Best Digital Piano for Beginners
Best Budget Digital Piano
There’s nothing quite like that authentic sound of a traditional acoustic piano but nowadays digital pianos seem to be able to emulate that sound with incredible accuracy. If you are serious about becoming a pianist, getting a modern instrument like a digital piano is an excellent investment. It does a good job simulating the sound and feel of an acoustic piano though it’s still different in its own way. It comes with many modern enhancements like LED displays, other voices, headphone inputs, and many great features and settings for a more convenient and customized playing experience. Check out my other articles about the best dac and best boombox.
Having such an instrument can be very convenient especially considering how many models are compact and portable. It doesn’t matter if you need it for studio or stage performance or if you simply want to have fun at home learning the piano – a good digital piano is the best solution. At a quick glance, the market for these musical instruments is flooded with all kinds of models and bundles. You can be easily overwhelmed especially if you are a beginner so if you don’t want to mess around and risk throwing your money away, then choosing from the best is the way to go. These digital pianos have been carefully analyzed and are selected only in terms of value per money so this list is sure to please you.
1. Yamaha P71 88-Key Weighted Action Digital Piano
Yamaha is one of the dominant forces in the musical instruments industry and in the digital piano department they provide quite a large selection of quality products. One of them is P71, a weighted action digital piano which definitely represents an excellent value package for the money.
This is a solid instrument for rehearsing, learning, and creating beautiful melodies. It’s designed to bring the luxury of a digital piano into your home at an affordable price. By offering a full sized piano keyboard complete with high-quality weighted keys, any aspiring pianist can benefit from the most realistic sound possible and from an authentic feel.
In case your home doesn’t have plenty of space and you are trying to find a digital piano that won’t leave a big footprint in it, the Yamaha P71 is ideal. The slim and stylish design requires little space and weighing just 25 lbs, it can be moved anywhere you like with ease. You can also conveniently take it with you for outside performances.
Yamaha uses Graded Hammer Standard weighted action for the keys. They have a slightly heavier touch in the low end and for the high end they perform with a more lighter touch. There’s a close resemblance to the hammers inside an acoustic piano. If you are a practicing pianist, the GHS action can aid in developing the proper finger technique for performing on an acoustic piano in the future.
Ease-of-use is an aspect that’s been thoroughly refined by Yamaha. The settings on the P71 can be manipulated with ease, in fact, many of them can be changed by simply pressing a single button. You hold down a special button called the ’Grand Piano/Function’ and then you go over certain keys for other functions like to configure the metronome or to change voices for example.
Using a state-of-the-art sound engine, the Advanced Wave Memory sampling makes use of digital technology to accurately record the authentic sound of an acoustic piano. Through Stereo Sampling, it will allow you to experience a deeper and richer sound with an impressive level of spatiality to it. It achieves this by using pairs of waveforms (L and R) that are captured with two microphones. This digital piano can play one sample per key at fluctuating volume and timbre levels.
In conclusion, the Yamaha P71 is an incredible digital piano that can cover all your musical needs with ease. A nice bonus is the added sustain pedal and power adapter. This instrument is highly recommended for any piano enthusiast.
Product Highlights:
- 88 fully weighted piano-style keys
- Contains 10 different voices
- Dual Mode
- Slim and stylish design
- Includes power adapter and sustain pedal
- Advanced Wave Memory sampling
2. Yamaha YDP143R Arius Series Console Digital Piano
Considered the makers of some of the finest acoustic pianos in the world, Yamaha is also capable to create amazing digital pianos. The Arius Series brings together all the conveniences of having an electric piano with the unmatched performance of an acoustic piano. The YDP143R is part of this lineup from Yamaha and has many features which will allow a more advanced pianist to reap great benefits.
This digital piano makes use of the cutting edge Pure CF Sound Engine combined with innovative sampling technology to deliver unrivaled sound quality. When listening to this digital piano in action, you can easily see why Yamaha is an industry leader in this department. The stunning sound of the distinguished Yamaha CFIIIS 9′ concert grand piano is reproduced with great accuracy. The Pure CF is capable of recreating those incredible dynamics and that authentic expressiveness.
To fully replicate the feeling of an acoustic piano, it provides a Graded Hammer Standard piano keyboard with 88 keys. They give off a specific lighter touch in the high end and a heavier one in the low end similarly to the hammers from an acoustic piano. The black keys have a matte finish to prevent slips when playing during longer periods of time.
Delivering super playability, this digital piano also features realistic pedal performance. With the help of a half-damper pedal control, more nuance and subtlety is defined while playing, resembling closely the pedaling on a grand piano. Stereo Sustain samples produce mellow reverberations as the pianist depresses the damper pedal.
