Casio CTK Keyboards are portable arranger keyboards and quite popular among users because of its attractive features, ease of use, portability, and very affordable prices. This series includes keyboards for beginners as well as the advanced players. What’s great about these keyboards is that they offer you so much, for such a low price. Do checkout the more recent CT-X series that will eventually replace the CTK series.
Introduction
Casio CTK keyboards have been Casio’s most popular portable keyboards for many years now. What you get here is a musical keyboard that has standard 61 keys, is easy to operate, and offers enough features to beginners to keep their creative juices satisfied for a long time.
This series has keyboards for someone who is just starting out on the keyboards, and also for the more seasoned player who is looking for something portable and more affordable.
And as is expected from the brand, Casio musical keyboards are very aggressively priced, making them very tempting for the first time buyer.
With the introduction of the new ctk-7200 keyboard, the CTK series now has keyboards that suit beginners as well as the more advanced players. Experienced players will in fact find these keyboards a real value-for-money considering the amount of features they throw in for the price.
Comparison Chart
Here are the popular 61-key keyboards in the CTK series.
- Casio CTK-7200: Top the line model in this series, comes with advanced features, tone editing capabilities. 64-note polyphony
- Casio CTK-2550: Mid range keyboard with several advanced features, 48-note polyphony
- Casio CTK6250: Inexpensive Beginner keyboard with several nice features. 48-note polyphony.
Best Casio CTK Keyboards
Casio CTK: Various Models
The Casio CTK series has been around for years now, with newer models getting introduced every couple of years or so. Some of the most popular and best-selling arranger keyboards belong to this series, and they are quite affordable.
You have a few options available for under a couple of hundred dollars, and for under 500 bucks, you get the top-end models in this series.
Here we take a look at the popular 61-keys portable keyboards in the CTK series.
Casio CTK-7200 61-Key Keyboard/Workstation
The Casio CTK-7200 is the flagship arranger keyboard in the CTK series and comes with several cutting edge features. In fact, the new Casio CTK-7200 offers powerful and extensive features at a price that is unheard of in the portable keyboard market.
- Pros: Value-for-money, drawbar organ tones, tone-editing and more advanced features
- Cons: Not as sturdy as some of the other gigging keyboards, this one has 61 keys (you may consider the WK series for 76 keys)
Features 800 world-class tones, 250 preset rhythms, 17 track sequencer, 32 channel mixer, as well as audio recording capabilities. Any piece of music you create can be recorded as an audio file on an SDHC card. 9 sliders extend your versatility and provide an impressive 50 drawbar organ tones. Read more.
The CTK-7200 comes with several advanced features that will appeal to experienced players. Intermediate to advanced players, who are well past the learner stage, can consider this keyboard.
The sound quality is very good, most of the acoustic instruments including pianos sound realistic and the keyboard offers some really nice effects.
There’s a nice selection of rhythms, covering various genres. You can edit the tones and rhythms as per your liking, and even create songs . You also have registration buttons that let you save your favorite combination for later recall.
The keyboard also comes with a nice display to see the various selections you have made.
Whether you are an amateur or professional musician, the Casio CTK-7200 will allow you to create, edit and play your compositions at home, in the studio or on the stage.
Casio CTK-2550
For someone who is looking to buy a beginner keyboard, one of the best keyboards to have, considering the cost factor, is the Casio CTK-2550 61-keys (doesn’t come with touch response keys) that comes with several features, including the ability to play songs from external sources.
- Pros: Value-for-money, nice features for a beginner keyboard
- Cons: Keys are not touch sensitive
The Casio CTK-2550 is a 61-Key Portable Keyboard with 400 tones, 100 rhythms, 60 built-in songs, 48-note polyphony. Includes Casio’s Step-up Lesson System (teaches you the basics). Create your own dance music using the Dance Music Mode. Get access to Casio’s free Chordana Play keyboard app — learn to play your favorite songs by downloading the MIDI file.
Includes sampling function, new Voice Pads and ability connect a CD or MP3 player via the audio input so that you can play along to your favorite song on the keyboard.
This is an entry level keyboard in the CTK series, and does not come with touch sensitive keys. If you want to own a 61-key keyboard with standard key sizes and lots of features, but don’t have a big budget, this can be a good starting keyboard. Perfect for beginners who want to learn the keyboard. It comes with touch-sensitive keys, and a much better sound, and has everything that you need to get started right away.
Casio CTK-3500
The CTK-2550 is a nice option, but it does not come with touch sensitive keys.
- Pros: Nice set of features, good sound, touch-sensitive keys
- Cons: Not many sounds and styles, speakers not a powerful (as the top models in this series)
If you’re serious about learning to play the keyboards/piano then you need touch sensitive keys. In that case, the Casio CTK-3500 is the next best option. It comes with all the features of the CTK-2550 (400 tones, 48-note polyphony, and so on) but also comes with touch sensitive keys.
Casio CTK-6250
Take it a bit higher with the Casio CTK-6250. Here’s a keyboard that will let you discover the musician inside you. With its wide range of sounds, and tools that are suitable not just for practice, but also for performance and composing your own tunes.
- Pros: Excellent sound, nice features, better speakers
- Cons: Not many pro features
Looking for more features, sounds, styles, and a better sound? Checkout the CTK-6250; it comes with many more Tones, Rhythms, built-in songs, and more features.
While the Casio CTK-3500 offers you touch-sensitive keys, the CTK-6250 offers you a lot more features, sounds, styles, better quality speakers, with having to spend lot more.
