Lighted piano keyboards are popular with kids (and even some adults) as the guided lights hastens the learning process; the keys light up and guides the player to press the correct notes while playing. Here, we have reviewed the best music keyboards and pianos with lighted keys. Skip to the best lighted music keyboard on Amazon.
Introduction
When it comes to learning to play a musical instrument, everyone wants to start playing a few songs as soon as possible.
An illuminated music keyboard is one such kind of electronic keyboard that most beginners prefer, as it enables players to play simple songs in a fairly short time.
More reasons to start learning on a lighted keyboard.
- Learning is easier and it is a fun way to lean to play the keyboards (especially for kids)
- Quickest way to get started on electronic keyboards. Lot of beginners are able to play simple songs in the very first week itself (almost).
Lighted keyboards are fun to use and it’s a lot easier to learn songs on this keyboard as the lights guide the learner through the correct notes. While some adults find these keyboards a bit kiddish, almost all the younger players love these keyboards.
Children, in particular, enjoy the light-up feature of the keys more than adults. These keyboards capture the attention of the young ones who are fascinated by the combination of lights and various sounds and effects.
Studying music offers great benefits including growth and development of youngsters and these lighted keyboards are a great way to introduce your child to the world of music. If your child is 6-8 years old, they are of the right age to accept a new challenge.
But adults can also find a value buy here since these come with 61 standard keys and some of the music keyboard models do have touch sensitive keys.
These also come with various features such as voices, styles, speakers, midi, and more.
So if you are not ready for an 88 key keyboard yet, these can be a good option. In addition, lighted music keyboards are inexpensive and do not cost much.
If you’re looking for a 61-key keyboard without light-up keys, you can checkout these keyboards.
Nevertheless, you ought to take into account that the guided lights assist you to become familiar with a song however they are not designed to substitute a complete mastering course or a music teacher. While its great to begin learning, eventually, the goal of a student should be to learn to play songs without the help of the guiding lights.
Read: Smart features, apps, & lights: Do they really help you play?
Furthermore, the appeal of the lighted keys wears down after some time, especially for adults so it is important that you consider the features when choosing a lighted keyboard.
Comparison Chart
Here are the best music keyboards/pianos with keys that illuminate. These use guided lights to help beginners learn to play the piano.
- Yamaha EZ-300: Good features, trusted brand, good sound. The Yamaha EZ-300 is a more recent model and replaced the EZ-220.
- Casio LK-S450: 61 touch responsive piano-style keys that illuminate, USB to Host port, Mic In, Mic In, Audio In, 600 sounds, 200 rhythms
- The One Smart piano-keyboard: Excellent music keyboard with 61-keys. Good features
- Casio LK-S250: 61 touch responsive piano-style keys that illuminate, USB to Host port, Mic In, Audio In, 400 sounds, 77 rhythms
- Vangoa Keyboard Piano: Full size, 61 Lighted Keys, nice features, USB port, comes with several useful accessories.
Best Lighted Keyboard Pianos
These are 61-key keyboards with touch-sensitive keys, and the keys light-up thus making it easy for you to learn a song. While the Yamaha and Casio keyboards have been around for quite some time, the ONE Light smart keyboard is a recent model and is marginally expensive (nut comes with better learning tools).
For a long time Yamaha’s EZ series and Casio’s LK series were the two most popular series of lighted keyboards. You can now add the smart keyboard from ONE also to the list. These keyboards have a lot of musical features and are available at an affordable price, making them ideal entry level keyboards.
Yamaha EZ-300 61-Key Lighted Keyboard
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The Yamaha EZ-300 lighted keyboard is an excellent beginner keyboards with 61 Full Size Touch Sensitive Keys, and from a trusted brand. The built-in songs can be learnt easily using the lighted keys mode. Addition features include various high-quality tones, and good sound quality. Ideal for beginners who want to learn to play keyboards.
The Yamaha EZ-300 features touch-sensitive lighted keys, 600+ built-in Styles, 600+ tones, Connect to your iPad or computer via the USB port. Yamaha’s Page Turner app (for iPad) includes piano score for the 202 preset songs and turns the pages automatically. It also records audio.