Yamaha added the Stereophonic Optimizer, a unique feature that helps to create a more spacious, surround sound quality when you’re playing the digital piano and listen to the instrument with headphones. Thanks to this private listening environment, the sound experience has a more natural quality to it and the piano sound seems more realistic.
Another interesting aspect about the Yamaha is the ability to connect the piano to a computer or a mobile device. This can allow you to expand your creative potential and help you to achieve your educational purposes with more ease. Yamaha offers a Digital Piano Controller app for iOS which integrates an intuitive interface to control the functions of the piano.
The final verdict is definitely a positive one as the Yamaha YDP143R from the Arius Series has proven to be an extremely capable digital piano in all regards. All this quality comes at a price but if you have the required budget, this is an excellent choice for any experienced pianist.
Product Highlights:
- Pure CF Sound Engine
- GHS weighted action
- Controller App for iOS
- 2-track song recorder
- 50 classic piano songs included built-in memory
Best Budget Digital Piano
3. Alesis Recital 88-Key Beginner Digital Piano
Alesis Recital is a well-equipped 88-key digital piano featuring either semi-weighted keys or fully weighted ones whose touch response can be adjusted. Alesis is a very appreciated manufacturer of audio equipment and the Recital seems very promising considering the relatively low price.
For a premium feel and sound, Alesis Recital features strong 20-watt built-in speakers and solid note polyphony (128-note maximum). The keyboard has five realistic built-in voices that you can select to your liking including Acoustic Piano, Organ, and Synth. Using the Layer Mode you can make some customizations by combining any two voices to create a richer tone.
As this model is a suitable choice for a beginner, it’s no surprise to find that it’s equipped with powerful educational features like the Lesson Mode. In this mode, the keyboard gets divided into two areas, one for the student and the other for the teacher. They both have the same pitch and voice so as to be able to watch each other and play simultaneously without the need to take turns. It’s actually quite a practical solution which will simplify a lot your piano lessons.
Alesis implemented in the Recital all the connections you need. There’s a 1/4” stereo headphone jack for your private sessions and a 1/4” sustain pedal input. You also have the option of connecting to a recorder, amplifier, or other audio systems thanks to the stereo RCA output.
Lastly, the Recital can connect to a computer through its USB output for utilizing it with virtual instrument plugins or a learning software. Speaking of music lessons, this digital piano comes with a free 3-month Skoove premium subscription to get you started on the path to becoming a pianist. You have full access to the courses with new lessons added every month.
The Recital is a very flexible product, as emphasized by the ability to switch to battery power in case you aren’t close to a power outlet. The six D cell batteries should provide enough energy to keep playing on the go.
Alesis managed to create a solid all-around digital piano, the Recital is adequate for any beginners eager to learn to play the piano. It doesn’t have too many advanced features but it doesn’t need to. It’s a powerful learning tool and it has strong abilities for the money so if this is what you’re looking for you can’t go wrong with this one.
Product Highlights:
- 88 full-sized semi-weighted or weighted keys
- Built-in speakers
- Skoove 3-month premium subscription
- Multiple modes
- 128 max polyphony
4. Casio Privia PX160BK 88-Key Full Size Digital Piano
After the popularity of the PX-150, Casio decided it was time for an upgrade and the PX-160 was the result. It comes with lots of improvements and sound enhancements over the previous generation including the famous AiR Sound Source. At a good price, this digital piano provides reliable sound technology and world-class features.
The Casio Privia PX-160 utilizes the proprietary sound source called AiR which stands for Acoustic and intelligent Resonator. With the help of this, the instrument can recreate the premium grand piano sounds. Casio carefully recorded the finest details from a 9-foot concert grand to provide the most authentic sound at 4 dynamic levels. The result is a remarkably expressive and strong performance. A level of truly uncanny realism can be achieved when the damper pedal is used as AiR can simulate Damper Resonance.
In terms of key action, this model makes use of the Tri-Sensor Scaled Hammer Action II keyboard, a classic of Casio. The new simulated Ebony and Ivory textured keys create an amazing feel of the action and the three sensors are capable of capturing the dynamics of a performance with unmatched speed and accuracy.
The Hammer Response feature is able to analyze the timing nuances of the hammers moving inside an acoustic piano relative to the way the keys are played. Using this ability, the PX-160 can offer an impressive key-to-sound experience that gives it an edge over its competitors.
