The Ultimate Keyboard Buyer’s Guide

So you have decided to buy your first keyboard. Congrats! In this day and age, there are a plethora of options to choose from regardless of your skill level, style, and music creation needs. However, the flip side of the coin is that there are a plethora of options to choose from! To the uninitiated, or even a seasoned pro, the advent of technology has spawned more choices than ever before and it can be a little daunting when confronted with the selection.

Where to Begin

First and foremost, you must ask yourself “what is my intention behind buying a keyboard?” Is it for learning piano? Casual playing and entertainment? Piano practice/performance? Composing or production? Live band performances with a need for quick navigation? Sound creation (i.e. synths)?

Budget

Once you have locked down the primary role of a keyboard, it is important to ascertain the budget because this will help refine your search by category. Now, more than ever, the gulf between price to features has narrowed dramatically.

Features

After that, you will likely want to look at the key features you are after. For example the number of keys, weighted or non-weighted, number of sounds, onboard recording capabilities, controllers such as programmable knobs/sliders, software/computer integration, ease of interface/navigation, etc. These are all important factors that will lead to an informed purchase, and likely a very satisfying result.

The Lingo

The following are essential terms that will better inform your choice in a particular type and model of keyboard.

Velocity Sensitivity

Also known as Touch Sensitivity, this affects the volume and timbre of the sound based on how soft or hard the keys are played. This is especially important in cases where sampled or “real” instrument tones are concerned since all acoustic instruments naturally have different dynamic levels. For synthesizers, velocity is not as much of a concern since the sound is modified using filters, voltage control oscillators, and modulation (more on that in the synth category). Some entry keyboards will not have touch sensitivity and as such will not be as expressive in their playback. However, they represent the most affordable alternative and would be a good first keyboard for the novice who wants to become familiarized with the keyboard layout and sounds only.

Polyphony

Not to be confused with the traditional term as it relates to the study of counterpoint, polyphony is the total number of notes that can be played simultaneously. For example, a piano is capable of playing 88 notes if someone were to press down on all keys at once (the help of an octopus might be required, however). The more voices offered, the more notes can be sustained, which is especially crucial for digital pianos or workstation keyboards that have multiple layers or tracks. Some keyboards, like synths, can be monophonic, which means they can only play a single note at any time. These tend to be used for searing leads or thumping bass lines.

Multi-Timbral

Many keyboards ranging from arrangers to workstations possess the ability to have different sounds allocated to different MIDI channels (think of them as tracks). This helps when someone wants to build up an entire arrangement using a single keyboard (e.g. piano, bass, drums, sax, guitar, strings, brass, kazoo). Even modest priced models that don’t have the recorder built-in are often capable of this feature when connected to a computer using recording software.

MIDI

Short for musical instrument digital interface, this is a form of communication that began in the early ’80s to allow keyboards, drum machines, and sequencers to talk with each other. These days, MIDI has been supplanted by a USB alternative but which still functions in the same manner; transmitting note information via a cable from a keyboard to the computer. Almost all keyboards these days sport a USB A port while others will also have the five pin MIDI ports (IN/OUT, and some with a THRU) on their back panel.

Number of Keys

Mini Keyboards come in 25, 32, 37, and 49 keys. Full-sized keyboards offer 25, 37, 49, 61, 73, 76, and even 88 keys. The smaller models are suitable for portability (most of them under 37 keys are controllers) while the larger ones are excellent for piano playing where the expansive range is essential.

Weighted vs Non-Weighted

Most often the weight of the keys will vary between manufacturers. There is no better way to decide which action is for you than coming in and trying them out. For piano playing, 88 full weighted keys are often a must as they will more accurately be able to replicate a real acoustic piano in terms of expression and feel. Additionally, the resistance in the keys will increase musculature/coordination in the fingers that traditional piano exercises help foster. Semi-weighted or spring action keyboards have their advantages, however, especially for quick flurries of virtuosic licks on a synth or simulating fervent staccato string figures for your next symphony.

Speakers vs Audio Outputs

Originally, only home keyboards and arrangers came with built-in speakers and defined the difference between pro and amateur models for decades. Today speakers have migrated over to stage pianos for close monitoring needs. The sound of the speaker will largely be dictated by its size. If home use or small gatherings are the main arenas for your needs, having speakers built into the keyboard can be very handy. If the goal is to rock out with a live band including drums and guitars (they like to play loud!), external amplification will be necessary to be able to compete. Most keyboards have at least one stereo output or more often a pair of left/right ¼” audio outputs to connect to a house PA or keyboard amplifier. The audio outputs are normally unbalanced quarter-inch ports though some more expensive models furnish balanced XLR outputs (like the Dexibell Vivo S7 Pro Digital Piano/Controller)

Sounds

Since the late ’80s, the most popularized and common method of sound production has been sampling which effectively takes recordings of real acoustic instruments (like a photograph of their waveform) and makes them playable through looping and programming. This is why a keyboard can sound like brass, woodwinds, percussion, strings, and everything else under the sun. Prior to this, most keyboards used pure synthesis as a means of generating sounds. There are two main types of synthesis; analog and digital. Please see synthesizers for more on those. Most keyboards today come with a variety of sampled instrument tones and electronic sounds, which gives the musician plenty of options in terms of style and approach.

Add-Ons

Stands

When purchasing a keyboard, most people will need a few extra things in order to get up and running. A keyboard stand is often necessary as a place to put the keyboard on, whether at home or on stage. There are various types ranging from wood stands made especially for the home digital piano models, or adjustable/collapsible stands either in the “X” style format (KDS400D) or “Z” stand (Quiklok 716). Many of these stands also have two tier options for those who want a place to hold multiple keyboards.

Pedals

Sustain pedals and controller pedals are also a necessity if you wish to play any sounds and hold the notes once you take your fingers off the key(s). Pedals range from simple square offerings like the M Audio SP1 to more advanced ones like the Yamaha FC4. Control pedals are a different beast altogether. Often referred to as expression pedals, they provide continuous controller messages to the keyboard sound which can allow for swells in dynamics, changes in filters, modulation, or other parameters that can be assigned to this pedal. The Yamaha FC7 or Roland EV-5 would do nicely in this capacity.

Benches

Benches can be another requirement, especially for the digital piano customer who wishes to have a proper seat when playing. Like stands, these come in wood offerings (On-Stage KB8902B) and more portable varieties such as the On-Stage KT7800+.