Casio LK-Lighted 61-Key Keyboard
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Casio is known to produce excellent affordable keyboards and these light-up keyboards from Casio are no different. You’ll find 61-key lighted keyboards with lot of basic functions, including a powerful lesson functions. You get bundled packages as well that come with closed-cup headphones, single x-braced stand, songbook, music stand and power supply.
Casio LK-S450: 61 touch sensitive keys, 600 tones, 200 rhythms, LCD displays musical notation and hand positioning. Audio input jack allows you to plug in your MP3 player.
The ONE Light 61-Key (smart) keyboard
The ONE Light 61-Key smart keyboard is a more recent model, and comes with several learning features. The keyboard features light-up keys that allows beginner musicians to makes playing music lot easier. There are several ways to learn.
128+ instrument sounds (no rhythm section however). 4000+ sheet music, 100+ videos, and games in the free apps.
More Brands of 61 Keys Lighted Piano Keyboard
In recnt years, music keybards from brands such as Vangoa, MUSTAR, IMGZAR have emerged.
These brands also make keyboards that features keys that light up.
A first glance at these products give an impression that you get a lot of value for the money as these keyboards have a lot of functions, they come bundled with several useful accessories, including microphone, headphones and music stand.
While these keyboards may be a good choice for gifting, they do not come across as great music keyboards for serious learning.
The music keyboards sound very loud even at the lowest settings, most instrument sounds are of low quality, no touch-sensitive keys, to use batteries you need to unscrew, the build quality is just about okay, and the accessories are very flimsy.
So, these keyboards may look like decent starter keyboards for small kids, and kids may get excited in the first few sessions, but they may not provide a good playing experience in the long run.
Lighted Keys Piano Keyboards: Buying Guide
The working of a lighted music keyboard is simple but effective. Whenever you select a song and play it, the correct keys get lit up and they act as a guide to you so that you can play the correct notes.
The keys stay lit unless you press them and when you press those keys the next correct keys (notes) get lit up which you have to play. In this way it guides you through the complete song. The moment you select a song that you would like to learn, the keyboard will begin lighting up the keys that you’re supposed to play.
In fact, the keyboard will stop and wait for you to find and play the correct key.
When you select a built-in piece of music the proper keys light up and will wait for you to play the appropriate key before moving on to the subsequent note in the music song. This is the manner in which it takes you through the overall song.
Besides, you also get the usual built-in educational tools for learning to play keyboards, including how to play chords.
More FeaturesA light-up keyboard piano will have the usual features that you find on any arranger keyboard. You will find hundreds of voices, styles and several built-in songs and effects, something that kids and young children or even adults will love.
Most lighted keyboards now come with 61 touch-sensitive keys, which is a must for serious learning. Remember, all pianos and the high end keyboards have touch-sensitive keys.
A lighted keyboard piano comes with several features such as: hundreds of styles, voices, several effects, metronome, touch sensitive keys and connectivity to computer.
What to Buy: Various Lighted Piano Keyboard Models
Currently Yamaha and Casio are the two manufacturers who make lighted musical keyboards. This is hardly a surprise as they have always been committed to make learning keyboards easier for the absolute beginner. The innovative learning system does help you to play a few songs (and also chords) on the piano fairly quickly, without really having to read from sheet music, or needing a teacher around.
There are many who prefer using the lighted keyboards because these are easy to use and they are inexpensive. The top of the line keyboards in this series sound pretty good and come with several features. Considering the price that these are available for, a lighted keyboard piano is of great value for beginning players.
These lighted keyboards also come bundled with useful accessories. So, you might possibly get a power adapter, keyboard stand, and headphones which are all that you need to enjoy your music instrument. These are basic accessories that do the job, but they may not be of the best possible quality.
To sum it up, lighted keyboard pianos are inexpensive keyboards with nice features and sound quality make them attractive for beginners who are looking for a value-for-money keyboard for practicing.
These are a better option compared to mini keyboards because you get 61 full size keys. Yamaha and Casio are the more popular brands for light up keyboard pianos.
On the flip side, you may not use the light-up feature much once you become confident playing the keyboards. So if you have learnt some form of music before, or are an adult beginner, or are a serious learner, you may chose a more expensive keyboard with touch sensitive keys and better sound/more features.
For kids, you can even consider buying a mini keyboard (less than 61 keys).
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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.
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