The Best Piano Under 5000 Dollars: Complete Buying Guide and Review

Pianos are very intricate instruments. The sounds they produce depend on the quality and care put into their production. Unfortunately, the better sounding the piano is, the more expensive it will be. This high cost can be a barrier for people learning to play for the first time.

For amateur pianists and hobbyists, looking for the right piano to buy can be tasking. You not only have to consider the quality of sound your instrument produces, but you also need to make sure you’re getting the best quality for your budget.

However, pianos can be ridiculously expensive, which can be counterproductive for people who’re just learning to play or playing for fun. Unless you’re a professional who needs to invest big bucks to get the best piano for their performance, there’s no need to pay tens of thousands of dollars to own a piano (plus other fees for maintenance.)

Fortunately, with advancements in technology, manufacturers have been able to make more affordable pianos that produce sounds that can almost match up with the more expensive grand pianos.

In this article we will review the best piano under 5000 dollars, to help you choose one that suits your needs. 

The Best Piano Under 5000 Dollars

Yamaha b1 SC2 SNC Upright Piano

When it comes to piano brands, Yamaha needs no introduction. Fortunately, the Yamaha b1 lives up to the hype the brand has: it’s a perfect piano for beginners and other piano-playing levels. The best part is that, although it’s quite affordable, it also produces quality sounds.

The sounds a piano produces, its price, and its look are the most important features to consider before purchase. The Yamaha b1 fits nicely with all of these factors. It has 88 responsive keys that make it very easy for beginners to learn to play and progress through their piano lessons. 

In addition to being playable, the piano is compact and can fit into most homes. Its upright design also makes it easy to tuck the piano into one corner of the room without taking up a lot of space. Although compact, the piano is big enough to produce bright, beautiful, and excellent acoustic sounds. 

Other features include a muffler, dampener, soft pedal, headphones, piano bench, piano lamp, USB connection, and the Yamaha SC2 Silent System. 

Silent pianos are a hybrid between digital and acoustic pianos. They have sensors that detect changes in keys and change it into an electronic sound (usually audible through headphones) without losing the acoustic overtones.

Yamaha b2 PE Piano

The Yamaha b2 is another budget-friendly upright piano. As a true testament to Yamaha’s commitment to improving its models, this is an upgrade from the b1 described above. 

The b2 is slightly bigger and has a more sturdy design than the b1. Because it’s bigger, the soundboard and strings have more extension. This ensures the piano has a more comprehensive range of sounds and better resonance. 

Additionally, because of its larger size, the sound it produces has more power and extra depth. For people who prefer aesthetics, the piano has a classic style cabinet design with legs that stand out in any decor. 

Another upgrade is the underfelt on the hammers which gives the hammer better sturdiness, weight, and lifespan. As against the laminated wood soundboard in the b1, the b2 is made with a solid spruce soundboard that vibrates really well. The piano also has four casters at the bottom which makes it easier to move and transport. 

The Yamaha b2 piano is great for hobbyists or aspiring pianists learning to play for the first time because it’s highly responsive, reactive, and expressive. It’s not only affordable, but is designed to be dependable, so you enjoy quick response and a clean rich tone when you strike the keys. 

Kawai K-300 E/P SL Piano

Kawai is another piano brand known for its innovation. They kick up this innovation a notch with the Kawai K-300 by extending the length of the piano keys to connect with the rest of the action. This extension helps give the player more control, power, and speed as they hit each note.

In turn, this produces cleaner, crisper, and more solid sounds – particularly at top speeds. Additionally, the Kawai K-300 has a double-felted hammer made with mahogany to produce a more complex sound when playing in the upper dynamic range. Aside from tonal complexity, the double-felted hammer also prevents sound distortion. 

The K-300 also has a tapered soundboard to increase the responsiveness of the keys across any range. When compared to older Kawai models, you’ll notice the K-300 produces more even sounds and has more tonal control. This is because of this added feature.

The Kawai K-300 is also very affordable and has a clean, sophisticated design. It’s also small enough to fit into any modern home or commercial space, regardless of the decor. 

Other notable features include a sheet music rest, a slow-closing keyboard cover to protect your fingers, and pedals.

Kawai K-200 E/P SL Piano

Like the Kawai K-300, the K-200 is also an innovation of their older upright piano models. The K-200 is often called a smaller K-300 because it looks like a more compact version of the other model. 

The K-200 has many highly sought-after features, including an advanced and sophisticated design and build, and sound. The K-200 is the first piano from Kawai to have a Millennium III mechanism and is made with ABS-Carbon composites. This makes the piano stronger, faster, and lighter than wood. It also ensures no swelling or shrinkage occurs when there’s a change in humidity.

