Whether you or your child want to learn how to play the piano, you must ensure that you begin the process by investing in the right instrument.
With so many different types of these musical instruments, including digital pianos, to select from, how do you decide which is a good piano for beginners?
In this post, we are going to look at what we feel are five of the best pianos for those who are just learning to play this instrument.
We will also offer some tips on how to go about buying the best acoustic or digital pianos that will suit the needs of the person first learning to play.
Review of Five Good Pianos For Beginners
1. Yamaha b1 PM
- Mahogany dark polished
- 88 keys
- 3 pedals
Of the various pianos made by Yamaha, the b1 PM is the most affordable acoustic piano of their entry-level upright models.
The Yamaha b1 PM has been designed explicitly with those just starting to learn to play the piano in mind.
Unlike other pianos, this acoustic piano keyboard has a very light action. This makes it easy for novices to get to grips with learning to play a real piano on which they can then play their favorite songs.
Even though it comes in at just over $3,200, you will find that Yamaha has not skimped on the quality of the wide range of materials used.
Don’t be put off by its size; it still produces a good-quality sound with a tone that is wonderfully bright and clear. It also comes with a rich, resonant bass.
Pros
- It measures just 109 cm tall so it would fit easily enough into any room in your home
- It Is one of the most affordable of all pianos available suitable for beginners to use even when taking online piano lessons
Cons
- Because of its size, it comes with much shorter strings and keys, so you may find the touch and tone isn’t as good as on a full-size piano
- This acoustic piano is fitted with a laminated plywood soundboard
- It isn’t made in the company’s factory in Japan
2. Kawai E200 Piano
- Millennium III mechanics with ABS carbon parts of unrivaled stability and strength
- Wide music stand
- Slow-closing key flap
If you are looking for a piano that isn’t just suitable for beginners but also for more experienced pianists, the Kawai E200 is worth considering.
Along with its distinctive touch and tone, you’ll also find this particular piano is reliable.
It measures just 114 cm and is one of the most popular Kawai upright pianos that come in a price range most people can easily afford.
You will find that the touch is excellent on this model as it comes with Kawai’s Millenium III upright piano action, which is made from ABS-carbon composites.
The use of this material in this traditional real piano helps provide this piano with a strong and fast action, but the player still has a great deal more control and power that will allow them to play even popular songs on it.
Pros
- It includes the addition of the company’s exclusive Millenium III upright piano action that provides good sound quality when played
- It is made using ABS-carbon composites
- Each part is assembled by experienced and skilled craftsmen
- It is of a size that will fit easily into any room in your home
- It has a total of 88 keys which makes it ideal for learning this instrument through online piano lessons
Cons
- The standard of workmanship may not be of the same standard as other makes
- Replacement parts for this piano can prove quite expensive
3. Kawai K 15 E E/P Piano
- Mahogany dark polished
- 88 keys
- 3 pedals
If you are looking to purchase a piano to learn to play this instrument on but space is limited in your home, look no further than the Kawai K 15E E/P piano.
The case is very compact as well as modern looking. This piano may be small in stature, but it can still produce some wonderful tones and volume that make up many popular songs.
This particular upright piano from Kawai also comes with its “Ultra Responsive” action. This means that you’ll find it very responsive even to piano students’ lightest touches.
You will find that the soundboard is made from the wood from the spruce tree, which helps to amplify the string resonance of this piano even more.
Kawai has also included some more modern materials and technology in the making of the K15E that not only helps to improve this instrument’s performance but also its lifespan.
Pros
- It has a compact size with a modern look
- It produces wonderful, powerful sounds
- With such a light touch, it provides the ideal keyboard action for beginners
- The use of modern technology improves this piano’s performance and lifespan
Cons
- Sometimes inferior-quality parts or components may be used
- May find that any parts that need replacing can be quite expensive to buy
4. Korg 88 Key Lifestyle Piano
- Digital piano with rich and authentic grand piano sound
- Natural Weighted Hammer Action (NH)
- Reverb and chorus effects for enhanced sound
When you are looking for good digital pianos for beginners, it is worth considering a digital model, such as the Korg LP-180 88 key lifestyle piano.
Like other digital pianos, we look at here for someone who is just starting piano playing, this one has a slim, stylish body and will fit easily into your home.
One feature you’ll love on this model of digital keyboards is the natural weighted hammer action. This is something that you will find on traditional pianos.
This Kong LP-180 electronic piano comes with three different levels of key touch control. This means that you will be able to alter how the keyboard responds well when playing any kind of music style, including electronic music.
