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Best Cheap Keyboard Piano for Your Musical Journey 

 March 16, 2021

By  Zen Chung

Getting started with playing the piano doesn't have to be an expensive experience. You can easily find excellent and affordable keyboard pianos as a beginner. After all, it makes sense not to invest too much money on a keyboard piano until you're sure that you want to play the piano for a long time as a career or a hobby.

Once you're sure that you want to be a musician and play the keyboard piano, then you can invest in a digital piano of more value or a greater model. We advocate that you start with one of these best cheap keyboard pianos instead of a digital piano because it's more economical in the long run.

The best part about the best cheap keyboard pianos that we've compiled for you is that they are affordable, high-quality, and fantastic for you as a beginner. Even if you are a seasoned pianist and you've lost your digital piano and want to get the best cheap keyboard to use in the meantime, you'll love the keyboard piano options we have for you.

Let's dive in.

Contents

Best Cheap Keyboard Pianos

1. Yamaha, 61-Key PSR-E273 Portable Keyboard

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The incredibly popular  Yamaha PSR-E273 Portable Keyboard is excellent for beginners. Out of all the cheap keyboard pianos on this list, the Yamaha PSR takes the prize of being the best keyboard piano that a beginner should start with. Experienced players will also love this keyboard piano to give a digital piano a run for its money.

The vast array of sounds and effects on this contender for the best cheapest keyboard piano will leave you with a smile on your face. You have access to over 400 instrument voices that will enable you to produce high-quality music. Some of the piano sounds include a host of electric pianos, a classic and sampled initially sound of the Grand Piano, and fantastic drum sounds.

You can choose to use headphones or the set of in-built speakers. This means that you can practice wherever you are without intruding on others' quiet time. One of the reasons that this budget keyboard piano is excellent is that it has many learning functions. A feature called "Guess the note" will give you a great learning experience as you find your playing style.

Pros

  • Great for beginners.
  • Has hundreds of high-quality voices.
  • Has smart chord.
  • Has 61 full-sized keys.
  • Light-weight.
  • Easy navigation

Cons

  • Power cord and adapter sold separately.

2. Roland GO: KEYS 61-key Piano Keyboard

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Out of the keyboards and options on this list, this piano has 500-ready-to-play sounds from Roland's fantastic back catalog of pro synthesizers. Very affordable for its quality, this piano allows you to switch between synthesizer and electric piano sounds. The sound quality is great, and so is the touch response of the keys.

At an affordable price tag, you'll love the 61 full-size ivory-feel keys that are velocity-sensitive. This means that the sound produced will be accurate to your playing dynamics. You will almost feel like you're playing an acoustic piano because of the unique sounds in the catalog. You can quickly flick between sounds thanks to the easy-to-use Category buttons that come with this high-quality sound keyboard.

Pros

  • Very lightweight.
  • Attractive color and design.
  • Has battery power and a wireless smartphone connection.
  • Over 500 pro-quality sounds.
  • Easy-to-use keyboard.
  • Has Bluetooth MIDI support.

Cons

  • Lacks a split mode.

3. YAMAHA NP12 61-Key Portable Keyboard

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Although this piano for beginners list is not complete without this instrument, the Yamaha NP12 is also used by experienced pianists. Nonetheless, if you are passionate about acing your piano lessons, you will love the sound that this budget instrument brings. Filled with amazing voices that make your music sound impressive, the piano keys will make playing this 61-key keyboard a breeze.

Whether you want the dance music mode or want the unique sounds this Yamaha instrument brings, you will love how this 61-key instrument sounds. The ten pre-set voices include 2 x electric piano, 2 x acoustic piano sounds, 2 x organ sounds, 2 x harpsichord sounds, vibes, and strings. All the keyboards on this list have amazing quality. However, this Yamaha 61-key pick will make you feel like you are playing an acoustic piano.

The in-built speakers and headphone jack input give you the option to play the piano publicly or rehearse in private anywhere in the world. This fully weighted piano keyboard is great for lesson mode as you can feel the force required to push down the keys.

Pros

  • Has 10 pre-set voices.
  • Very high-quality.
  • Has 61 touch-sensitive piano-style keys.
  • Has USB to Host port.
  • Battery-powered.
  • Has 64-note polyphony.

Cons

  • The keys are not full-sized.

4. Roland GO: PIANO Digital Keyboard

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This excellent sound-generating piano is budget-friendly and one of the best options when it comes to a premium digital keyboard. Especially if you are new to the musical experience and want an option with an affordable price tag, the Roland Go: Piano GO-61P Digital Piano is for you. Like other options on our list of budget keyboard pianos, this piano has a great selection of sounds.

Drum sounds, Electro piano, Roland Piano, and Organ are just some of the fantastic piano sounds that come with this digital piano. The keyboard has touch-sensitive keys that make this one of the keyboards that respond accurately to your playing style.

Besides having amazing keys and sounds, this keyboard also has Bluetooth connectivity that connects to your smartphone and tablet.

Pros

  • Highly portable.
  • Battery and AC adaptor powered.
  • Has two speakers built-in.
  • Has wireless smartphone connection.
  • Has 61 full-size keys.

