Keys to Begin: Your Guide to Choosing the Ideal First Piano
Buying your first piano is a thrilling process – congratulations on the decision to become a pianist – it is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
Your first choice is between buying an electric or acoustic piano. If you are a beginner and unsure how long you’ll play, I recommend buying an electric piano. Electric pianos are less expensive, easy to move, plug into headphones, and require no maintenance.
For young musicians, electric pianos can offer a window into the world of various sounds and instruments, which make learning more captivating and enjoyable.
The advantages of an acoustic piano are they will outlive an electric piano by 50+ years, and nothing compares to the dynamic range of an acoustic piano, where every key press sounds different. For electric pianos, dynamic range is limited due to the sound being generated by a sample, software and sensors. Some are more sophisticated than others, which is why I recommend getting an electric piano with weighted or hammer action keys to mimic the sound of an acoustic piano as much as possible. Tuning maintenance on acoustic pianos is around $400-$600 USD per year. It is recommended they need to be professionally tuned every 6 months at $200-$300 USD per tuning.
Additionally, moving your heavy acoustic piano isn’t easy; it is about $300 USD for a moving company to move it for you. If you are a renter or selling a home, this might be something to consider. Nice acoustic pianos are great for the intermediate student who has demonstrated real commitment to their craft.
Between the various manufacturers, choosing the right electric piano can feel a bit daunting, so we will provide some pianos we recommend as a starting point. If you decide to buy an acoustic piano, I recommend asking your teacher to accompany you for this big purchase.
Inexpensive and Simple
If you are a parent with a child starting piano lessons for the first time, getting them equipped with an Alesis Melody is an okay way to go. Beginning as a synthesizer manufacturer in the 80s, Alesis specializes in affordable gear that sounds great. Their entry level models contain tons of useful and realistic sounds and are easy to use.
The Alesis Melody 61 is a great starter kit. You can find them at most online retailers, usually listed at around $150 USD. It has full size keys that mimic the feeling of a real piano, and help your little one get to know the instrument. Since it doesn’t break the bank, it’s great for those who are looking to gauge their kid’s interest early on. The drawback for getting this piano is that it doesn’t have 88 weighted keys; instead, it has 61 non-weighted keys. Weighted keys mimic the feel of an acoustic piano and they give dynamic range, meaning, if you push the key harder, it sounds louder. If you barely touch the key, it sounds softer. If you know your child will be in piano lessons for a long time, I wouldn’t recommend this keyboard. They will outgrow it in around a year or two, and you’ll need to buy something else. The microphone, however, can provide hours of entertainment by itself.
For those looking for something more professional or for something that would be a nice upgrade, the Alesis Recital is a fantastic option. It has 88 keys, just like a standard piano, with a semi-weighted feel to mimic the experience even further. This model fetches a slightly higher price-tag than its aforementioned counterpart, coming in around $250 USD at most online retailers, but the value in the upgrade is noticed. These keyboards are also often sold as sets, with benches, sustain pedals, headphones, and lesson books included, so that way you or your child can be set up from day 1!
The Slightly More Expensive and Significantly More Expansive
If you are determined to learn the piano and play effortlessly, there are more professional keyboards which contain more sounds and features and they are worth every penny.
The Roland Go Keys is a solid option for the more curious player, as it contains an extensive sound library with over 500 different sounds. It also has the ability to connect to Bluetooth and MIDI which can allow you to seamlessly play along with your favorite songs, or create music on your computer/tablet. It is lightweight and portable, so if you are looking to get into making/performing music, it can be a great investment. It is found at the price of $380 USD on average, but the value of the product outweighs the cost. Roland has been a staple of the digital piano world for decades – there are a well-known and highly reputable brand for good reason.
The Elegant and Professional
For those looking to get back into playing piano, or looking for an option that will take their child through high school piano lessons, you will need to be sure you are making the right investment. Like all instruments, the right one will be worth what you spend on it. Thankfully there are plenty of options out there that are more than worth their price tag.
The Korg B2 is the first of those options. Priced around $500 USD, this model plays and sounds much like an upright piano. The fully weighted keys provide little difference from the real deal, and Korg has become a master of loading realistic sounds that respond to the touch. For beginner, intermediate, and even professional level musicians, this keyboard has it all.
Much in the same vein, the Yamaha P-143 is also a simple yet pristine option for those seeking a realistic piano experience. Coming in around $500 USD, this keyboard offers arguably the best replication of a real piano, with highly responsive keys and a wide variety of digital sounds. Much like their acoustic pianos, Yamaha keyboards are known for quality above all else, and the durability of their instruments is unmatched by most.
The key things to consider when buying any keyboard is of course what your needs are. Be it portability, realistic feeling and sound, or even just something to spark the interest, there are tons of options out there. Just like any other instrument, the best way to know which one is for you is to try them out at your local music store or retailer.
The last thing to consider is buying any 88 weighted-key keyboard on Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist used. Expect to pay ½ the new sticker value for a used piano, and make sure all the keys work and make sure it turns on before you buy it. On the flipside, any new keyboard can generally be resold for ½ the new sticker value, so your liability is always cut in half should your needs evolve.
Have a great time shopping for your new gear! Sweetwater, online instrument retailer, is my favorite place to buy electric music gear. You can give them a call, and their highly experienced sales team will advise and lead you to the right purchase.