Like the K-300, this piano is designed to have a sturdy spruce soundboard, a soft fall cover, extended key sticks for more dynamic control, and double felted core hammers made with mahogany. 

The piano is well known for its great quality, dependability, and tonal control. Unlike most uprights that have an issue with key repetition, the K-200 has a micro-cell repetition foam that causes a faster hammer reset and reduces the likelihood of its occurrence.

When all these features are put together, the K-200 stands out as a fluid, accurate, and durable piano that doesn’t require as much regulation as wooden key pianos. And the best part is that the piano is under 5000 dollars, which falls within an affordable range for beginners and intermediate piano players. 

Kawai E 300 Piano

The Kawai E 300 piano is a great choice for both beginner and intermediate pianists. Its features are very similar to the K-300. Pianists can enjoy a warm, pleasant, and romantic sound when playing. 

Like the K-200, the E 300 is made with ABS carbon composites and has a Millennium III action that allows the keyboard to play easily without losing power. The fast action of the keyboard gives you optimal control, reduces repetition issues, and makes even the smallest nuances audible. 

Furthermore, the keys are also extended for easier and even play. The sounds produced have a rich, complex tone that is unusual with pianos of this size. Apart from the extended keys and strings, the addition of a solid, high-quality, tapered spruce soundboard allows for optimal resonance and response. 

The double-felted mahogany hammers also allow clear articulation that gives the pianist an impressive range to make music.

The Different Parts of a Piano

Keyboard

This is the most visible part of the piano that the player interacts with. Usually, a standard piano keyboard has 88 keys. Thirty-six of them are the short, black keys called the flats or sharps while the remaining 52 white keys are called the naturals. 

The keys are attached to other internal parts of the piano. Striking one moves the hammer, which in turn strikes a string to create a tone. The keys are set at different parts and you can make a melody by striking them in a sequence.

Housing and Lid

The housing is also known as a piano case. It’s the largest part of the piano that completely covers the whole instrument. A piano is instantly recognizable by the shape of the lid. 

Different types of pianos have different shapes and sizes of lids. For example, a grand piano has a very large lid that can be opened to produce a clearer, more resonant tone from the exposed strings.

On the other hand, an upright piano (like the ones we’ve reviewed here) is more compact. Opening the lid only does as much to improve the tonal resonance as moving the piano away from the wall can. It does nothing for the quality of sound or resonance produced.  

Strings and Hammers

These are the most essential parts of the piano. Without them, no sounds will be produced. The strings and hammers are inside the piano’s housing, right under the lid. The keys are connected to felt-covered hammers. When pressed, the keys move the hammer and cause it to strike the strings.

Sound is produced when the hammer hits the strings. Each string is tuned and tightened to produce a specific note or sound.

Damper

The damper is usually made of felt or soft cloth and sits over the strings. Once the player releases the key, the damper catches the string and causes it to stop vibrating and producing sounds. 

The damper helps the piano produce clear, crisp musical notes that don’t bleed together. Without a damper, the piano will only have uncontrolled noise instead of melodious music.

However, the damper doesn’t work alone. There are other important parts of the piano that work together to form the damper system.

Pedals

The pedals also play a role in dampening sounds from the strings. They’re located outside the piano case at the base where your feet would normally rest while playing. Depending on the piano style, the pedals can come in a set of two or three. 

Each pedal is important for creating, sustaining, or stopping musical notes while playing. From left to right, the pedals are called the soft pedal or una corda, the sostenuto pedal, and the damper or sustaining pedal.

Things to Consider When Buying a Piano

1. Quality

Every component of a piano plays an essential role in how well it performs. For instance, a piano with better-quality of strings and soundboard will have better range and resonance. Also, the tuning ability of the piano can affect how long it lasts so all this must be considered when choosing a piano.

Apart from the interior parts, the quality of the external part of the piano is also important. Even if a piano with a poorly designed cabinet has high-quality internal parts, the quality of sound produced will still be affected. The quality of pianos is classified under grades with Grade 1 being the highest quality you can get.

2. Size

Ideally, the bigger the piano, the better the quality of sounds produced. This is because larger pianos have longer strings and produce a smoother sound when transitioning between registers. However, larger pianos tend to be more expensive. The size of the room also affects the acoustics of the piano, so take this into account.

Unfortunately, if you’re working on a budget and looking for a piano that costs less than 5000 dollars, you can’t be picky about the size. 

The same thing applies if you have only a small space to dedicate to your piano. Instead of a grand piano, learners and people with smaller spaces should invest in upright pianos, baby grand pianos, or full-sized digital pianos with weighted keys to manage this problem. 

