best beginner pianos and keyboards guide

Choosing the right piano can be tough as the number of choices these days is huge! Whether you’re looking to practice some piano sheet music from your piano lessons, or you’re wanting to get comfortable with some beginner piano songs. This guide will walk you through the key considerations, answer common questions, and provide recommendations for brands to help you find the best beginner piano.

The standard for pianos, offering the full range needed for most piano music. Ideal if you aim to progress to more advanced levels.

Common in beginner keyboards. These are more compact and affordable, making them a great choice for beginners, though they may limit the range for more advanced pieces.

The feeling of a piano may be something overlooked when picking your first piano, but don’t worry there’s only a few options, we would recommend weighted keys for learning piano as these are the most realistic to that of a traditional piano and will offer great expressivity, beginner piano songs may not take advantage of weighted keys, but after a few lessons you’ll be digging into that rich tapestry!

Mimic the feel of an acoustic piano, providing resistance that helps develop finger strength. Essential for those planning to transition to an acoustic piano, weighted keys usually add a lot of weight to a piano, so if portability is something you’re after this may be something to consider.

Offer some resistance but are lighter than fully weighted keys. A good compromise between feel and playability and portability.

Often found on synthesizers and entry level keyboards, they are easier to play for beginners, though they may not prepare you as well for an acoustic piano and we would recommend looking at weighted keys and picking up a midi keyboard if you wanted to expand to other key style instruments.

Digital pianos aren’t usually travel friendly, specially a fully weighted 88 key piano and size for young children or students is certainly something to take into consideration.

Usually full-size with 88 keys and weighted action. They can be bulkier but offer a more authentic playing experience and are the best for learning on.

Ideal for small spaces, for those who need a portable option, or you need multiple in a room as you teach piano tuition or want to learn alongside your child with some piano apps. These typically have 61 or 76 keys and are typically lightweight.

These aren’t required immediately but will improve your learning experience vastly, sustain pedals, stands, benches and headphones. We’ve put together a range of digital paino & keyboard bundles to fit what you need and save money too!

Sustain pedals allow you to elongate the notes that you play, this can help you blend notes together, an example of this is at the end of an extract to allow your piece to have a longer decay after you finish your last note, some pianos come with a baisc pedal.

A sturdy stand is crucial for proper posture and can be key to develop proper playing technique. Not all pianos come with a stand, some entry level keyboards and pianos don't come with one, whilst higher end pianos will likely come with a purpose built stand.

A comfortable, adjustable bench helps maintain proper posture during practice, above all this though, if you're going to be sitting for a long time you want something comfortable!

Useful for practicing without disturbing others, especially in shared living spaces, there are cheaper versions available, in time you may want to upgrade to a more expensive pair as this usually brings better sound quality and comfort.

How long is a piece of string? These days the sound quality of even entry-level keyboards offer an amazing experience, there’s not too much to go into here, if you have the money we would recommend investing in your instrument as you won’t need to upgrade in the future. However check out the options above for some affordable options we recommend.

Typically offer fewer features but are affordable and great for those just starting out, you should be able to pick one up for under £300.

These offer better sound quality and more features like weighted keys and built-in learning tools, making them a solid investment, you should be able to pick one up for under £500 - £600.

Usually offer the best sound and feel, with features that will grow with the player, you'll be looking to spend £1000+

Big name brands responsible for the instruments used by professionals, also make affordable and beginner friendly instruments with a wealth of history and experience behind them.

Yamaha are legendary in the piano world, they make some amazing acoustic pianos such as the C7X Grand Piano, so they certainly know their stuff when it comes to what a piano or keyboard should sound like.

Casio is a well-known brand in the musical instrument industry, particularly for its digital pianos and keyboards. Casio's pianos are popular for their affordability, innovative features, and user-friendly designs, catering to beginners and experienced musicians alike.

KORG have been well regarded for their workstations and synthesizers, they have a history tailer built towards the artist, their products have been used across the musical landscape.

Roland know what it takes to bring acoustic style instruments to the modern age, their Electronic drum kits are undisputed kings of the industry, they also have a legacy rich history of making genre creating instruments to a budget friendly price point. They’ve combined this knowledge to bring excellent pianos and instruments for aspiring musicians.

Q: Should I buy a keyboard or a digital piano?
A: It depends on your space, budget, and goals. Keyboards are portable and affordable, while digital pianos offer a more authentic playing experience with features like weighted keys.

Q: Can I learn piano without taking lessons?
A: Yes, there are many resources available, including online tutorials, apps, and books. However, structured lessons can provide faster and more consistent progress, a music teacher is invaluable.

Q: Are there apps that can help me learn piano?
A: Yes, a lot of the brands mentioned in this guide offer free apps, software and online portals to help you learn. Additionally there are other apps on the AppStore offering interactive lessons and practice tools.

Q: Do you ship outside internationally?

A: Yes we do ship all over the world with some restrictions on certain brands and larger items, for more information please check out our international delivery FAQ.

Choosing the right beginner piano involves considering factors like the number of keys, keyboard action, size, and accessories. Brands like Yamaha, Casio, Korg, and Roland offer excellent options that cater to different needs and budgets. With the right instrument and resources, you’ll be well on your way to mastering the piano and enjoying the process of learning music.

• Check out our other guides:
  What Are The Best Piano Apps To Learn in 2023?
• Ultimate Guide To Digital Pianos
• Best Drum Kits for Beginners Guide
• Home Recording for Beginners Guide
• Beginner's Guide to Audio Interfaces
• Synthesizer Buyer's Guide