best digital keyboards

Historically, there’s been a fairly big gap between traditional pianos and their electronic counterparts. Thankfully, times have changed, and many of today’s digital keyboards can hold their own against practically any set of keys, from a concert piano to a baby grand.

Digital keyboards also offer a lot of other advantages that modern players will love, like a line out for direct recording without a microphone, or the ability to adjust the sensitivity levels of the keys. There’s truly never been a better time to be a piano player — today’s digital keyboards offer the best of both worlds, so you can easily find one that sounds lush and professional while still being able to adapt to your personal playing style.

Whether you’re an accomplished pianist or you’re taking your first lessons, there’s a worthwhile digital keyboard for every skill level and budget. Here’s everything you need to know about digital keyboards: how to tell them apart, which features to hold out for, and how to find the one that’s perfect for your next performance.

We understand that some consumers are looking for a digital keyboard that feels like a traditional piano. As such, we carefully note which digital keyboards have the most realistically weighted keys in our research.

During research, we pay special attention to digital keyboards that are accessible to those of all ages and budgets.

In our research, we often focus on keyboards that offer a wide selection of synthesized sounds, allowing musicians to create entire ensembles from the comfort of home.

We look at keyboards from reputable manufacturers like Yamaha as well as keyboards from lesser-known brands that may offer great deals. Our ultimate goal is to narrow the field down to the best in class.

We pay attention to whether a digital keyboard comes with a bench. Beginners may appreciate the inclusion of a bench, but experienced musicians may prefer not to spend money on a new one.

A lot of digital keyboards offer extra voices and rhythm tracks. We note these features when they are offered, paying attention to their usefulness so buyers understand what they are getting.

We place high value on great keyboards with quality audio processors and a wealth of realistic synthesizers that let composers put their creativity to work.

Some of the most popular professional-grade digital keyboards lack advanced electronic features and are instead designed to mimic a real piano almost perfectly. We value these instruments because we understand this is the sound some consumers seek.

We give special consideration to digital keyboards that boast connectivity for tablets and computers, enabling advanced songwriting for beginners and experts alike.

Not everyone needs a full-size electric piano, so we make sure to review plenty of compact digital keyboards that allow for quality production even if you don’t have a lot of space.

Traditional or experimental use: you decide

When shopping for a digital keyboard, there are essentially two paths you can take.

Some people seek an instrument that duplicates the performance of a traditional keyboard, such as a piano or organ. Others seek a multifunctional synthesizer primarily for personal entertainment.

• A digital keyboard with 88 weighted keys and sustain pedals is ideal for student rehearsal.

• A small synthesizer with fewer spring-loaded keys is generally better for recreational use.

The idea is to match the user with the right type of instrument.

Digital synthesizer advantages

Modern digital synthesizers have removed much of the “work” from musical performance. Here are a few examples:

• With the press of a button, you can launch a sophisticated rhythm track complete with bass variations, drum fills, and intro/outro options.

• On some keyboards, you can press a button that automatically adds the appropriate chords to a single-note performance.

• Keyboards often include digitally sampled voices that can mimic a saxophone, string orchestra, or horn section instantly.

Traditional keyboard advantages

Other digital keyboards may not be as flashy or versatile as synthesizers, but they serve a different purpose.

Many music students do not enjoy easy access to traditional pianos or other keyboard instruments. One affordable solution is to purchase a digital keyboard that duplicates the action and touch of a real piano, including weighted keys and all three sustain pedals.

• Some models have additional voices, such as “organ,” “strings,” and “brass.” A few incorporate the same digital voices as synthesizers.

• These instruments may not include rhythm tracks or automatic chord programs, but they work well as in-home rehearsal instruments for both students and those interested in pursuing music at the professional level.

Hands on: digital keyboards

Action

Traditional piano keys are mechanical levers. The performer depresses a key that engages an internal hinge and hammer. The hammer strikes the piano's tuned wires, creating a note. A cloth damper then presses on the string and ends the vibration. This design puts weight on the keys, and piano students eventually develop a performance technique based on that weight.

A digital piano doesn't have hammers, so it relies on internal technology to simulate the action of an acoustic instrument. Poor action can cause a player to use heavy finger force just to get a sound out. Good action feels and sounds like an acoustic instrument without excessive finger force.

Touch sensitivity

Touch sensitivity takes the concept of “action” one step further. A touch-sensitive keyboard allows the player to convey the emotion of the music by depressing keys with varying amounts of pressure and velocity. Many digital keyboards have special sensors that measure the amount of pressure and speed performers place on each key. A lighter touch often results in a softer tone, while a heavy or fast touch creates a louder note with a faster “attack.” This is a useful feature during performance, since part of what makes music interesting to the listener is a change in dynamics.

Features

Some digital keyboard manufacturers like to pack as many additional features as possible into their high-end models, but shoppers should avoid the temptation to upgrade without cause.

There are additional features that enhance or improve performance, but there are also add-ons that casual users don’t need. Composers may want to create and store original tracks, for example, but most players, rehearsing the work of others, will not.

Below are some additional features student musicians and casual players should look for when shopping for a digital keyboard.

Sustain pedals

An important element of performance is the ability to sustain a note or chord for a long time or close it off immediately.

Traditional pianos accomplish this through the use of several foot-operated sustain pedals. These pedals move the dampening board closer or further from the piano's strings.

Many digital keyboards designed for rehearsal offer all three sustain pedals, but others offer only one pedal as an add-on feature.

Outgoing ports

Digital keyboards should have the capability to communicate with the outside world through external ports. The two most important features to look for are an external headphone/amplifier jack and a MIDI connector.

