Choosing Your First (Digital) Piano

Thinking about starting your piano lessons but don't have a piano at hand? Cheap rolling pianos and smaller keyboards might have attractive prices, but you won't be able to learn key positions properly without a full-size arrangement. They also don't have the key response necessary for feeling the touch and building up your finger strength. On the other hand, it's probably a bit too early to invest in a heavy upright piano or even grand piano just yet. They feel and sound incredible, but do come with pretty high price tags and maintenance cost. 

There is more to consider if the student is your kid - cheap options can have a harmful impact on their early skill development which is something they may inherit in their entire life, and too expensive ones might become a waste given their easy shift of passions.

Why not start from some inexpensive but fully functional options? Listed below are a few entry-level digital pianos I find nice to play and to listen to:


Kawai ES120
Touch 4.5/5 | Sound 4.5/5 | Price 3/5


Casio PX-S1100
Touch 4/5 | Sound 4.5/5 | Price 4/5
Keyboard only: Casio Privia PX-S1100 88-key Digital Piano - Black
Full set: Casio Privia PX-S1100 88-key Digital Piano - Black with CS68 Stand


Casio PX-770
Touch 4/5 | Sound 4.5/5 | Price 3.5/5
Full set: Casio Privia PX-770 Digital Piano - Black Finish


Yamaha P-45
Touch 4/5 | Sound 4/5 | Price 4.5/5
Yamaha P-45 88-key Digital Piano with Speakers


Roland FP-10
Touch 4/5 | Sound 4/5 | Price 4/5
Keyboard only: Roland FP-10 Digital Piano 
Full set: Roland FP-10 Digital Piano with Stand and Pedal


Roland FP-30X
Touch 4/5 | Sound 4.5/5 | Price 3/5
Keyboard only: Roland FP-30X Digital Piano with Speakers - Black
Stand: Roland KSC-70 Stand for FP-30x Digital Piano - Black
Pedal: Roland KPD-70 Pedal Unit for FP-30 Digital Piano - Black


Alesis Recital Pro
Touch 3/5 | Sound 3/5 | Price 5/5



Don't Forget a Pedal

A pedal is probably the most important accessory you need to buy together with your digital piano. While acoustic pianos usually have 3 pedals, only the rightmost (sustain) pedal really matters when it comes to entry-level digital pianos, so it's totally fine to get a one-pedal option for your first purchase.
All digital pianos listed above have the same type of port for sustain pedals, so don't worry about compatibility issues. While cheaper options are available, it's much better to get one with decent build quality as you'd need to step on it for many many times in the future. Besides, the well-built ones are not expensive anyway.
My recommendation for sustain pedal is:

Other Accessories

Keyboard stand: most entry-level digital pianos offer compatible stands you can buy together. For budget options, check out some x-shaped stands like https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1203461-REG/auray_x_style_piano_bench.html (this one comes with a bench). They don't look as nice and are a little less sturdy, but should serve well through your starting period.

Piano bench: essential to keeping the proper seating pose and provide comfort during long practice sessions. For adults usually, something like https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1340346-REG/auray_pbs_17_x_style_piano_bench.html is OK to start with. For more piano-like feelings and especially for kids, consider something like https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1278079-REG/auray_pbs_ah_piano_bench_adjustable.html which offers more adjustability, stability, and comfort.

Earphone: important to have if you want to practice without disturbing family members, roommates, or sometimes neighbors. If you have a pair of wired earphones at hand, getting an adaptor like https://www.amazon.com/UGREEN-6-35mm-Female-Stereo-Adapter/dp/B01D82XXGO can make it work for your digital piano. For better sound and comfort, you can consider one of the entry-level headphones like https://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD280PRO-Headphone-new-model/dp/B00IT0IHOY.