Yamaha Keyboards

If you’re like most serious musicians, you want the absolute best instrument you can get, and from a manufacturer that you can trust.  And you don’t want to spend a fortune if you can help it.

This is why so many musicians depend on their Yamaha keyboards – because they know that they’re getting quality and the best piano sound backed by the Yamaha name.

But with a bunch of high-end Yamaha models to choose from, how do you know which is the best Yamaha keyboard for your particular needs?

That’s what we’re going to do in this Yamaha P45 (Yamaha P45B)  review – give you the low-down on one of Yamaha’s top models!

Yamaha P45 Review (Yamaha P45B) – Overview

The Yamaha P45 is part of the P series – an outstanding member of Yamaha’s line of contemporary keyboard pianos, and most cost less than $1,000. The most affordable of the P line was the P-35, an 88-key, weighted keyboard that was very popular, but is no longer manufactured by Yamaha.

Now, there is the P45B, which is the next incarnation of the P-35, with new features that may just make it even better than the popular P-35. The P 45B is smaller and even more portable than the P-35, and it has an upgraded, 64-note polyphony for awesome musical quality.  It is the most affordable of the Yamaha P-series piano keyboards.

The P45B has the latest in Advanced Wave Memory technology (AWM), which means that the instrument sounds as close as possible to the real thing. The acoustic piano sound (also called a voice) is very authentic, because the AWM stereo sampling helps to create a sound that is richer and deeper.

The sounds can be played at many volumes and timbres. Every key has been sampled with AWM single key sampling technology. For a relatively inexpensive keyboard, you will be very impressed with the sound quality.  You may very well believe you are playing a grand piano.

One of the best things about the P45B is the key action. Each key is weighted, so it is heavier in the low notes and lighter in the high notes.

This means that this is a keyboard that is the next best thing to playing an acoustic piano, at least when it comes to how it feels, and there are four settings for the key sensitivity.   This is important because you can build good habits, and move to playing an acoustic piano easily.

The keys have a matte finish, so you don’t have to worry about your fingers slipping off, even if you are playing hard and sweating.

You can get the P45B in a bundle package that comes with an X keyboard stand, headphones, and a sustain pedal.

This is a great way to save money rather than having to buy each of these items separately, which can start to add up after a while.

Video Overview of Yamaha P45B

See one person’s impression of their new P 45B on this YouTube video.

Who is the Yamaha P45B Digital Piano Most Suitable for?

It is reasonably priced, with bundle packages costing less than $500 on Amazon, and it has plenty of features to offer players of all levels.

If you are looking for a good digital piano that is portable, sounds like an acoustic piano, and isn’t going to cost $1,000 or more, the P45B is definitely an option to consider.

If you are looking for a keyboard as a toy for a child, the P45B may not be the best option. If you are looking for an affordable entry level instrument for an aspiring pianist, however, then it is an excellent choice.  Since it is in the $500 range, it is not something that you want to see treated as a toy, or have them lose interest in. If you have a child who is learning how to play the piano, the Yamaha P45 would be an excellent piano keyboard for them to learn on, and when they show that they have an interest to continue learning, you could upgrade to something more sophisticated like the Arius YDP 143 /Arius YDP 144.  In fact, it could be used as an incentive to keep on practicing and getting better.

If you are an intermediate or even an advanced player, the P45 is still a fine keyboard to have, especially if you have space limitations.  It is certainly more affordable and takes up much less space than a traditional acoustic upright.

What’s Included with the Yamaha P45B?

Depending on the seller, you can buy the P45B by itself, or you can get it in a bundle package. What is inside the bundle package again depends on the seller. Look for a bundle package that includes the Yamaha P45B keyboard, an X keyboard stand, a padded piano bench, headphones, dust cover, and a sustain pedal.

Even though this is a keyboard designed for professionals, some of the bundle packages even come with instructional books for beginner and intermediate players.

If you were to purchase the keyboard separately from all of these accessories, you would pay around $450. For an additional $50, you get at least $200 worth of accessories.

Also, when you get a bundle package, you have everything you need to sit down and start playing as soon as you take it all out of the box.

Features of the Yamaha P45B

This is a keyboard piano that is made for professionals, but it is also a good model for beginner and intermediate players.

First there was the P35. Then, there was the P45 / P45B with upgraded features. It has a full sized, 88 key keyboard. Plus, it has GHS weighted action, so you get the heaviness in the low keys and the lightness in the high keys.

