weighted piano key styles, you can simulate the experience of an acoustic piano with quality playing experience.
Moreover, it has a dual-mode function that allows you to combine two voices like strings and piano for a unique playing experience. It contains 10 different voices such as the digitally sampled tones obtained from the real Yamaha acoustic pianos.
4. Best Sound – Moukey MEK-200 61-Key Full Size Portable Keyboard Kit
Brilliant features
- Lightweight and portable.
- High quality and stylish design.
- 100 keyboard sounds.
- 300 Timbres, 300 rhythms, and 24 demonstration songs.
- Allows you to play single-fingered and fingered auto bass chords
Watch out for
- The built-in tones could be more.
Moukey MEK-200 electronic keyboard is best for use at home, in the studio, or on stage and a good representative for students, beginners, and educators.
The piano is designed in the normal 61-key keyboard size with a compact design that features 61 simulation keys similar to the keys of a piano. With these, you get richer sounds of better quality than the average keyboard types.
Moreover, it comes with a keyboard stand constructed from top quality materials and has been tested to meet all the standards. The keyboard stand has been designed in the standard width and length for placing and solid enough to hold the keyboard weight.
On top of that, it boasts 2 authentic range built-in speakers that give tremendous sounds with 300 rhythms, 300 Timbres, and 24 demonstration songs.
Moukey MEK-200 has been suited to master your finger control. This piano enables you to play single-fingered, with the capacity to choose chord timbre, edit rhythm, and also utilize sound effects including vibrato, ensemble, and sustain.
5. Best with 400 Tones – Casio CTK2550 Portable Keyboard with Stand and Headphone
Brilliant features
- Heavy-duty steel keyboard stand.
- Durable construction.
- 400 built-in tones.
- Dance music mode.
- Built-in lesson system.
Watch out for
- Can’t work with a MIDI.
Casio is a unique keyboard that boasts a compact and space-saving design yet reliable and rugged. It has a total of 61 keys and 48 maximum polyphony. The portable keyboard features 400 high-quality tones as well as 100 built-in rhythms.
To make it better, Casio CTK2550 allows you to connect to your android or iOS devices using its free Chordana Play app.
Additionally, you can also transfer your downloadable MIDI files to the Casio’s internal memory. Furthermore, it comes with built-in lessons that allow you to learn how to play the favorite songs of your choice.
This portable keyboard comes with a pair of headphones for greater sounds and also to enhance privacy. The Samson HP30 headphones give you comfortable listening experience.
Also included in the package is the World Tour keyboard stand. It is a heavy-duty steel stand that can hold a keyboard with a maximum of 130 pounds.
The stand features a secure lock for height adjustment between 25.25 inches to 38.35 inches for your best standing performance position.
How to Choose the Best Electric Keyboard Piano?
Below are factors to consider when you intend to choose the best electrical keyboard piano to take your musical experience to the next level.
– Number of keys
A full-size electrical keyboard comes with 88 keys including spanning seven octaves and also three extra notes. If you are determined to get the best electric keyboard piano, 88-key is your best option.
If you have limited space, you can go for the 76 keys or 61 keys. It will also serve you well although you will hit the lower limit on other classical pieces such as Beethoven’s Fur Elise and more.
– Accessories for keyboards
Your best electrical keyboard piano ought to feature some accessories such as the sustain pedal.
On the electric keyboards, the sustain pedal comes separately. The sustain pedal comes with different prices depending on their robustness.
Another accessory for your electric keyboard piano is the keyboard stand. Do not be comfortable with putting your keyboard on a table. A keyboard stand ensures your proper posture and also ensures that your piano is at the perfect height.
– Key action
This refers to the mechanism of your keyboard piano that produces the sound. Electric pianos do not have identical physical parts and thus use different techniques to develop the heavier touch and touch of your real piano’s keys.
The best electrical keyboard piano achieves this by replicating or including versions of the moving parts.
– Portability
Depending on the intended use, you might consider an electric keyboard piano that is lightweight. If you are a musician who intends to move around with your piano from an event to another, then a compact design that is easy to move is your best option.
– Polyphony
This term describes the number of notes that you can play simultaneously without the notes being cut-off early.
As long as your electric keyboard piano has at least 64 notes, you should be fine regardless of the kind of music you are performing. The entry-level electric pianos have reduced polyphony count which is suitable for beginners.
– Budget
This is another crucial factor to consider before buying the best electric keyboard piano. Most of the pianos are not cheap and thus the need to stick on your budget.
Although you get what you pay for in this life, some brands make value for money a priority. This makes it easier for them to meet their customers’ satisfaction.
What Are the Best Brands of Electric Keyboard?
For aspiring keyboardists, many brands selling their pitches ensure they produce the top overall product. It can be quite challenging to come up with the best keyboard brand, but this article has done it for you.
– Yamaha
This is one of the best keyboard pianos in the market today. The brand has a reputation in the music industry that cannot be matched. Yamaha was founded in 1887 and has played a crucial role in improving musical technology to some of the best electronic musical instruments that you can think of.
When it comes to the creation or rather production of electric keyboards, this brand is outstanding. The brand also makes other instruments including drums and guitars, but it has majored in keyboards.
The best part of the Yamaha brand is that it is consistently able to deliver incredible top quality products for beginners and professional keyboardists.
With as low as $100, you can get yourself a Yamaha keyboard that will meet your expectations. What keeps this brand at the top is its desire to maintain the cutting- \edge of the sampling with quality sound design throughout.
Best with Sustain Pedal – Yamaha P71 88-Key Electric Keyboard
– Casio
This best choice for beginners. Casio is one of the big contributors to the digital piano market for quite a long time. The brand was founded in 1946, but it was well known for other electric equipment than the keyboard.
By the 90s, the brand had a reputation as one of the best makers of the great beginner piano keyboards and by the year 2000, they were manufacturing the best digital pianos available.
Although Casio is overlooked as just being a producer of beginner pianos, it has maintained the value for money and you will be surprised to find some of their stunning pianos.
The Privia category of digital pianos is one of the best pianos by this brand because they produce quality sounds and are reasonably affordable. Privia range gives an incredible instrument for pianists to develop and improve.
If you are a beginner who wants to venture into the music industry, buy yourself an electric keyboard piano from this brand for amazing results.
Best Overall – Casio Affordable ctk2550 61-Key Piano Kit
Are Electric Keyboards as Good as Pianos?
Mostly, the digital pianos are musical instruments that are intended to be a replication of acoustic pianos while keyboards are designed to give to be portable to musicians.
The electric keyboards are meant to be played using the keyboard style – where one plays using rhythm styles as well as accompaniments.
Although pianos are more advanced than the keyboards with their 88 keys, electrical keyboards still provide an ideal musical atmosphere for your audience. Most of the keyboards come with 61 or 76 musical keys.
The electric keyboards are popular among beginners hence if you are a professional, you might need to upgrade to a digital acoustic piano.
Altogether, what matters is your skill level. If you are a beginner, you will need an electrical keyboard until you master your skill and upgrade to the digital piano.
Conclusion
In conclusion, having an electric keyboard piano is a great way of improving your music experience. These pianos are designed to be lightweight and portable hence easy to move to different music events.