Digital Pianos & Keyboards — A Piano Teacher's Picks for Every Budget

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Portable digital pianos suit most students: 88 keys, a small footprint and room to grow. Here are my choices by budget.

Budget-friendly

★ My pick: Yamaha P-45 — 88 weighted keys, built-in speakers and a sustain switch. A proven, straightforward first piano for learning real technique.

Yamaha P-145 — The current-generation compact Yamaha: 88 weighted keys in a slim body that fits small apartments.

Roland FP-10 — Escapement action with Ivory Feel keytops and a natural piano tone. Very good touch for the price.

Yamaha P71 — Same family as the P-45, sold with a sustain pedal and power supply according to the listing.

Alesis Recital Pro — 88 hammer-action weighted keys. The most affordable weighted option I show; fine for casual players.

Casio CDP-S160 — Compact 88-key scaled hammer action; slim, light and easy to move between rooms.

Mid-range

★ My pick: Roland FP-30X — Weighted action, SuperNATURAL piano sound, built-in speakers and Bluetooth audio/MIDI. My standard recommendation for a serious beginner.

Yamaha P-225 — CFX-based piano sound and the Smart Pianist app. Excellent value for a growing student.

Casio Privia PX-S1100 — Very slim, can run on batteries, with Bluetooth audio. Ideal where space or portability matters.

Casio Privia PX-S3100 — Slim 88-key weighted keyboard with 700 tones per the listing; more features than the PX-S1100.

Kawai ES120 — Responsive Hammer Compact action and Harmonic Imaging sound. Many teachers like the Kawai feel.

Roland FP-E50 — 88-note hammer action with built-in accompaniment styles; fun for adults who like to play along.

Roland FP-40 — 88-note PHA-4 Standard weighted hammer action with escapement and Ivory Feel keys, plus onboard Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and the Piano Sphere app, according to the listing.

Premium

★ My pick: Kawai ES920 — Kawai's premium portable with built-in speakers. My pick when a student is committed and ready for a more refined touch.

Yamaha P-525 — Yamaha's higher-end portable, for advanced students who want a more expressive instrument at home.

Roland FP-90X — Roland's flagship portable, for advanced players who want the most refined touch in the FP line.

Casio Privia PX-S7000 — Casio's top Privia, with a hybrid hammer action per the listing and a slim modern design.

Yamaha PS500 — A smart piano with Stream Lights guided learning, per the listing; suits app-driven beginners.

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Console pianos are furniture-style digital pianos with a matching bench, a full set of pedals and a fuller sound than most portables. They suit a home where the piano will stay in one place.

Budget-friendly

★ My pick: Yamaha Arius YDP-105 — Weighted action, with a three-pedal unit and bench included according to the listing. The standard first real home piano.

Casio Celviano AP-S200 — A slim console with a classic cabinet; a space-saving choice for apartments and small rooms.

Mid-range

Kawai KDP120 — Kawai action with three pedals in a furniture-style cabinet.

Roland F701 — A slim Roland console, a good fit where a full cabinet piano would take too much room.

Casio Celviano AP-550 — A cabinet piano with dual grand sound, according to the listing.

Yamaha Arius YDP-184 — The upper Arius console, a step up from the YDP-105 for students ready to invest in a lasting home piano.

Premium

★ My pick: Kawai CN201 — A Kawai console I am glad to recommend to serious students who want a lasting home piano.

Kawai CN301 — A step up from the CN201 for players who want a richer instrument.

Kawai CA401 — Kawai's wooden-key concert-style console, according to the listing.

Kawai CA501 — Higher-end CA series, for advanced students and committed home players.

Casio Celviano AP-750 — The top Celviano console I could find on Amazon.

Premium: digital grand

Roland GP-3 — Roland's compact digital grand cabinet. It ships as a large freight item, so see the Amazon page for delivery terms.

Genuine Clavinova models and the large digital grands are generally sold through authorized piano dealers, so I suggest trying them in a showroom first.

Premium & Hybrid Pianos

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★ My pick: Kawai CA701 Digital Concert Piano (satin black) — Kawai's concert-level console, offered here by an authorized dealer. This is the instrument I would point an advanced student toward when a home piano has to last for years.

Kawai CA701 (rosewood) — the same CA701 in a rosewood finish.

Yamaha Arius YDP-146B — a newer Arius in black, with a three-pedal unit and bench included, according to the listing.

Also in this tier above: the Kawai CA501 and CA401, the Casio Celviano AP-750 and the Roland GP-3 digital grand.

Most premium Clavinova, AvantGrand and hybrid models are sold through local dealers, not on Amazon — ask me before you buy.

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Most children begin on a 61-key keyboard. Touch-sensitive keys matter, and an 88-key weighted piano is the goal within a year or two. This is how I would shop.