The onboard speakers on most digital keyboards, even on the higher end, can only produce a limited amount of sound, so the synthesizer needs the ability to connect with a mixing board or powered amplifier rated for keyboards.

Pitch bend controller

One very useful addition, especially in terms of performance, is a pitch bend controller. Usually found on the left side of the keyboard, a pitch bend wheel is a spring-loaded switch that can “bend” a note several tones above or below its original setting.

Using a pitch bend wheel on an electronic keyboard often improves the authenticity of a voice’s sound.

Polyphony

A keyboard's polyphonic capacity reflects the number of pitches that can be held and/or sustained at the same time. Once a keyboard reaches its polyphonic maximum, the pitches begin to cancel each other out. In general, the higher the polyphony, the better.

Price

Digital pianos range in price from hundreds to thousands of dollars. Higher-priced models claim to have better action and touch sensitivity and are targeted at serious and professional musicians.

Notes on amplification

When used as an in-home rehearsal instrument or recreational synthesizer, volume is not usually a major consideration. The onboard speakers should deliver enough power to fill a small room with sound.

However, there are times when a home digital keyboard may have to fill some much larger shoes. Under these conditions, even the most expensive synthesizer speakers could be drowned out by other instruments or lost in the expanse of an auditorium. This calls for serious amplification.

Below are some ways to get it.

Use a wireless lavalier microphone

There are times when a wired instrument can be a safety hazard to others or a small sound system has no available channels. One low-tech solution is to attach a wireless lavalier microphone to one of the keyboard's external speakers and mix it into an existing channel with a wireless receiver. The keyboard and player can be positioned anywhere within the microphone's range, and the sound can be balanced through the mixing board.

Feed the keyboard into a mixing board or pre-amp

A safer solution for keyboard amplification is to plug the synthesizer into a mixing board first and then adjust the channel to the proper balance. This is a workable solution for church and performance halls where the player can hear other musicians and the keyboard through monitors or PA speakers. An experienced sound mixer should be able to monitor the keyboard's channel and keep everything in balance.

Plug into a powered bass or keyboard amplifier

It is important to remember that an electronic keyboard is a charged instrument, which means it already has electrical power running through it. An electric guitar, on the other hand, has no power of its own until it’s plugged into an amp

 A charged instrument can easily overpower an amplifier designed for an electric guitar. A bass amplifier or a special keyboard amplifier is designed to handle a much more powerful load, so a keyboard player needs to make sure the keyboard's volume output is reduced to avoid a blow-out.

Pros and cons of digital keyboards

Digital keyboards run anywhere from less than $100 for an entry-level Casiotone to $3,000+ for a professional-grade Korg synthesizer. As such, it’s important for shoppers to understand the pros and the cons of digital keyboards at all price points.

Pros:

• A digital keyboard is easier to transport than a traditional piano or organ. Even the lightest practice pianos weigh several hundred pounds and are not designed for portability. A music student can install a digital keyboard in a small apartment or bedroom with minimal assistance.
• Digital keyboards rarely require maintenance. The electronic components of a synthesizer are not designed to go out of tune due to atmospheric conditions or rough handling.
• If a digital keyboard does need to be tuned to another instrument, it's only a matter of turning one knob or adjusting a setting.
• Synthesizers can make amateur musicians sound nearly professional. Traditional piano or organ lessons stress the fundamentals of music along with performance, which some may find frustratingly slow.
• Modern synthesizers, on the other hand, encourage beginners to experiment with rhythm tracks and voices first. Chords can be added automatically, as well as bass accompaniments and other advanced musical support.

Cons:

• Many digital keyboards do not duplicate the action or touch of an actual piano or organ. A lot of smaller synthesizers use lightweight plastic keys that are spring-loaded for easier playing. The keys themselves may be smaller in size than traditional keys, and there may not be 88 of them.
  Making the transition from a lightweight digital keyboard to a traditional instrument is often a challenge.

• Most digital keyboards only synthesize the voices of instruments; they don’t fully recreate them. Although the original sound source may have been a real instrument, digitizing and synthesizing that sound for a keyboard affects its characteristics.
  Listeners are not necessarily going to mistake a digital saxophone or trumpet for the real thing.

If you’re an adult looking to take beginning piano lessons, you can easily find age-appropriate material from the likes of Faber, Bastien, and other popular sheet music publishers.

FAQ

Q. My son just started taking piano lessons. Do I need to buy a practice keyboard with 88 weighted keys?
A. Ordinarily, you would want to match the rehearsal instrument with the performance instrument as much as possible. If your son’s instructor uses a traditional piano with weighted keys, then investing in a similar digital keyboard would be ideal. However, these instruments can be very expensive. For the short term, a younger player just learning the fundamentals of music can practice scales and basic melodies on a smaller keyboard with fewer keys.

Q. How do digital keyboards duplicate the sounds of so many instruments so well? If I close my eyes, I swear there's a real sax player in the room.
A. Synthesizing authentic instrumental voices was a major problem with earlier generations of digital keyboards. The few voices featured on these instruments sounded very little like the real thing. But the invention of digital-sampling software revolutionized the industry. Sound engineers recorded real musicians performing on real instruments under laboratory conditions.

Q. Why does my new electronic keyboard sound so tinny? I like to play it for fun, but the sound isn't very good.
A. This is a common problem with entry-level digital keyboards. The low cost of a voice-sampling chip makes it possible for manufacturers to include hundreds of decent instrumental sounds, but the onboard speakers haven't been upgraded as well. The top synthesized sound generator is still going to sound tinny or distorted when played through a low-quality speaker.

The best solution is to look for an outgoing RCA or headphone jack and run the keyboard through an auxiliary input in a home stereo system or use a bass or keyboard amplifier.