The CTK-6250 is cool looking 61-Keys Portable Keyboard with several features that makes it suitable for songwriting, composing music, for live performances, besides learning keyboards. Powerful speakers, high quality sounds and a wide selection of tones and rhythms based on musical genres from around the globe.
The CTK6250 is a professionally designed and nice sounding touch-sensitive keyboard. It’s suitable for beginning players, as well as intermediate players, Built-in lessons, facilitated by the graphic screen, are great for beginners, and a USB port makes it easy to connect the Casio CTK6250 to your computer.
Features 16-track Song Sequencer with multi-track recording capabilities and has built-in editing tools. Recordings can be converted to SMF (Standard MIDI File) format and stored to an SD memory card. 32-channel Mixer. Rhythm Editor. Multiple effects. 48 note polyphony. 700 built-in tones. 210 rhythms.
Read: Checkout the new Casio CTX Keyboard series
Accessories for Casio CTK Keyboards
You will need accessories for your CTK keyboard. If you buy a bundled keyboard package, all the necessary accessories will be included in the package.
Bundled packages work great for beginner keyboard such as the CTK-2550 so that you don’t have to buy the accessories separately.
Intermediate and experienced players may want to buy the accessories as per their choice. In which case, you may checkout these links:
Casio CTK: Buying Guide
Casio CTK series includes a collection of entry-level to mid-range 61-key keyboards designed for beginners and intermediate level players. The series has been around for a long time, and Casio has taken care to ensure the individual models are upgraded every few years with more features.
Casio CTK vs Other Series
While the CTK series includes the bulk of the 61-key keyboards from Casio, the company has now also introduced a few more series of keyboards that includes 61-key keyboards.
One such series is the CT-X series that includes comparable keyboards (as the ones in the CTK series) but comes with a better sound source. Casio now has lot of experience making keyboard instruments, and their keyboard instruments have become a lot better in recent years (sound quality wise).
The CT-X series includes an upgraded sound engine so the keyboards have a much better tonal quality
So does that mean CT-X series will replace the CTK series?
It may happen in the future, but as of now Casio is happy to maintain the two series separately.
Couple of models in the CTK series that are worth talking a look at (despite the introduction of the CT-X series) are the CTK-2550 (entry level keyboard, which is much cheaper now), and the CTK-7200 which is an advanced model with features like ton-editing and much more.
So if you have a tight budget or looking for a keyboard for a beginner, then the Casio CTK-2550 can be a nice option. Advanced users will find the CTK-7200 a lot more impressive, especially when they consider the price.
Another series that Casio has now introduced is the MZ-X series, which includes high-end arrangers (with touch screens and more advanced features), designed for performing musicians.
Keeping Pace With Yamaha’s PSR Series
In terms of features, these electronic keyboards are somewhat similar to the entry level keyboards in the PSR-E series from Yamaha. Casio has been introducing a lot of models lately with advanced features to keep pace with Yamaha’s PSR series.
Most of the Casio portable keyboard in this series now offer on-board recording & sequencing, mixing, PC connectivity, etc.
Value-for-Money Electronic Keyboards
For many years now, the best Casio CTK keyboards have been offering a lot of features at an affordable price.
For instance, features like full fingered mode, aux-in, built-in recorder are found even in the cheapest Casio keyboards. Besides, Casio has been gradually improving its sound source to get it on par with its competitors.
A Casio CTK keyboard includes several buttons, sliders, and the LCD screen display shows all the selected features in a simplified manner.
Casio musical keyboards are easy to use, which makes them perfect for children and adult beginners because they can easily use all the features, and hopefully spend more time on the keyboard!
CTK keyboard come with headphone jack for silent practice, run on battery power which makes them very portable instrument.
You can keep your Casio music instrument updated with the latest and funkiest rhythms, tones, digital effects, wave files, midi files and song registrations by downloading them from the Internet.
Casio has created a site called music.casio.com where you can find software which will let you download all the music related stuff on your PC, from where you can load them onto your keyboard. With this feature, you can let your imagination run wild and do all sorts of creative things with your keyboard.
Wrap Up
Casio’s 61-key CTK keyboards have been serving beginners and intermediate levels players for decades, providing great sounds and easy features in an affordable package. The top models offer advanced music production capabilities for the intermediate to advanced players looking for a value buy (or a backup keyboard).
Whether you’re a beginner who wants to learn how to play piano or if you are an advanced player looking for something portable to travel with, these keyboards would fit in nicely.
The good thing about Casio is that they usually include a power supply with every keyboard purchase (in most cases, the power supply has to be bought extra). But in this cases, Casio has you covered.
Online merchants usually throw in discount packages wherein you get accessories like power supply, keyboard stand, headphones with a Casio ctk keyboard at a much discounted rate.
External Links & More Best Casio Keyboards
External Links
More Casio Keyboards
- Guide to Casio Keyboards
- Casio CT-X Keyboards (new series)
- Casio 88 Key Keyboards
- Best Casio Keyboards, reviews across all series
Please share you thoughts on the Casio CTK series here.
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.
Dear Sir/Madam. Please advise me on how to set to Waltz Rhythm. Can you also send me a copy of the Appendix to the CTK5000 Manual? I look forward to your early reply.
You can find Casio Keyboard Manuals / Instruction Manuals here.
Subject: Reverse Keyboard Keys.
Hello. Do you have the skills to reverse the low and high notes in a keyboard? Make the low notes sound on the right side and the high notes sound on the left side. So, the C will be on the left I think. I’m not an expert. I have a Casio CTK2550 61. It is a keyboard for beginners. I am a left handed-player and was wondering of that would make it easier for me to learn to play the keyboards.