Budget-friendly

Alesis Melody 61 MK4 — A low-cost 61-key keyboard with unweighted keys; a good trial keyboard before you commit to a piano.

Yamaha PSR-E283 — A 61-key Yamaha with built-in learning tools and a music rest, according to the listing.

Best Choice 37-key kids' keyboard — Toy-grade, suitable only for ages 3 to 5 as a first taste of music.

Mid-range

★ My pick: Yamaha PSR-E383 — Touch-sensitive keys, so volume responds to how you play: the minimum I accept for a child taking lessons. Not weighted, so plan to move up.

Casio CT-S300 — Touch-sensitive 61 keys with 400 tones, according to the listing.

Casio CT-S1 — A compact 61-key keyboard with a good piano sound for its size.

Casio LK-S250 — Light-up keys guide beginners through songs; the pack includes a stand and headphones per the listing.

Premium

Yamaha PSR-EW320 — 76 touch-sensitive keys: more room to grow before moving to a full piano.

Casio CT-S1-76 — The 76-key version of the CT-S1, for players who want extra range.

Yamaha Piaggero NP-12 — An ultra-portable, piano-first 61-key keyboard.

Yamaha Piaggero NP-35 — 76 keys and piano-focused voices; handy for a student who travels.

Roland GO:KEYS 3 — For teens who want to make music and beats; not designed for classical piano technique.

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A stage piano has piano sounds built in and is made for gigs. A MIDI controller has keys but no sound of its own, so it needs a computer or software. Choose by how you will use it.

Budget-friendly

Nektar SE49 — A 49-key unweighted controller, suited to composing and software instruments rather than piano technique.

Akai MPK Mini MK3 — A compact 25-key controller for beats and sketching ideas; not for playing piano repertoire.

Mid-range

★ My pick: M-Audio Hammer 88 — 88 weighted hammer-action keys. It has no sound of its own, so it needs a computer or software.

Nektar Impact GXP88 — A budget 88-key MIDI controller for a computer-based setup with full range.

Arturia KeyLab Essential 88 mk3 — An 88-key controller that includes a software bundle, according to the listing.

Premium

★ My pick: Roland RD-88 EX — A gig-ready 88-note stage piano from Roland.

Yamaha CP73 — 73 keys with balanced hammer action; lighter to carry to gigs.

Yamaha CP88 — An 88-key hammer-action stage piano from Yamaha.

Roland RD-2000 EX — Roland's flagship stage piano.

Kawai MP7SE — Kawai's stage and master-controller piano.

Nord Piano 6 (73 keys) — Nord's piano-focused 73-key model.

Nord Stage 4 88 — Nord's top-end 88-key stage instrument.

Arturia KeyLab 88 MkII — A weighted 88-key controller with DAW control.

Roland A-88MKII — A premium weighted 88-key controller.

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For quiet practice, closed-back headphones keep the sound in and the room calm. Open-back headphones sound more natural but leak sound, so use them in a private room. Check that your piano's headphone output suits the model you choose.

Budget-friendly

★ My pick: Yamaha HPH-50B — Compact closed-back headphones, light enough for kids.

Yamaha HPH-MT5 — Closed-back with studio-monitor tuning.

AKG K240 Studio — Semi-open with a wide sound; leaks some sound into the room.

Mid-range

★ My pick: Audio-Technica ATH-M50x — A popular studio closed-back model with clear, detailed sound.

Sony MDR-7506 — A closed-back studio standard for decades.

Audio-Technica ATH-M40x — Closed-back with flat, accurate monitoring sound.

Sennheiser HD 280 Pro — Closed-back with good isolation for a noisy home.

Sennheiser HD 560S — Open-back with a natural piano tone; it leaks sound, so use it in a private room.

Audio-Technica ATH-R50x — An open-back reference model.

Premium

★ My pick: beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro (80 ohm) — Comfortable for long practice sessions. The 80-ohm version suits digital-piano headphone jacks better than the 250-ohm one.

Shure SRH840A — A closed-back studio headphone.

beyerdynamic DT 990 Pro X (48 ohm) — Open-back; choose this lower-impedance version rather than the 250-ohm DT 990 Pro, which needs an amplifier.

Sennheiser HD 600 — A reference open-back model. Check that your piano's headphone output can drive it well before buying.

Audio-Technica ATH-R70xa — A light open-back reference headphone.

AKG K702 — An open-back reference headphone.

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You do not need a studio to record your playing or teach online. A good USB microphone is enough for lesson videos; for the piano itself, a pair of small-diaphragm microphones or a stereo recorder gives the most natural sound.

Budget-friendly

FIFINE K669B USB microphone — A budget voice microphone, fine for lesson videos and talking; not meant for recording piano.