The sensitivity of the keyboard can be adjusted, depending on your own personal playing style. As we mentioned, this can be a good keyboard for beginners, and the GHS weighted action is one of the reasons why, because they will be learning on something that feels like a grand piano. Some of our favorite features of the P45B include:

64-Note Polyphony

One of the best upgrades from the P35 is the 64-note polyphony. This is going to allow you to be able to perform some pretty complicated musical passages, even when you are using a lot of sustain, and you won’t have to worry about any dropped notes.  

In fact, you could play 64 notes at once, and hear each one as clear as a bell. It’s not likely that you are ever going to actually want to do this, but with this keyboard, it is an option.

Dual Mode

When you are using the dual mode feature, you are able to combine two of the built-in voices (instrument sounds) for better creativity in your work.  You could for example have strings and grand pianovoices being played at the same time. Both these would be heard clearly through the built in speakers.

Due Mode (Split Mode)

The duo mode feature enables two people to play side by side as if they were playing on two different pianos.  The digital piano keyboard in essence becomes two keyboards.

This arrangement is perfect for a teacher and student playing next to each other, or for two pianists playing a four handed arrangement.

USB Connectivity

There are tons of great music apps out there, and you can use them with this keyboard. It has a USB to Host port that lets you connect it to other devices, including computers, laptops, and mobile phones.

This is going to let you use the various music education, entertainment, and creation software packages. The USB replaces the MIDI in and out; there is also a standard ¼” headphone output jack.

Note: You will need to use an A-male / B-male USB Cable (for example this one) to connect to the computer.

One Button Function

Here is a feature that is perfect for professionals and beginners in this digital piano. You can change the various settings using a single button, including changing voices, setting up the built-in metronome, playing demo sources, and more.

All you have to do is press the “Grand Piano/Function” button, and making changes is simple. This is going to speed things up if you are playing on stage, and beginners won’t have to worry about fiddling with a bunch of buttons.

Reverb and Chorus

You won’t find many digital pianos in this price range that have chorus and reverb effects. This is going to allow you to create sounds that have much warmer sound quality.  

There is also a sustain pedal included with your purchase, so you will have this effect as well. These are just a few of the effects that set this digital piano apart from comparable models by other brands.

Octaves

This 88-key keyboard has something that many digital pianos, particularly those in this price range, don’t: eight octaves. This is a full-size piano, with a full eight octaves, which is going to let you play those really complex pieces.

This is because unlike other digital pianos that are small, this one, even though it is lightweight and portable, is going to give you plenty of room to play with both hands.

Voices

There are 10 instrument voices you can use on this digital piano, so you can get just the sound you want every time you play. The voices are: two grand pianos, two electric pianos, two pipe organs, strings, two harpsichords, and a vibraphone.  

Sure, there are other digital pianos that have hundreds of voices, but when you come right down to it, you will never need more than a handful, and the rest are likely never going to be used anyway (except maybe when you first get the keyboard and you want to play around with it).

Pre-Set Songs

Here is one more reason why we like this keyboard for beginners. There are 10 pre-set songs, along with 10 demos that you can use to play along with.

This is great for beginners, because you can learn with songs and actually be playing something. You can also slow down the songs, which is going to help beginners to get the feel for playing at their own speed, and building up as they get better.

Other Specs

• Speakers:  2 of them, each 4.5 inches (12 cm)
• Power:  Yamaha PA-150 AC Adapter Power Supply with 12 Volt DC in (included)
• Amplifiers:  2 of them, each 6 Watts
• Reverb:  4 types
• Metronome Tempo Range:  32-280
• Transpose:  -6 to 0, 0 to +6
• Tuning:  414.8 – 440.0 -446.8 Hz
• Music Rest included
• Pedal/Footswitch included

Portability

This keyboard weighs just slightly over 25 pounds  and measures 52.25″ x 6.0″ x 11.5″ (133 cm x 15.4cm x 29.5 cm). (The P35 weighed 35 lb. and measured 58.2” X 16.1” X 11.8”) , making it fairly lightweight, and very portable. The accessories (included when you buy a bundle package) are also lightweight, so they are quite portable as well.  

One thing that we don’t like about this keyboard is the fact that it doesn’t have a record and playback option. This is strange, considering that there are many other digital pianos that cost far less and have this feature.

Of course, you can always connect the keyboard to the Internet and do your recording through music recording software. It would just be a whole lot easier if you didn’t have to go through any extra steps to record what you are playing.