Casio worked on a few improvements and the chassis redesign is one of them. The PX-160 has a more elegant look now but the actual purpose of this redesign was to accommodate a new speaker system which does justice to fully enjoy the rich sound of this digital piano. Casio went for an interesting approach to project the sound towards an audience by also porting the speaker system to the back, a trick which permits great sound performance when you place the piano against a wall.
Another new addition over its predecessor is the string ensemble sounds which have been revamped. They sound pretty good by themselves but with the right combination as when layered with PX-160’s voices, they will reach their true potential.
The Casio Privia PX-160 is a worthy upgrade over the older generation and is a very high-quality digital piano that can faithfully allow you to experience the unique feel and sound of a grand piano. It is a very reliable instrument, packed with many modern features and the price is quite balanced when taking everything into consideration.
Product Highlights:
- AiR (Acoustic and intelligent Resonator) sound source
- Tri-Sensor Scaled Hammer Action II Keyboard
- 8w x 8w speaker system
- Two track recorder
- Dual Headphone Outputs on Front
- Available in black or champagne gold
5. Alesis Coda Pro | 88-Key Digital Piano
The Alesis Coda is a digital piano that seems very promising for its price. It comes in two variants, with Semi-Weighted keys – this is the basic Coda, and with Hammer-Action Keys which is the Coda Pro. That’s the only difference as the basic core product is virtually identical. In this review, I will talk about the Coda but everything is also applicable to the Coda Pro.
Alesis had a single objective in mind when designing the Coda Series. To create digital pianos that are highly versatile and have a rich sound. A great ability of the Coda is that it offers great sound right out of the box through its built-in speakers. Alesis provides a USB-MIDI port to take full control of your virtual instrument software by connecting the 88-key piano to a computer.
This digital piano is highly portable, ready to perform and record anywhere. It’s equipped with a stereo 1/4 inch aux input and a 1/4 inch aux output. The latter can be used to connect an amp or a PA. There are also two 1/4 inch headphone outputs helpful for practicing and an input used for a sustain pedal which is conveniently included in the package.
A solid capability of the Coda lays in its features intended for teachers. It has split, layer and lesson modes for configuring the piano according to the preferred uses like for creative or instructional use. With the included music stand comes the nice benefit of no more messing around with loose sheet music.
The Coda has 20 built-in voices and 60 preset songs useful for playing along. The user also has the ability to record its own thanks to the User Record mode. A Duet Mode is also present and it comes with 50 accompaniment patterns. Alesis added some exclusive built-in sounds and AIR Music Technology virtual instrument. Both the Coda and the Coda Pro are excellent choices for piano students or teachers but they are also ideal for stage or studio use as they provide all the elements needed to get you to fully express your creativity.
Taking all that’s been said into account, the Coda Series offers very reliable digital pianos with many attractive qualities including Hammer-Action Keys or Semi-Weighted ones. The multiple connections, 20 built-in voices, 60 preset songs, Duet Mode and the sustain pedal complete the value bundle of the Alesis Coda and Coda Pro. Considering the reasonable price, this is a great option for a digital piano.
Product Highlights:
- 88-key hammer-action or semi-weighted keyboard
- 20 built-in voices
- 60 preset songs
- Duet Mode
- Includes sustain pedal and power supply
6. Yamaha P115 88 Key Digital Piano
The P115 is one of Yamaha’s most interesting digital pianos as it manages to balance premium features with a reasonable price. If you are interested in making an investment into a high-quality instrument, this 88-key digital piano is definitely a satisfying choice as it can bring that authentic sound and feel of a grand piano right into your home.
The way the P115 accomplishes its distinctive sound is through the Pure CF Sound Engine that utilizes the latest sampling technology to deliver that amazingly expressive sound of a CFIIIS 9′ concert grand piano. Yamaha is a very trusted brand in the industry precisely for this reason. impresses with its sound but the touch feels even better thanks to Yamaha’s Graded Hammer Standard weighted action. The similarity with an actual acoustic piano is definitely there, in fact, the technology used is very strictly based on the action of the hammers inside a grand piano. You can easily build the right finger technique using this digital piano to be ready when the moment will come to perform on a sophisticated acoustic piano.
It impresses with its sound but the touch feels even better thanks to Yamaha’s Graded Hammer Standard weighted action. The similarity with an actual acoustic piano is definitely there, in fact, the technology used is very strictly based on the action of the hammers inside a grand piano. You can easily build the right finger technique using this digital piano to be ready when the moment will come to perform on a sophisticated acoustic piano.
Something that captures the attention on this instrument is the way the manufacturer positioned the tweeter. Lots of improvements have been made for enhancing the sound and deliver it more accurately to the performer’s ears. Things like melody lines and treble passages feel much more expressive and brighter as a result. The entire tonal range seems to come to life thanks to this new configuration.