★ My pick: Logitech Blue Yeti — A multi-pattern USB microphone and a good all-round choice.

Audio-Technica AT2020 — A classic budget XLR condenser; it needs an audio interface.

Zoom H1essential — A pocket recorder for practice and recitals.

NEEWER DS026 overhead phone stand — Gives an overhead view of hands and keys for lesson videos.

Mid-range

★ My pick: RØDE NT-USB Mini — A studio-quality USB condenser for talking and quiet piano.

Audio-Technica AT2035 — A large-diaphragm XLR condenser for voice and piano.

Focusrite Scarlett 2i2 (4th Gen) — Two microphone inputs: a stereo pair, or piano plus voice.

Focusrite Scarlett Solo (4th Gen) — A one-microphone interface for simple setups.

Zoom H4essential — Stereo microphones plus XLR inputs; my choice for a single-box piano recorder.

Audio-Technica AT2020USB-XP — A higher-end USB microphone.

Premium

RØDE NT1 5th Gen — A hybrid XLR and USB-C microphone that grows with your setup.

★ My pick: RØDE M5 matched pair — Small-diaphragm microphones for stereo piano recording.

Shure SM81-LC — A professional instrument condenser microphone.

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The small things make daily practice comfortable: the right bench height, a proper sustain pedal and a steady stand. Check that a pedal or stand is compatible with your piano before ordering.

Budget-friendly

★ My pick: Yamaha FC4A sustain pedal — A piano-style pedal that fits many brands; it has a polarity switch.

M-Audio SP-2 — A universal sustain pedal.

RockJam RJKBB100 adjustable bench — A budget bench with adjustable height.

88-key stretchy dust cover — Keeps dust off the keys between practice sessions.

Glocusent clip-on music stand light — Lights the page for evening practice.

Vekkia folding music stand — A folding stand that is easy to carry to lessons.

Korg MA-2 metronome — A simple digital metronome.

Seiko SQ50-V — A quartz metronome and tuner.

MusicNomad Key ONE keyboard cleaner — A cleaner made for piano and keyboard keys.

BEATBIT removable piano note guide — Helpful for the first weeks only; learn to read the staff as soon as you can.

Donner Bluetooth page turner — A budget page turner for a tablet.

Mid-range

★ My pick: On-Stage KB8802B duet bench — Duet width, roomy enough for teacher and student.

Yamaha BB1 padded wooden bench — A fixed-height padded wooden bench.

Yamaha FC3A half-pedal — Supports half-pedalling on compatible Yamaha pianos.

Roland DP-10 — A continuous (half-pedal) pedal for Roland pianos.

Liquid Stands keyboard stand — Fits keyboards from 54 to 88 keys.

On-Stage KS7350 folding Z stand — A heavy-duty Z-style keyboard stand.

K&M 10065 folding music stand — A German-made folding music stand.

AirTurn BT500S-2 — A Bluetooth two-pedal page turner.

Premium

Roland RPB-D100BK duet bench — A Roland duet bench.

On-Stage KB9503B artist bench — A height-adjustable bench for players who want precise seating.

Ultimate Support AX-48 Pro — A premium X-style keyboard stand.

★ My pick: AirTurn DUO 500 — My pick for a Bluetooth two-pedal page turner when you read sheet music from a tablet.

Roland RPU-3 — A three-pedal unit for Roland pianos; check that your model is compatible.

BOSS DB-90 Dr. Beat — A professional digital metronome.

Piano Care

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Las Vegas air is very dry, and dry air is hard on acoustic pianos, so I like to know the humidity in the room. A Dampp-Chaser system is installed by a piano technician, so ask yours about it.

TempPro TP50 digital hygrometer — shows the room temperature and humidity at a glance.

Levoit OasisMist 1000S humidifier — a large-room humidifier for dry months.

MusicNomad Key ONE keyboard cleaner — made for piano keys.

MusicNomad microfiber polishing cloth — a soft cloth for keys and finishes.

MusicNomad care kit for gloss pianos — cleaner, polish and cloth in one kit.

Felt-top keyboard dust cover — a key cover that keeps dust off between practice sessions.

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Amazon in the United States does not sell real acoustic pianos, only digital pianos, toys and books. An acoustic piano is tuned for local humidity, and between the dry Las Vegas climate, long delivery and the need for tuning, buying one unseen is risky and returns are nearly impossible. I suggest visiting a local piano dealer and having a technician inspect any instrument before you buy. A good guide is The Piano Book by Larry Fine, and a room hygrometer helps you keep an eye on humidity.

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Looking for presents for a young pianist? See my Piano Gift Guide, or browse my recommended piano books. Questions before you buy? Ask me at your next lesson.