Pros and Cons of the Yamaha P45B

Pros	Cons
GHS weighted keys make it feel like an acoustic piano	Some keys have a tendency to be noisy (particularly lower keys)
Full, 88-key keyboard with plenty of room; Duo mode for duets	No record/playback feature, must use alternate sources
Easy to change settings just by touching one button	Comes with a sustain pedal only.  Does not have 3 foot pedals
Reverb and chorus effects for warm, rich sound quality	Limited to ten voices
Energy-saving feature shuts keyboard down after a period of non-use	Instrument stand a piano bench sold separately – may be included in a bundle

Yamaha P45B Manual

If you’d like to check out the nitty-gritty of the Yamaha P 45B, here’s a link to the model’s manual:

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD YAMAHA P45B MANUAL

How to Use the Yamaha P45B

One great thing is that you can start using the P45B right out of the box. It is even easier if you order a bundle package so you have a stand and a bench. If you want to play undisturbed, the headphones will come in quite handy.

Using this digital piano is relatively simple for the most part, thanks to that one-button function we were talking about earlier. Also, if this is for a beginner, make sure that you get the bundle package that offers instructional books that can be used alongside regular piano lessons.

Yamaha P45 vs P45B

We occasionally get emails asking us “how does the P 45B compare to the Yamaha P45?” These are two different ways of referring to the same item.   It turns out that “P45” is the model number and “P45B” is the part number.  The “B” stands for “Black.”  Other Yamaha pianos in the P-series are made in both black and white.  The P45 is made only in black, and so the part number is “P45B.”

Now, if you were comparing the P35 and the P 45B, you would see some differences. (Note that, at the time of this review, the P35 was not available for purchase, because it has been discontinued).

The biggest difference between these digital pianos is the 64-note polyphony. The P 35 only had only 32-note polyphony. Also, the P 45B has a much better sound quality than did the P35.

The other main difference is the USB connection. On the P 45B, there is a USB to Host port. The P35  had a 5-pin din MIDI. All in all, as for the answer to the Yamaha P45 vs P 45B, it is the same piano. If you want to know if the P 45B is better than purchasing a P35, we recommend the P 45B.

Sweetwater’s Yamaha P45 Digital Piano Review

Yamaha P45 Review – What Makes it Special?

Yamaha P45 88 Key Weighted Action / Graded Hammer Standard (GHS)

If you were to play an acoustic piano (traditional piano), you would notice that it takes more force to play the lower notes than it does to play the higher notes.  On an acoustic piano, when you press a key, a series of levers cause a hammer to strike the strings.  The “feel” of an acoustic piano is is known as its “action.”  The lower notes are created by thicker piano strings, and it takes more force to make them vibrate. The keys themselves weigh more in the lower registers than in the upper registers which aids in supplying the necessary force to the hammer.  In fact, every key on a grand piano has a different weight.  Additionally, an upright piano has vertical strings and a grand piano has horizontal strings, so these also have different actions due to how gravity affects the striking mechanism.

You might imagine that with an electric piano, all keys would feel the same.  And that would be true, except that Yamaha gave the P45 88-key weighted-action.  It uses Graded Hammer Action so that when you play the Yamaha P45, you feel the same action as when you play a traditional piano.

The advantage to this is that you will be able to easily transition from your Yamaha 45 to a piano teacher’s upright, for example, or to the grand piano in a concert hall.

Yamaha uses several different Graded Hammer actions in its electric pianos.: GH/GHE, GH3, and GHS.  The Yamaha P45 uses GHS, which  stands for Graded Hammer Standard Weighted, which is perfect for beginners so that new pianists learn the proper technique.

AWM Advanced Wave Memory Sampling

When you hear electronic music, or synthesizer music, it can sound – well, electronic. The notes are true, but the sound is flat.  Music from an acoustic piano – or any acoustic stringed instrument, really – sounds rich and complex.  This is because the sound is not generated just once.  Once stuck, the strings continue to vibrate, and the sound continues over a short period of time, while decreasing in intensity. Additionally, the sound is slightly different depending on where you are in relation to the strings.

keep that rich sound in their electronic pianos.  The process is called Advanced Wave Memory Sampling, or AWM for short.  They put multiple microphones inside of a grand piano and record the sound of a note from different locations.  These recordings captures the complex sound of the strings. They also made recordings at different volumes – when the piano is played softly (piano), medium (mezzo forte) and loud (forte).  The recordings are combined and integrated into the electronic piano. When you play a note on the Yamaha P45, you don’t just hear a tone – what you hear is the complex sound of a note as if it originated on a grand piano.