The good news is that most piano manufacturers have taken this under consideration by extending the lengths of the keys and strings, so these smaller pianos can produce sounds of considerable quality. 

3. Budget

Usually, the cost of a piano depends on its size and the quality of the materials used. Better quality (and bigger) pianos tend to cost more and are far more durable than less costly models. 

However, if you’re on a budget, there are a few great piano models available to meet your needs. 

Also, you can consider looking for used pianos for a good deal. But be sure to get a piano technician to thoroughly check the piano before buying. If you end up with a faulty piano, you might spend a lot more than your budget trying to get it in working order.

4. Appearance

Pianos come in a wide range of designs and the best one depends on your personal tastes. Some people prefer to use their piano as a statement piece for their home decor, so the design is very important. On the other hand, some may not care much about design. 

5. Purpose

Finally, your purpose for buying a piano can affect your choice. The piano that a beginner or intermediate player needs is quite different from the one a professional pianist plays. A beginner (or anyone who is not as committed to playing) can settle for a piano of medium quality, but a professional would invest in something more expensive and long-term. 

Must-Have Information on Acoustic Pianos

If this is your first time purchasing a piano, there are some valid concerns you may have. These concerns may include cost, delivery, maintenance, and so on. Before buying an acoustic piano, here are some things you need to know:

1. They’re heavy

This seems like an obvious statement but most people underestimate how heavy a piano can be. When buying a piano, factor in the weight and size of your delivery plans. Although most piano retailers offer an option for delivery, it can be quite expensive. If you’re on a budget, you need to factor in the cost of delivery to the cost of the piano. 

Also, because of how heavy and delicate the piano is, it’s not advisable to carry it by yourself. Otherwise, you run the risk of hurting yourself and damaging the piano in the process. Make sure that whoever is moving your piano is a professional piano mover.

2. Cost of maintenance

You also need to factor in the cost of regular tuning when buying an acoustic piano. Exposure to moisture or dampness or fluctuating humidity can affect the quality of your piano strings and other sensitive components. As a result, you need to regularly maintain your piano to ensure it produces quality sounds for longer.

If you live somewhere where there’s no option for tuning, consider how frequently you need to transport the piano to a professional for maintenance, as well as the cost. 

3. You may need headphones

Unless you have highly tolerant neighbors who won’t mind you stomping on your keys for hours as you practice, you may need a piano with a headphone jack. This way, you can practice quietly without annoying other people with the sounds from your built-in speaker. 

What You Need to Know About Digital Pianos

Digital pianos are all the rage these days, and they come in different shapes and sizes. Here’s what you need to know about them:

Upright digital pianos

Most digital pianos fall under this category. They’re perfect for players who seek the appearance, sound, and feel of an acoustic piano, without worrying about the weight and regular maintenance involved. 

Slimline digital pianos

If you don’t have a lot of space and need a more compact digital piano, the slimline digital piano is a great option for you. They’re also great for beginners because of their light key action. 

What Piano Brands Are the Best?

C. Bechstein

C. Bechstein has made a name for itself in the world of acoustic piano making. They began making acoustic pianos in 1853 in Germany. Today, they’re regarded as one of the best brands for producing high-quality and exceptional musical instruments from the best materials available. 

Steinway & Sons

Like C. Bechstein, Steinway & Sons began making pianos in 1853 in Manhattan. To date, they’re recognized as one of the best makers of high-quality acoustic pianos that produce rich, resonant sounds.

Yamaha

As you’ve seen from our review, Yamaha is one of the leading Japanese musical instrument producers. Since their first piano in the 1900s, they’ve been producing high-quality pianos till today. They’re known for not just making pianos in different shapes and sizes but also guitars and other studio equipment. 

Kawai

Like Yamaha, Kawai is another top Japanese piano builder who has been building pianos since the 1900s. They also produce acoustic and digital pianos. 

Roland

Roland is more known for making hi-tech digital pianos and synths. Compared to the other two brands, they arrived at the scene of piano making in 1972, but they have managed to carve a niche for themselves by making user-friendly pianos. 

Casio

Casio is not only a well-known manufacturer of keyboards but also one of the biggest makers of digital pianos. In fact, Casio has collaborated with C. Bechstein to produce the hi-tech GP-310 piano, which is among the best digital pianos on the market. 

Conclusion

When it comes to buying a piano, there are a lot of factors to consider. Some of them include your taste in design, size, quality, purpose, and most importantly, your budget. If you’re currently looking for the best piano under 5000 dollars to buy, the models we’ve reviewed in this article are a great place to begin.