Reviews of the best 88-key keyboards, available for beginners and experienced players. You can choose from a wide range of Digital Pianos, Synths & Midi Controllers. 88-key keyboards are suitable for those who prefer to play the piano and/or for recording purposes.
Introduction
An 88 key keyboard is perfect for those:
- Who want an affordable piano to practice classical music/learn to play piano
- Who want a performance keyboard but with 88-weighted keys
- Who want a controller for their studio to play the piano, with weighted keys.
A digital piano-keyboard with 88 keys can be an alternative to a piano because you graded hammer action keys nowadays that feel like the keys on a real piano.
Certain musical pieces, especially in the classical music genre, need a keyboard with more than 61 piano keys.
So if you are more inclined towards classical music, the best option would be to go in for an electronic piano keyboard with 88 keys.
88-Key Keyboards: Comparison chart
These all come with fully weighted keys.
- [easyazon_link identifier=”B00HSPW57G” locale=”US” tag=”keytarhq04-20″ cart=”n”]Yamaha P255[/easyazon_link] (Excellent piano)
- [easyazon_link identifier=”B01CFOAIJG” locale=”US” tag=”keytarhq04-20″ cart=”n”]Yamaha DGX-660[/easyazon_link] (Arranger / Ensemble)
- [easyazon_link identifier=”B0094D3JI4″ locale=”US” tag=”keytarhq04-20″ cart=”n”]Casio PX-350[/easyazon_link] (Arranger / Ensemble)
- [easyazon_link identifier=”B00FFLT7CG” locale=”US” tag=”keytarhq04-20″ cart=”n”]Yamaha MOXF8[/easyazon_link] (Keyboard Synthesizer)
- [easyazon_link identifier=”B00HV8FK5O” locale=”US” tag=”keytarhq04-20″ cart=”n”]Roland FA-08[/easyazon_link] (Workstation Keyboard)
- [easyazon_link identifier=”B00LU1OCF2″ locale=”US” tag=”keytarhq04-20″ cart=”n”]Arturia KeyLab 88 USB MIDI Keyboard[/easyazon_link] (MIDI Controller)
- [easyazon_link identifier=”B01JASUS5O” locale=”US” tag=”keytarhq04-20″ cart=”n”]Studiologic SL88 Grand USB MIDI Keyboard Controller[/easyazon_link] (MIDI Controller)
Accessories
To make them lighter and portable, some of the 88 key keyboards (especially stage pianos) may not come with built-in speakers, so you will need to buy external speakers to hear them. Such keyboards are commonly sued for gigs.
Headphones for Piano Keyboard
Best Keyboard Amplifiers
Other piano accessories like Adapters, Stands, Cases, Headphones and Pedals are available, which you will need to make your piano playing more enjoyable.
Since these keyboards are comparatively heavier, the normal soft cases will not be good enough. You will need to consider the rigid cases which are specially meant for such keyboards.
- Digital Piano Stands for Your 88-Key Piano
- Headphones for Your 88-Key Piano
- Piano Bench for your digital Piano
ALL Piano Keyboard Accessories here.
88:Key Keyboards: Buying Guide
An 88-key keyboard is the best alternative to an acoustic piano, both in terms of the sound quality as well as the touch (to a great extent). In their quest to get that perfect piano touch in a portable keyboard, most of these keyboards tend to be heavy.
Also Read: Various Types of Piano Actions.
An 88 key keyboard is also known as a piano length keyboard since an acoustic piano has 88 keys. It is also known as 7 and a half Octave keyboard. One octave contains 12 keys (7 white plus 5 black) so this makes it basically a 7 and a half Octave keyboard.
Another good thing about a portable 88-key keyboard is that it can easily be made to look like an expensive upright piano by buying a digital piano stand and a 3-pedal unit.
88 key electronic keyboards generally use the better piano samples and come with built-in speakers, so the sound produced by these keyboards is good. Depending on the model, you may or may not get built-in musical styles.
You can also opt for a 76 key keyboard, if you want something that is lighter and portable.
You get 88-key stage pianos as well that are aimed at gigging musicians; these come with better feature set.
Best Digital Piano Reviews
Most 88-key pianos come with built-in speakers, and its good enough for personal use. You can always use a pair of headphones or external amplifiers to make them sound better. All electronic keyboards come with a headphone jack. So if you want to play at some odd hour, just put on your headphones and start practicing. Some instruments have two headphone jacks, just in case you want to jam with your friend or teacher.
You can even connect it to your home entertainment system. Just connect your keyboard instrument to one of the Aux inputs of your home system. Even a not so expensive instrument sounds really good when connected to your home system.
If you want to use your “88 Keyboard Piano” for stage performance, you have to use external amplification for your sound. When you decide to go in for external Amplifiers make sure that you buy dedicated keyboard combos and do not use the guitar amps or some other amps. In terms of output, look for combo amps with at least 60 watts power. This will give you a decent output. And to take full advantage of the stereo capabilities of your keyboard, make sure you go in for a pair of amps!
Best keyboard amplifiers
There are a lot of manufacturers in the market (Yamaha, Casio, Korg, Roland, Nord) that make keyboard instruments (stage pianos, portable pianos, and piano keyboards) with 88 keys. The cost of these piano keyboards will differ based on the features offered, the quality of the sound, and the piano key action.
Read here for a complete coverage of 88-key digital piano reviews…
Closing Thoughts
88 key keyboards are commonly used by beginners who are serious about learning to play the piano, and my those who are interested in composition/music composition, or want a portable piano for practice. You can choose from a wide variety of 88-key keyboards – arrangers, pianos, synths, controllers.
KeytarHQ editorial team includes musicians who write and review products for pianists, keyboardists, guitarists & other musicians. KeytarHQ is the best online resource for information on keyboards, pianos, synths, keytars, guitars and music gear for musicians of all abilities, ages and interests.
What is the best best 88 key keyboard that I can buy for around 200 dollars? I just want nice action and few piano sounds.
You will not find an 88-key keyboard and that too with fully weighted action for under 200. You will need to increase your budget by at least 100-150 dollars.
Here are some budget 88 key keyboards with weighted keys http://www.keytarhq.com/best-budget-piano-keyboards-88-keys.html
You can find 76-key keyboards (semi-weighted keys) for under 200 if that serves your purpose.
http://www.keytarhq.com/best-budget-76-keys-piano-keyboard.html