Conclusion

So, to conclude this Yamaha P45b review, whether you’re looking for a stage piano, or one that is ideal for learning on, the Yamaha P45B is an excellent choice. It has plenty of features, without being too overwhelming for the beginner, or too complicated for stage use.

It has a full keyboard with weighted keys that have a matte finish, for that acoustic piano feel. At a price of less than $500, you really can’t go wrong, especially when you consider all of the extra goodies that come along with the keyboard.

Interested in learning more? Please click here.

Related Posts

• Alesis Recital Pro vs Yamaha P45 (2021): Extra Features vs Reputation
• Korg B1 vs. Yamaha P45 (2021): Which Offers the Best Bang for Your Buck?
• Yamaha Keyboard Reviews (2021): 6 Best Yamaha Keyboards for Beginners, with Weighted Keys, and More
• Yamaha P71 Review (2021): Best 88-Key Beginner Keyboard?
• Best Yamaha Keyboards (2020): Prices, Reviews & Best Models (from Beginner to Expert)

Click image for more info

The Yamaha P71 is an entry-level digital piano that’s designed to provide an excellent playing experience, some high-end Yamaha features, and 88 keys – at an affordable price.

The P71 is the most economical model from the “P” series, which is Yamaha’s portable line of 88-key keyboards.

So what are the stand-out features of the P71, and how does it compare to other models? Let’s find out!

Overview of Yamaha P71

source

The  P71 is a high-quality, compact digital piano, with all the features you need to practice and play piano music with a wide range of styles, rhythms, and sounds. It’s also lightweight, portable, and easy to set up and use anywhere.  If you are just starting out, this is a great entry level piano.

Unlimited creativity – The ability to connect to a computer via USB enables you to connect the Yamaha P71 with a range of programs and apps that will help record, mix, and playback the music that you create. There are many programs with advanced features that can add powerful capabilities to the instrument, making it even more versatile.

In this review we will take an in-depth look at the features, specifications, and pros & cons of the Yamaha P71 digital piano.

Yamaha P71 vs P45

One question we are often asked is how is the Yamaha P71 different from the Yamaha P45? 

The answer is that they are functionally the same keyboard, but the P71 is an Amazon Exclusive Model, eligible for special offers and bundles.

See Reviews and More

 

Because it is an Amazon exclusive item, the digital piano can be sold at a lower price than the P45. The company also can bundle it with accessories, such as a piano bench, or a piano stand, that you would otherwise have to buy separately.  You can take advantage of the exclusive deal with Amazon to get an even better price on the keyboard that is identical to the P45!

Video Overview of Yamaha P71

Quick video overview of Yamaha P71.

Yamaha P71 FAQs

Young Boy Plays Piano Keyboard

Specifications of Yamaha P71

Specification	Description
Weight	25 pounds
Sound	AMW Stereo sampling 64 max polyphony 10 voices
Reverb	Adjustable reverb effect, 4 reverb types:   Room Hall1 Hall2 Stage
Functions	Dual / layers Duo Metronome Transpose Fine tuning
Keyboard	88 keys Graded hammer standard key weight system Hard/medium/soft/fixed touch sensitivity
USB	Includes USB to host connectivity
Auto Power	Includes Auto power off

Playing a Piano Keyboard

Yamaha P71 88 Key Specification

The Yamaha P71 88 Key Specification is significant because 88 keys are the number of keys on a full sized acoustic piano.  Some electric pianos have fewer keys to save space. The P-71, however, is a better option, because it is both lightweight and has a full-sized keyboard.

If you are a beginner, a full sized keyboard is imperative so that you learn good technique and are aware of the layout of keyboard. Don’t settle for fewer keys.  If you take piano lessons at a teacher’s house, or give a performance on a grand piano, then you will be able to transition easily from your digital piano to an acoustic.

If you are intermediate or advance pianist, or a composer, then you will demand that the keyboard be full sized so that you have access to the full range of scales.  In this case, the Yamaha P71 88 Key Specification will meet your needs.