Pros
- It comes with extra features such as ten different sounds built in, including electric piano, piano, pipe organ, vibraphone, and strings, providing you with a much more dynamic range of powerful sound options
- It has a natural weighted hammer keyboard action
- You will find this quality digital electronic keyboard has a look that will match most decor
- It comes with a three-pedal attachment
- It includes a headphone jack
- This good quality digital keyboard comes with a one-year labor and one-year parts warranty
Cons
- You may find that the detached pedal is very light and can sometimes slide around
- There isn’t any recording function feature to carry out playback with these types of digital pianos
- Parts such as the power outlet, AC Adapters, Foot Switches, and tubes only have a 90-day warranty
5. Roland RP107 Digital Compact Piano
Roland RP107 Digital Compact Piano
- Affordable home piano with class-leading sound and playability.
- Compact and attractive design with traditional upright styling.
- Deep expression from Roland’s acclaimed SuperNATURAL Piano technology.
If you are looking for a digital piano that will offer the same feel as if playing an acoustic model in an affordable price range, look no further than the Roland RP107.
We’ve chosen the Roland RP 107 as a good piano for beginners as it uses Roland’s state-of-the-art engineering, just like that included in the Roland FP-10.
When playing these digital pianos, you will find that the SuperNATURAL sound engine and the built-in speaker system will deliver rich piano tones and more realistic sounds.
You will find that the PHA-4 standard keyboard for beginners will help to ensure that this happens as it has the same feel as you would get when playing a traditional piano. It also makes it a suitable instrument for intermediate and advanced players.
Pros
- It has fantastic key action that makes it feel like you are playing a traditional piano
- The SuperNATURAL piano engine provides excellent performance and expressiveness that intermediate players will love
- It is compact and will fit easily into any room
- It has an elegant design
- This is an affordable price range for beginners
Cons
- You may find that this digital piano interface is a little challenging to use
- To get the best results from this piano you will need to download the Roland piano app
- You may find that the sound that comes out of the speakers is slightly boxy
Advice On How to Choose a Good Piano For Beginners
When it comes to buying a piano for the first time, there are certain things you need to consider. We take a look at what these are below that will fit into your affordable price range.
How to Go About Buying Your First Piano
When it comes to pianos, three things will determine the quality of a piano:
- Sound
- Touch
- Tone
Each of these will directly relate to how the person plays the piano, so it provides them with accurate feedback, which any piano teacher will tell them is crucial.
Only if the response they receive from the piano is good will it help beginner piano players to develop their wide range of piano playing skills further and progress on to being intermediate players.
What do we mean by this?
Any sound produced should directly relate to how much weight the person playing the piano applies to the keys. So whether their touch is light or heavy, the piano should be able to effectively transform what they do into music that produces a specific shape and tone.
What Piano Is Better For a Beginner?
When choosing a good piano for a beginner, you need to look at the weight of the keys.
How sensitive the keys are when touched will affect how easily a person’s skills progress as they learn to play this instrument.
If, when playing, the person notices the keys are too light, then they will find it hard to play the piano better. These are the types of keys you find on much cheaper keyboards.
At the same time, if the keys are too heavy, players will find it harder to produce the right sound. Also, over time it could lead to injuries.
What’s Your Budget?
When considering buying a piano, of course, how much you can afford to spend on such an instrument will play a significant role in your final decision.
Lucky for you, you will find that even good beginner pianos are affordable these days. Most pianos suitable for beginner piano players range from a few hundred to several thousand dollars.
At the end of the day, how much you choose to spend on even an entry-level digital piano depends on what you want out of it.
You will need to consider such features as the number of keys the entry-level digital piano has and the kind of music you intend to play. You should also think about the space where you will want to place it in your home.
When you have answers to these questions you can begin your search for a piano that meets your particular requirements.
Should I Take Lessons?
It is really up to you whether you want to have piano lessons or not. As well as finding a piano teacher locally, plenty of places online now offer video lessons showing you how to play the piano correctly.
The great thing about learning to play online piano lessons is that you can take them at a time suitable for beginner piano players.
Let’s Wrap Things Up
The great thing you’ll find is when it comes to finding a good piano for beginners, you won’t need to spend a fortune on one.
You will find that even digital pianos are now being built to very high standards that are ideal for beginner piano players. They are made using high-quality components to ensure they are built to last.
It should be noted that when buying your first piano you should not spend too much until you know that you or your child are serious about learning to play it.
If you would love to learn how to play the piano properly, then any of the five pianos discussed above is suitable. Not only are they all available at an affordable price, but they also come with an 88-key keyboard.
We hope that you have found the reviews and the advice we’ve given above helpful. We hope that you will end up with the best piano for beginners that you can afford.
Let us know if you choose a new piano that you like!