Best piano / music keyboard for beginners in India

Here we take a look at the best piano and music keyboards available for beginners in India. The range of keyboards available is more or less similar to what is available around the world, although Yamaha and Casio happen to be the more popular brands.

Keyboard Instruments in India

Similar to western classical music, Indian classical music has a very long history/tradition and has millions of followers around the world. Harmonium (keyboard instrument) is predominantly used in Indian classical music.

Having said that, there are many who’re keen to learn western classical music, and the piano is a popular instrument for doing that.

For a long time, despite having a strong music culture, middle class families didn’t encourage their children to learn music (the focus was more on studies). However, things have changed now.

In recent years, schools have bee increasingly focusing on music education, which explains the popularity of instruments like the music keyboard and digital piano.

Students continue to be the main users of keyboard instruments in India, although there are also a few music enthusiasts who buy music keyboards to learn music as a hobby.

There are many in India who also refer to the keyboard as “organ” (although technically speaking that is a totally different instrument).

Recommended Music Keyboard & Digital Pianos

We have listed several keyboards here, for different requirements and for players with different skills.

While the mini sized keys are good for kids, adults and serious beginners should ideally go in for a keyboard with 61 keys.

If you are serious about learning to play the Keyboard, get a keyboard with these features:

• 61 keys so that you can comfortably play with 2 hands
• Keys with Touch sensitivity (that’s how real piano keys are)
• Polyphony of at least 32 notes

We have also listed a few high-end arranger keyboards with excellent sound quality that can be used for performances.

Best Mini Sized Keybords

Mini size keyboards (less than 61-Keys, smaller sized keys). Casi produces a wide range of keyboards and one of the category is this – mini keyboards. Its great for introducing kids to music.

• [easyazon_link identifier=”B00PCCP4M0″ locale=”IN” tag=”keytar-21″ cart=”n”]Casio SA-78[/easyazon_link]: 44 Keys
• [easyazon_link identifier=”B00PCCP2W2″ locale=”IN” tag=”keytar-21″ cart=”n”]Casio SA-77[/easyazon_link]: 44 Keys
• [easyazon_link identifier=”B00PCCP0Q0″ locale=”IN” tag=”keytar-21″ cart=”n”]Casio SA-76[/easyazon_link]: 44 Keys
• [easyazon_link identifier=”B00PFRFKS0″ locale=”IN” tag=”keytar-21″ cart=”n”]Casio MA-150 Electronic Keyboard [/easyazon_link]

Best 61-Keys for Beginners

61-Keys Portable Keyboard for beginners. These keyboards are for those who are looking for an inexpensive keyboard to begin learning. These include 61, full sized keys. We have listed both – keyboards with sensitive keys as well as those without. You may read here for more on Touch-sensitive (velocity-sensitive) keys.

• [easyazon_link identifier=”B06XT4N6WT” locale=”IN” tag=”keytar-21″ cart=”n”]Yamaha PSR E-363[/easyazon_link]: Touch Sensitive keys, several sounds, styles and more features
• [easyazon_link identifier=”B06XWRKN6C” locale=”IN” tag=”keytar-21″ cart=”n”]Casio CTK-3500[/easyazon_link]: Similar to the above, but form Casio. Comes with touch Sensitive keys
• [easyazon_link identifier=”B06XWS1LLD” locale=”IN” tag=”keytar-21″ cart=”n”]Casio CTK-2550[/easyazon_link]: Inexpensive, nice set of features, doesn’t come with touch Sensitive keys
• [easyazon_link identifier=”B01JUDPYSA” locale=”IN” tag=”keytar-21″ cart=”n”]Yamaha PSRF51[/easyazon_link]: Inexpensive, no touch Sensitive keys, several Indian/ethnic sounds

Best 61-Keys for Intermediate Level Players

These are 61-Keys portable keyboard with better sounds, more powerful speakers and features. More suited to intermediate level players, those who wish to upgrade from a mini keyboard, or anyone who is looking for a better set of sounds.

• [easyazon_link identifier=”B07965TDH8″ locale=”IN” tag=”keytar-21″ cart=”n”]Yamaha PSRE463[/easyazon_link]: Excellent entry level keyboard, comes with several pro features (that aids in live playing)
• [easyazon_link identifier=”B00K81SL84″ locale=”IN” tag=”keytar-21″ cart=”n”]Yamaha PSR-I455[/easyazon_link]: Similar to PSRE463 but comes with more Indian styles and voices
• [easyazon_link identifier=”B07GDDKLFQ” locale=”IN” tag=”keytar-21″ cart=”n”]Roland E-X20[/easyazon_link]: Great selection of sounds and styles, excellent tonal quality as is expected from a Roland.
• [easyazon_link identifier=”B07GJSCK6N” locale=”IN” tag=”keytar-21″ cart=”n”]Casio CT-X870IN[/easyazon_link]: Value for money keyboard from Casio, great set of features

Best 61-Keys for Experts

These are professional keyboards with amazing sounds and features. Great for gigging musicians and even hobbyists looking for a serious keyboard with top class sounds.