In this digital piano, Yamaha has included onboard drum rhythms which could be very useful for practice or performance. This element can contribute to the overall enjoyment of your practice sessions or, if you prefer, you can select the right rhythm pattern to complement your performance.
Because having more control over your instrument is always a good thing, the P115 comes with a special free app for iOS which helps for a more convenient operation of certain functions. Just by looking at a screen you can modify voices, rhythms, and many other settings and the app can also store your favorite configuration for quick later access.
Considering the features and the solid performance of the Yamaha P115 digital piano, the final verdict is a very positive one. It’s a recommended instrument for any piano enthusiasts as it offers many substantial qualities for its price.
Product Highlights:
- Pure CF Sound Engine
- GHS weighted 88-key action
- Pianist Style
- Controller App for iOS
- Onboard drum rhythms
Best Digital Piano For Beginners
7. Yamaha P45 88-Key Weighted Action Digital Piano
The P45 by Yamaha is a very cost-effective option for a digital piano. At a very reasonable price, you get a capable instrument with GHS weighted action, Advanced Wave Memory Stereo Sampling system, and 64-note polyphony. There’s a wide variety of applications where the P45 can come in handy as this digital piano represents an ideal companion for any aspiring pianist.
Yamaha’s lowest-cost digital piano is mostly intended to cover the needs of the beginner piano student. Despite its more basic features, it’s still a product that respects Yamaha’s high-quality standards.
This digital piano makes use of the Graded Hammer Standard weighted action, which will make you feel like you’re performing on a grand piano. The touch feels a bit lighter towards the high end and heavier in the low end. It’s definitely the best kind of action for a beginner’s practice as it trains the proper finger technique to perform on a grand piano.
In terms of sound quality, the P45 has the Advanced Wave Memory sampling which is the classic sound engine of Yamaha. It may not be as spectacular as the Pure CF engine of the more expensive models in the P-series, but it’s still fairly decent. It’s capable of creating a deep, spacious sound with rich dynamics.
The controlling of the keyboard can be done more conveniently due to the addition of the ”Grand Piano/Function” button which can alter a varied range of settings. All you have to do is keep it pressed and then, using the keyboard, you can play demo sources, change Voices, or change many other settings.
Another great aspect of this digital piano is the 64-note polyphony which enables the ability to perform more dense piano passages. In Dual Mode, you can mix two Voices together to add a new layer to your playing experience. Yamaha provides a USB to HOST port for connecting a vast selection of educational or any other musical application through a computer or a smartphone.
The package for the Yamaha P45 contains a music rest and a sustain pedal as well as a power adaptor. In this price range, it’s hard to match such a great product in terms of features and sound quality. A beginner pianist will have a blast with this digital piano as it embodies all the best qualities needed at the start of his musical journey.
Product Highlights:
- GHS weighted action
- Advanced Wave Memory Stereo Sampling
- 64-note polyphony
- Dual Mode
- USB to HOST port
8. Casio PX350 BK 88-Key Touch Sensitive Privia Digital Piano
The Privia digital piano line from Casio is constantly evolving trying to reach new heights. The PX350 is an advanced model from this line, offering the perfect blend of keyboard action and sound. It comes with a new sound engine that’s set to deliver the best level of detail and expression for a hard to match grand piano experience.
Compared to the previous generation, the new Privia PX-350 uses significantly more memory to recreate a more natural piano tone. Thanks to Casio’s AiR sound source, it makes the digital piano sound more realistic and nuanced. The whole performance seems more expressive as this engine provides seamless dynamics. When the sustain pedal is utilized, the realism can be enhanced even further thanks to the new Damper Resonance simulator which brings into play the rich sound of the strings.
PX-350’s 88 note keyboard offers an incredible textured feel thanks to the Tri-sensor scaled hammer action. The sensors are able to accurately capture the dynamics of a performance. Another interesting thing is how the engine takes into account the timing for achieving an ultimate key to sound experience.
There are many built-in instrument tones, 250 more exactly, as well as enough drum patterns to accompany your performances. A powerful registration capability can memorize the strings, organs, drums, and many more layers and splits to use during your live performances. The PX-350 fits well in both a studio environment and on the stage. It has 1/4” audio outputs to connect to recording and sound reinforcement equipment. Class compliant USB connectivity is also provided in this Privia model for plug-and-play use with any Mac or PC.
If you’re looking for a reliable digital piano, the Casio PX-350 is a solid investment. To fully benefit from the beautiful sound, a high-quality pair of headphones is basically a must. The piano’s speakers aren’t doing it any justice. If we take into consideration all the elements that define this Casio digital piano, including the AiR system, the Tri-Sensor Hammer Action, and the Ivory feel keys to name a few, it’s safe to say that you get a lot for what you pay.
