If you are looking to learn how to play the piano, but you don’t want a full-size acoustic piano, you might want to look into getting a keyboard, otherwise known as a piano keyboard.
These are much smaller; they aren’t as heavy; they come with some neat features; and they aren’t nearly as costly as large acoustic pianos. That said, how much does a piano keyboard cost?
As you are about to find out, it is going to depend on a variety of factors such as brand name, size, quality, and so much more. Let’s take a look at how much you can expect to spend on a piano keyboard.
Piano Keyboard Cost – A Basic Estimate
How much you spend on a piano keyboard will depend on a variety of factors. That said, we can provide you with a basic estimate of how much a piano keyboard costs. If you are going for a high-end and quality brand name piano keyboard, you can spend anywhere from $1,000 to $3,000.
That said, you don’t have to go for high-end options. If you want to go for a really basic model, something you can use to learn on, you can get away with spending under $500. Let’s move on and take a look at the various factors which will determine the price of your piano keyboard, as well as what you want to look for.
The Brand Name
One factor which is going to make a huge difference in terms of the cost of the piano keyboard is the brand name. Some of the most popular brands in the world of keyboards include Casio, Yamaha, Kawai, Korg, and Roland. Expect to pay a decent amount when buying a keyboard from any of these brand names.
However, this is just like with shoes or clothing. Most often, if your product features a well-known brand name, it’s automatically going to cost a lot more than if you purchase one from a lesser known and less popular brand name.
If you are just getting started, go for a lesser known brand name, something cheaper. If you are very dedicated to learning and playing piano, go for a bigger brand name. Something to keep in mind is that the bigger brand names will usually feature better warranties on their products, which is important in case something goes wrong with your instrument.
New vs. Used
Even new low-end piano keyboards can cost you several hundred dollars. If you are not prepared to spend this much money on something which you may or may not use for a long time, you might want to check out some used pianos.
Go to the online marketplaces where people sell used goods or go to a music store which sells used goods. You can save a lot of money by buying a used piano keyboard, and if you buy it from a reputable source, chances are that it will still be in good shape.
There are plenty of people who buy piano keyboards, don’t use them much, and decide that it’s not right for them. If you are lucky, you can find a used piano keyboard in great condition for just a couple hundred dollars.
Keyboard Size vs. Sound Functions
Something else to keep an eye out for when deciding what kind of piano keyboard to get is the size, especially in relation to sound functions. The rule of thumb is that larger piano keyboards often come with weighted and a wide range of keys.
These tend to be best for adults to learn on, as they come quite close to the real thing. However, these full-size piano keyboards with weighted keys often have much fewer sound functions and technological features.
On the other hand, you can also go for a much smaller beginner keyboard. These may not have a full-size piano keyset, and they may not have weighted keys, but they usually have many more sound functions to play around with. These tend to cost a bit less.
Sound Quality
One of the other main factors which is going to determine the price of your piano keyboard is sound quality, something that is often related to the brand name.
Simply put, more expensive piano keyboards with more advanced components will produce better sounds which closely resemble the sounds made by a real piano. If you are really serious about learning piano, investing in one that has good sound quality is recommended.
Conclusion
The bottom line is that how much you spend on a keyboard is really up to you. If you want a small beginner’s keyboard from a less popular brand, even a used keyboard, you can get away with spending a minimal amount of money, a few hundred dollars at most. However, if you are dedicated to playing piano, you want a popular brand name, and you want a large keyboard with great sound quality, you can easily spend $2,000 or $3,000.
