If you’ve been thinking of learning how to play the piano, the first place to start is to get your hands on a cheap keyboard.
While premium, high-quality pianos can be quite expensive, you can find cheaper alternatives to begin with. The best keyboards can set you back by around USD 500-1000, but if you’re a beginner, you can find a decent keyboard starting at around USD 100.
Where to Buy Your Piano From
Whether you choose to buy your piano online or offline, make sure you choose a trusted source. With a new piano, you’ll need to consider factors, such as the warranty of the instrument, etc. With a used one, you’ll need to look at the state of the instrument, reviews if you’re dealing with an online seller and so on.
What are the Best Websites for Finding a Deal on a Keyboard Piano or Digital Piano?
Amazon is all the rage now. It doesn’t matter what you’re looking for – just type the word and you’ll find it. With prices starting as low at USD 100, you can find pretty much any piano in any size, style and brand on Amazon. With a little more investment, you can end up with a great keyboard piano that comes with important accessories, such as a stand, headset, etc.
If you want to invest in a specific keyboard (whether it’s a better brand or a larger instrument with more features) that you can’t seem to find on Amazon, you can opt to look for one on craigslist.
What are the Best Offline Places to Find a Cheap Keyboard Piano?
If you’re not big on online shopping, there are other places where you can look for a keyboard piano. From proper music stores with brand new instruments, to flea markets with secondhand devices, there are plenty of options to choose from.
If you’re looking for a cheaper keyboard, buying a brand new one is not the best option since it probably won’t fit your budget. Finding a decent used keyboard requires a little more time and effort: you’ll have to go to a number of thrift stores or a flea market and hunt for a keyboard that isn’t too worn out and doesn’t have any missing keys. You may have to visit the same thrift stores more than once in case you suddenly find what you’re looking for. But the effort is worth it since you can get a keyboard in great condition for a fraction of the real price.
What Factors Make a Keyboard Piano More Expensive?
The price of a keyboard is affected by numerous factors, such as the brand and the features the instrument offers. Let’s take a closer look at the specifications you need to consider when buying a keyboard piano:
The Keys
Although a full-sized keyboard has 88 keys, a keyboard with 61 keys will also suffice if you’re starting out. And yes, the number of keys on your keyboard will affect its price.
If you’re planning on learning the type of music that requires more complex keys, you’ll need to expand your budget a bit. For instance, you can’t try and learn classical music on a 61-key keyboard – for that you’ll need the keyboard with 88 keys.
The Material
Basic plastic keyboards start at around USD 100. Keyboards made with high-grade plastic will be costlier and those made of metal will be even more expensive. You need to consider how frequently you’ll be using your keyboard piano: are you in a rock band that plays at the local bar every night, or are you taking piano lessons once a week? A basic keyboard might be sufficient to help you kick-start your musical journey, but you’ll need something more durable if you plan on playing frequently.
The Presence of Additional Features
Not all keyboards are built the same. Some offer features such as touch response, where the pressure exerted on the key determines the type of sound it makes. The more features your keyboard has, the more expensive it is likely to be.
Other such features include weighted keys, which add some resistance to the keys to help you develop your own technique of playing. Keyboards without this feature are likely to be cheaper.
Bundles
If you’re buying your keyboard piano online, chances are you will find product bundles at discounted rates. Accessories such as piano stools, stands or a metronome can be purchased in a package with your piano, which will obviously cost a bit more than just buying the piano on its own.
What are Some Tips for Finding the Best Budget Keyboard for my Needs?
The first thing you need to consider is whether you want a standard or digital keyboard. The digital one will imitate the sounds of a real keyboard, but if you want to be a true pianist, you’ll need to learn how to play on the standard keyboard eventually.
Start by allotting a budget to yourself for your piano. If you’re on a tight budget, a secondhand keyboard is a better option (despite the obvious risk of hidden damage in the instrument) since you’ll have more room to look for a keyboard with more features. If you’re playing notes with higher octaves, you’ll need the keyboard with 88 keys, and having additional features such as touch response can be quite useful.
While buying a brand new keyboard with these features might be out of your budget, going on a thrift store/ flea market hunt, or even alerting your friends on social media can help you find a used instrument that fits your musical needs.