Product Highlights:
- 88 keys
- Tri-sensor Scaled Hammer Action Keyboard II
- 250 Built-in Tones
- Max. Polyphony – 128
- Multi-Dimensional Morphing AiR Sound Source
- Damper Resonance simulator
9. Yamaha DGX-660 88 Key Grand Digital Piano
In case you’re interested in a digital piano that’s more similar to a grand piano, the Yamaha DGX-660 is a great solution. It represents a modern fusion of superb acoustic piano sound and advanced functions for designing your own piano environment with ease. An extra level of versatility is added into the mix thanks to the possibility to add a microphone and sing along while you play.
The DGX-660 it’s an excellent tool for pianists of varying levels of skill, including beginners. In fact, this digital piano provides many features to improve your learning experience. With the help of a built-in USB Audio Recorder, you can store your musical inspirations quickly and efficiently.
One of the most striking capabilities is the microphone connectivity. If you don’t want to sing along you also have the option to use pre-recorded karaoke song files found on the Yamaha MusicSoft. The built-in speakers can offer you a good idea about the way you sound with everything mixed together. It comes with three presets for different vocal performance situations. You have also the liberty to make and save your own personal microphone settings, such as those for reverb and chorus effects.
Yamaha opted for the Pure CF Sound Engine in this premium digital grand piano which reproduces with high fidelity some of the most expressive and nuanced authentic sounds. The 88-note keyboard uses the weighted action offered by a Graded Hammer Standard’s touch.
To simplify the musical process, even more, Yamaha added a nice score display which can conveniently display the lyrics. The LCD can be switched to score too and it shows notation for any MIDI song currently played. There are many possibilities and overall this is a very nice addition.
Another great feature is called Smart Chord. It can help you sound professional even if you’re just starting to learn how to play. Smart Chord can make full chords no matter the complexity and you only have to use a single finger. Thanks to Accompaniment Styles you can play music with a virtual band for your convenience.
This digital piano can surpass all expectations. It is a great instrument to use at home and its price is actually quite low considering the amazing features and sound quality but most importantly what a great interactive musical experience it offers. Playing and sharing music is now incredibly fun for everyone.
Product Highlights:
- Pure CF Sound Engine
- GHS weighted action
- Score Display
- Piano Room
- Smart Chord
10. Casio PX860 BK Privia Digital Home Piano
The Casio PX860 represents the flagship of the Privia line of digital pianos mainly because it provides the highest level of realism in terms of sound, performance, and looks. The grand piano lid adds another layer to complete the simulation and it looks exceptionally good in your home. If you have the budget for this digital piano, it’s definitely worth every cent.
Exactly reproducing the sound of a fine acoustic grand piano is a difficult task but Casio seems to have gotten pretty close to that. The Acoustic Intelligent Resonator sound engine used in the PX860 makes use of grand piano samples recorded with stunning precision at four dynamic sampling.
You can actually hear the long natural decays of the grand piano sounds and that characteristic expression. To enhance the grand piano experience to new heights, AiR is also capable of simulating the magic sound of the open strings and this level of realism can be obtained through raising the dampers by the pedal. Casio added a Hall Simulator feature to make you feel like you are playing a grand piano in a variety of real-world locations.
An impressive capability of the PX860 is the 256 notes of polyphony and the large choice of 18 instrument tones. Derived from the award winning PX-5S, instrument tones such as the basses and stereo string ensembles sound truly amazing. There are split and layer functions integrated and a Duet Mode for separating the keyboard into equal ranges, which is great for piano lessons with a teacher.
Casio implemented a USB port for recording your performance making sharing your music a breeze. The 20W + 20W amplifier packs enough punch and coupled with the adjustable top lid you can project the marvelous sound similarly like how a grand piano does it. The Concert Play mode allows you to play along with recordings of 10 live philharmonic orchestra performances giving you the sensation that you’re part of an authentic grand performance.
There are lots of things to be said about the Casio PX860 but one thing is certain. It is a beautifully compact grand digital piano which can fit well in any elegant home. With a complex set of features, an excellent sound quality, and reliable performance, the PX860 is a winner in all regards and a highly recommended digital piano.
Product Highlights:
- 88 keys with Ebony and Ivory feel
- Multi-Dimensional Morphing AiR Sound Source
- 256 Note Polyphony
- Hammer Response & Damper Resonance Simulator
- Multi-Position Piano Lid
- Tri-sensor Scaled Hammer Action