Cons

  • Saving your settings only works on an external device.

5. Carry-On Folding Digital Piano 88

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The Carry-On Folding Digital Piano 88-key is excellent if you want a keyboard piano that you can easily use to record at home. If you are starting and want an easily portable keyboard piano that you can fold and carry in your backpack, this is the best cheap keyboard piano for you.

The onboard MIDI functionality that comes with this 88-key keyboard piano is also great for you. This portable keyboard is exceptionally affordable and would make an excellent gift to your friend who's been thinking of getting started on pianos.

Because of the small size, you can easily use this 88-key budget piano keyboard as a touring musician or to get to your customer who may be living a bus ride away. This portable keyboard has 88 high-quality keys, 128 voices, and various functions and settings that beginners and seasons musicians will love. Having this 88-key piano keyboard is like having a full-size piano that you can carry around in your backpack. How cool is that?

Pros

  • Extremely affordable and great value for money.
  • Has onboard MIDI functionality.
  • Lightweight and Compact.
  • Has sustained pedal and tote bag.
  • Has multiple digital interfaces and demo features.
  • Great for beginners and pros alike

Cons

  • Sound of keys may be slightly off-putting.

Factors to Consider When Choosing the Best Cheap Keyboard Piano

1. Keyboard

The keyboard is arguably the most critical part of your keyboard piano. Your keyboard needs to be a quality build and feel sensitive and realistic to the touch. Several factors determine the quality of your keyboard, including the key action mechanism.

Key action is the mechanism of your piano that produces the sounds. Because digital keyboards and pianos don't have all the physical parts on an acoustic or real piano, the creators have to develop creative ways to make up for this fact. Great instruments like the ones we've mentioned above compensate by replicating versions of the moving parts.

Here's a key action guide that will help you as you choose the right affordable keyboard piano for you.

a) Hammer Action Keys

This is the highest quality when it comes to a digital keyboard and the most expensive. With the hammer action keys, each key on your keyboard moves like a mechanical hammer - hence the name. This hammer action gives it a nearly identical feel to an acoustic piano.

b) Weighted Weights

These weighted keys are built into your keyboard's keys and give you a similar feel to a real piano. In turn, you'll feel like you're playing a real piano which is excellent and will make you a great contender to be a great pianist.

c) Semi-weighted

This mechanism combines the weights we've mentioned above with spring-loaded action. Although you can't compare it to the pianos with the above mechanisms, you'll still enjoy the quality of these keyboard pianos.

d) Unweighted

This is also called synth action. This is the cheapest option and for a good reason. These are typically moulded plastic keys that create resistance with the springs in the pianos.

2. Sound

Although this factor is a no-brainer, you must pay extra close attention to the sound of your keyboard. The speaker quality and internal sound library are things that you should look into as you make your decision.

Because the speakers are the primary sound output of your keyboard, you will be judging the quality of your playing by that. Therefore, you need to ensure that the speakers are decent and audible enough for your liking. If you like to practice in private, choosing a keyboard with a headphone jack will be best.

When it comes to piano sounds, we've looked at some fantastic options above that have an array of unique sounds that you can use. For example, our 2nd option has over 500 options to choose from. Clavinets, harpsichords, electric pianos, and organs are just some of the sounds you need to ensure that your keyboard has.

3. MIDI Connectivity

MIDI is no longer an option. This is because it plays a bigger role than most players realize by opening many doors for pianists who have this option. As part and parcel of the musical world, you have to ensure that the keyboard you choose has this option available.

A MIDI connectivity enables you to connect your keyboard to your Digital Audio Workstation (DAW), allowing you to record yourself playing and make use of the thousands of available plug-ins. If you like to have your creativity reigning free and want to create your beats and sounds, then choose one of our options above that has MIDI connectivity.

Another thing is also to ensure that you choose one of the keyboards with a USB MIDI connectivity. Although USB availability may be stated, you have to countercheck that the USB is available before purchase.

4. Portability

This goes without saying. Especially in today's era, having one of the keyboards that you can easily carry around will open doors for you that would otherwise be closed if you can't carry your piano around.

Especially if you are or want to be a gigging pianist, you need to pick a lightweight option and has a compact design that is easy to move around with. Check out our second and fifth options above if portability is an excellent factor for you.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Can you Learn Piano on a Cheap Keyboard?

Yes. We recommend that you go for one of the cheap options above as they are affordable and designed for beginners like you. After you're used to playing, you can now upgrade to a better and higher-quality option.

2. Is Keyboard Easier than Piano?

Yes. One of the reasons for this is the keys. Keyboard keys are significantly lighter than those on a piano. Especially for children who haven't built up their finger strengths, learning on a keyboard would be much easier and faster.

3. Do You Need a Full-size Keyboard to Learn Piano?

No. For a beginner, a 61-key keyboard is sufficient to learn how to play well. Nonetheless, if your focus is on a classical one day, you might learn better with an 88-key keyboard. Check out our fifth option if you want an 88-key keyboard. 

Zen Chung


I'm Zen Chung, a piano and violin teacher based out of Plano, Texas. I started this blog because my students (and their parents) kept asking about the best musical instruments to buy online. Look no further I'm here to save the day! 

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