Yamaha PSR-s970

Those looking for the best sounds, styles (and if budget is not a constraint) can opt for the Yamaha PSR s970; its the top keyboard model in the PSR series. There’s also PSR-s975 which offers a few more voices and styles so not much of a difference really.
[easyazon_link identifier=”B018UB8VZQ” locale=”IN” tag=”keytar-21″ cart=”n”]Buy PSR-s970 on Amazon[/easyazon_link]

Roland XPS-10

This is a performance-ready synth with over 1500 sounds, includes a wide range of ethnic instrument sounds as well, you can also add more custom sounds via USB memory. Powerful built-in effects. Hands-on controls, convenient Pads to start rhythms or backing tracks helps in live performing.

• [easyazon_link identifier=”B00P8UFPMU” locale=”IN” tag=”keytar-21″ cart=”n”]Buy Roland XPS-10 on Amazon[/easyazon_link]

Buying Keyboards & Pianos in India: Buying Guide

Today, you have Amazon, Walmart and Flipkart in India who delver the latest keyboard instruments (that are available in the Us/UK) to buyers in India.

However, that was not always the case.

A decade back, there were just a few shop available in India from where you could buy keyboards/synths, and if you go back further (couple of decades back or so), the situation was worse.

You had no choice but to trust people/shops who probably did not seem like genuine suppliers of keyboard instruments. But as I said, you had no choice.

I clearly remember I bought my first Yamaha PSR 61-key keyboard from my tutor, as I did not trust the shops that were located nearby in Mumbai (I had not heard of Furtados). But the keyboard that was sold to me for Rs20.000 (in the year 2000) was a used one, not a brand new one. So I was duped, despite buying it from my tutor, who told me that he was getting it from Singapore.

I had been taking lessons for only a couple of months with the tutor, and was showing good progress (had taken harmonium lessons in the past so it was comparatively easier in the beginning). So my tutor suggested that I go in for good Yamaha arranger. And because I also had a job, I did not mind paying him that amount. But unfortunately, it turned out to be a used one, within just a couple of months, 2-3 keys started sticking.

I realized that I had been cheated, so I stopped going to that tutor. Finding a repair person was also a herculean task, though I managed to find one eventually (in Mahim). I repaired the keys and eventually sold the keyboard (got it exchanged for a new one) from a shop in Fort (now CST). That guy used to sell keyboards on the footpath those days (the repair person gave me his reference) and it turned out to be a good experience.

Over the next few years, I bought a couple of more keyboards from him (exchanged for a new one). That guy today owns a proper shop on that same street by the name ‘Shalu Music’, quite popular in Mumbai.

Moving forward to today, you just have to read reviews of what keyboard to buy (on site like ours), and order the keyboard online, and the keyboard, synth or digital piano will be delivered to your doorsteps. You also get warranty on your purchase.

There are still many (those in their forties-fifties) in India who are still reluctant to buy things online, as they prefer talking to a person before buying, and many are not comfortable using the credit card online because of the horror stories they have heard about credit card frauds in India.

However, the fact is that buying anything, including keyboards and digital pianos, is not only safe, its also very convenient, and more importantly, you can expect some great pricing (because of the various deals and discounts).

• Yamaha PSR-F50: Keyboard With Many Indian Voices & Styles
• Yamaha PSR I-Series Keyboards (yamaha PSR i455)

Read: Top 61-Keys music keyboard

• Learn Indian Desi (sa re ga ma) or Western Style (C D E F G A B)
• Harmonium keyboard instrument

Yamaha Opens Manufacturing Plant in Chennai

Yamaha is a very popular brand in India, with users having a strong preference for Yamaha keyboards over other brands, including Casio. Its because Indians have grown up using Yamaha keyboards that always sounded better than Casio (though Casio keyboards a lot better nowadays).

Considering the huge population, and its growing economy, and considering the fact that people are becoming more aspirational in India, Yamaha is keen to replicate its Chinese sales success in India.

“India will be an enormously promising market in a few decades if an effort is put into outreach. I want to make India our next China,” said Yamaha president Takuya Nakata.

Yamaha recently opened its manufacturing plant in the southern Indian city of Chennai. The company will manufacture electronic instruments and acoustic guitars here and ship it to most locations in Asia.

Also read:
Piano Store & Dealers in India