Yamaha P71 is a Full size Piano Keyboard with 88 keys

Advanced Wave Memory (AWM) Sampling

The Yamaha P71  uses Advanced Wave Memory Sampling (AWM Sampling) to play the notes.  The result of this is that, when you are using the grand piano voice, each note you play sounds as if it were played on a Grand Piano. You do not hear a simple tone each time you press a piano key;  instead you hear a complex and rich note.  The note that plays was generated by recording the sound of grand piano using different microphones.

88 Key Weighted Action

The Yamaha P71  has 88 Key Weighted action.  This makes the keyboard feel as if were on an acoustic piano.  There are two important aspects to this.  First, the more force you use to play a note, the louder it sounds.  Second, the keys at the lower end are harder to play.

Looking inside an acoustic piano. On the left you can see the strings that make the lower notes are much thicker than the other strings.

In an acoustic piano, the keys on the keyboard all have different weights.  This enables the piano to operate properly.  Pressing a key engages a series of levers that cause a hammer to strike a string, causing vibration, and you hear the sound.  The lower notes have thicker strings and require more force to strike.  The 88 Key Weighted action of the P71 mimics the force required.

Grand Piano

Because of this, when you play the Yamaha P71 it will feel like you are playing an acoustic piano, and it will be easy to move between the digital piano and an acoustic upright or a grand piano.

Yamaha uses several technologies in its pianos to recreate the feel of the keyboard. Graded Hammer Standard (GHS) is the technology used in the P71.

Ten Voices, Dual Mode and Reverb

“Voice” refers to the type of instrument that you hear when you play a digital piano.  Since the piano is electronic, you are not limited to hearing only the sound or a piano.  With Dual Mode, you can also use two voices at a time.

Vibraphone – One of the 10 Voices available

The Yamaha P-71 has 10 voices:

Two organs, two harpsichords, two electric pianos, one vibraphone, one strings, and two grand pianos.

There are also four types of Reverb.

Harpsichord – There are two Harpsichord voices available.

64-Note Polyphony

Polyphony is the number of notes or sounds that can be played at one time.  The Yamaha P-71 has a 64-note polyphony.   If you had a 3 note chord in your left hand and melody and harmony in your right hand, you would need to have 5-note polyphony.   64-note polyphony does not mean that you would have to play a 64 note chord, however.  If you are using dual mode with two voices, reverb, or duo mode, then these sounds layer and the number of notes that are played at one time can add up.  64  is a good standard; higher end keyboards have 128-note polyphony.

Woman Playing a Keyboard Piano. The 64-note Polyphony of the Yamaha P-71 lets you make complex music.

Duo Mode

With Duo Mode, the keyboard becomes two pianos, each with 44 keys.  This is excellent for playing next to your teacher during a piano lesson or for performing a duet.

Using Duo Mode – Sitting Side by Side and Using Same Piano Keyboard as two pianos

Physical Aspects

One of the best features of the the Yamaha P-71 is its portability.  It weighs 25 lb.,  4 oz. (11.5 kg), so it is easy to move around.  It will rest on a table when you are ready to play it.  The dimensions are 54.25 in. x 6.0 in. x 11.5 in. (132.6 cm x 15.4 cm x 29.5 cm).

The piano has two built in 6 Watt amplifiers, and two built in speakers.

It is powered with a Yamaha PA-150 AC adapter that provides 12V DC in.  There is a USB to Host port on the back.  You can use this to connect the piano to a computer.

You can connect the Yamaha P71 to a Computer.

It is shipped with single sustain pedal, and cannot be fitted with 3 pedals, which would mimic an acoustic. However, the sustain pedal is most important.

The piano requires no assembly other than connecting power, and can be played right out of the box.

A music stand and a metronome are built in.  The piano does not come with a stand or a bench however.  That is where the special Amazon Bundles fill in the gaps.  Look at the bundle below, for example:

Who is the Yamaha P71 Suitable For?

Practicing Scales on the Piano

The Yamaha P-71 is a great digital piano for people who want to experience the feel and sound of an acoustic piano.

How come you might ask?

Because the P-71 has 88 keys, just like an acoustic piano (many keyboards and lower-end digital pianos have only 76 keys, or even 61 keys).

It’s great for learning, teaching, and rehearsing in a compact space, at an affordable price.

Piano Lesson: The Yamaha P71 is perfect for young pianists who are just starting out.

The P-71 is also highly portable, simple to learn and operate, and has the feel and sound of a high-quality, Yamaha piano. It’s a highly recommended digital piano for beginners and new pianists, so they don’t pick up bad habits from a non- or poorly-weighted keyboard.

The  P-71 is also a good choice for musicians who need to travel often, and who want great sound in a lightweight, portable package. It doesn’t have all the features that an experienced, professional piano player may need for a performance, but for more casual settings or collaborations, it’s a great choice.

What’s Included in the Box of Yamaha P71?

The basic package comes with the piano, a power adapter, and sustain pedal:

Power adapter

Sustain pedal

Summary of Features of the Yamaha P71

FEATURE	DESCRIPTION
Portable size	The Yamaha P71 weighs just 25 pounds, and has a depth of less than 12 inches, making it easy to move, transport, and set up nearly anywhere.
Advanced sound sampling	Advanced Wave Memory sampling is Yamaha’s classic sound engine. Sound is captured with two pairs of microphones, for left and right waveforms that give a deeper, richer, and more spacious sound.
88 keys	The 88 key keyboard has been carefully designed. The graded hammer standard key weight technology has a heavier touch on the low end of the keyboard, and a lighter feel in the high notes.Practicing with correctly weighted keys builds proper finger technique that translates easily to an acoustic piano. Touch sensitivity can be adjusted for hard, medium, or soft playing, or touch sensitivity can be disabled altogether.
Matte finish	The black keys on this digital piano are treated with a matte finish so they do not get slippery during extended play.
Many voices	A library of 10 piano voices (instrument voices) give you endless opportunities to layer sounds for rich, sustained, complex musical compositions. Voices include grand piano, electric piano, organ, harpsichord, vibraphone, and strings. It also has 4 reverb and chorus effects, including Room, Hall1, Hall2, and Stage reverb settings.

You can compose music on the Yamaha P71

FEATURE	DESCRIPTION
Polyphony of 64	Polyphony measures the instrument’s ability to play multiple sounds at once. While 64 is an ample quantity for most needs, some voices use 4 or more elements at once, and that’s before you begin sustaining and layering in complex sounds. When the polyphony is exceeded, some sounds may prematurely decay or even abruptly cut off, so it’s a good idea not to exceed the P71’s maximum polyphony capabilities.
Fine tuning	While the piano never needs tuning, you can still use the fine tuning feature to adjust the pitch of the entire instrument. This feature is useful when you play along with other musicians or pre-recorded music.
Dual mode	This feature allows you to layer sounds together, such as piano and strings, and play two instruments at once. The transpose function allows you to control and adjust semitones, and is perfect for accompanying a vocalist.
Automatic shut-off	The piano will automatically shut off after a period of inactivity, in order to conserve power. You can adjust this feature or disable it if you prefer.
USB	USB output allows you to easily connect the P71 to your computer or mobile device for recording and playback using compatible apps.
“Duo” function	The P71’s Duo function splits the keyboard in half, so two players can each have a 44 key keyboard and their own middle C. This is perfect for piano lessons, allowing teacher and student to play at the same time, and use the metronome function to keep time.

Computer connected to a Piano Keyboard

Accessories You Should Consider

To make the most of your Yamaha P71, and make sure that your at-home, digital piano experience is the best practice so that you can move to an analogue piano if you choose, you should also consider a few important accessories.

	Headphones

While unfortunately many people buy an adaptor so they can use their existing earbuds with their new Yamaha, that isn’t the best choice.

Studio Headphones not only allow you to practice playing piano without disturbing the neighbors, but they can also provide an excellent rich, clear sound quality that is often missing in small, built-in speakers and in earbuds.

Some excellent headphones for learning piano are the Sony MDR7506 Professional headphones. They have built-in noise cancellation to reduce distractions, have fantastic sound, fold for easy portability, and are light weight for hours of comfortable use. The high-quality connectors ensure extra durability, and the generous, 9.8-foot cord gives plenty of length to reach to the back of the P71, where the headphone jack is. These professional headphones are a great investment in learning piano and making the most of your keyboard time.

	Foot pedal

The P71 bundle comes with a sustain pedal, but, as with the weighted keys, it is better to learn and practice on a foot pedal that is closer to the experience of an analogue piano.

The M-Audio SP-2 Universal Sustain Pedal feels and works just like an acoustic piano pedal, with realistic resistance and response, and half-pedal capabilities. The rubber bottom grips the floor while you play, and it is rugged and built to last.

	Carrying case

If you plan on taking advantage of the portability of the Yamaha P71, it’s best to get a carrying case. For short trips and easy transport, the Yamaha Artiste Series keyboard bag for 88-note keyboards is an excellent choice.

For frequent travel, air travel, and more rugged use, the Gator Cases Padded Keyboard Gig bag is made of heavy-duty ballistic nylon with reinforced riveted carrying handles. The adjustable padded straps securely hold a keyboard in place and protect it during transport, and it has convenient large #10 zippers.

Pros & Cons of Yamaha P71

PROS

Full size keyboard Light weight and compact size Graded hammer standard key weight system 4 levels of touch sensitivity 4 levels of reverb AMW stereo sampling gives full, rich piano sound 64 polyphony 10 voices Dual mode (layer two different instrument voices) Duo mode (split keyboard for two players) Transpose feature (control and adjust semitones) Built-in metronome Simple, single-button operation Auto off feature USB out to a computer Matte black keys

cons
No built-in recording function Headphone jack is in the rear Only 64 max polyphony Comes only with a single sustain pedal instead of 3 pedals

Young Boy Playing a Piano

Yamaha P71 Manual

If you’d like to check out the nitty-gritty of the Yamaha electric piano, here’s a link to the model’s manual:

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD MANUAL

An Alternative Product to Consider

If your goal is to learn to pay the piano, with an intention to go on to playing acoustic piano, there really isn’t a better keyboard for a beginner than the Yamaha P71. It’s important for beginners to learn with a full-size, properly weighted keyboard, so that their finger technique will be correct for an acoustic piano, and the P71 is the best fully weighted keyboard in a portable size at this price range.

source

However, if you want to learn to play the piano and remain a digital-only musician, then the fully weighted keys are not so important, and you have a lot more options.

In that instance, a great choice is the Casio CTK4400 61-key keyboard. The keys are touch-sensitive, and it has 600 voices, 48-note polyphony, and reverb effects. It comes with 180 preset rhythms and 152 built-in songs.

As you would expect from Casio, it has sampling and recording capabilities, with MIDI and audio inputs. 32 registration memories let you store your settings and retrieve them quickly. It weighs just 15 pounds, and comes with a built-in learning system. It’s a great choice for beginner digital musicians who want light weight, portability, versatility, and a lot of features at a low cost.​

Update August 2021

Update as of August, 2021: The excellent Casio CTK 4400 is no longer available. Try this similar, more up to date option from Alesis, the Alesis Recital:

Yamaha P71 Digital Piano Review by C-Tech Solutions

About Yamaha

Yamaha was founded in 1897 by Torakusu Yamaha.  The initial product was a reed organ.  The company moved into upright pianos, then grand pianos, then expanded to manufacture a wide variety of musical instruments and musical equipment.

The company was first listed on the Tokyo stock exchange in 1949.  Today, it makes an unprecedented number of products for the music industry, including digital mixing systems, electric guitars and violins, and of course, pianos.

Aerial view of Hamamatsu City, home of Yamaha Corporation

Their headquarters are in Hamamatsu, Japan, and there is a museum there called Innovation Road.  Yamaha has numerous factories, and the piano factory in Kakegawa, Japan offers tours. (Here is a link directly to the  tours but it is written in Japanese.)

When you are playing your Yamaha P-71 digtal piano, you can be rest assured that you are playing an instrument that has been borne out of generations of expertise.

Conclusion

To conclude this Yamaha P71 review, it is safe to say that this digital piano is an excellent choice to learn to play the piano, with a realistic graded hammer standard key weight system to learn correct finger techniques and build strength and endurance.

It’s also a great piano for teachers to use with students, because the fully weighted keyboard and touch sensitivity are good for students, and Duo mode allows you to sit beside a student and play along with them.

Yamaha P71 (click image for more info)

The built-in metronome is useful for learning or practicing, and it’s useful to record lessons and play them back with the handy iOS apps that are compatible with this keyboard. It’s also a great choice for musicians who travel to gigs, because it is so portable and lightweight.

The range of polyphony and instrument voices allow you to produce a range of full, rich, layered sounds from anywhere, at any time. Many professional musicians will wish that it had greater polyphony capabilities, and would prefer better onboard recording functions, but it’s a good tradeoff for the incredible Yamaha sound and keyboard feel in this price range.

The Yamaha P71 is recommended by piano teachers everywhere as being an excellent, affordable option for beginners, with all the tools and capabilities a person needs to learn to play the piano well, and build skills that translate easily to acoustic pianos.