Yamaha Piaggero NP12 Digital Piano, 61 Keys

The Yamaha Piaggero NP-12 is a digital piano with 61-keys (not weighted though) that comes with a very simple design. so if you hate those keyboards with dozens of features, knobs, sliders etc, you’re going to find the portable NP12 desirable. Its lightweight and can operate on batteries as well. It comes with a built-in metronome which is quite useful while practicing. It does have its own speakers, but those are good enough for your personal use. You can make the sound better/louder by playing it through a quality keyboard amp.

Highlights

• Lightweight 61-key digital piano
• No. Of Sounds: 10 | No. Of Rhythms: 0 | Built-in Speakers?: Yes | USB Connectivity
• Comes without bells & Whistles
• Great for practice (although it doesn’t come with weighted keys)

The product will appeal to those players who want an inexpensive and light keyboard minus all those sounds, styles and other features.

If you’re looking for alternatives, you may also consider the NP-32 or the Yamaha PSR-e353 which he mentioned in the ‘competition’ section below.

Yamaha NP12: Pros & Cons

• PROS: Lightweight, Affordable, Easy to Use
• CONS: No weighted keys, No USB midi.

Yamaha NP12: Review

This keyboard is not an arranger so you won’t get lots of sounds, special effects, voices, etc. If those things matter a lot to you, you may want to check elsewhere. The Yamaha NP12 is also not a proper digital piano (doesn’t come with full weighted keys).

However, you can definitely use it for piano practice (it has a slight weight attached to it), and the sounds that are present on this keyboard are of real good-quality.

The Yamaha NP12 61-key piano is a good choice for beginners who want to start learning the piano, or for piano practice, and don’t want to spend a lot. It just has a basic set of sounds, and doesn’t come with all those sounds and styles (which some people consider noisy).

This keyboard can also be used parties, caravans, camping, etc. because of its battery or mains option, and its nice piano sounds.

You also get the bundled package that comes with useful keyboard accessories. In any case, you would need a keyboard stand and even a sustain pedal if you’re serious about playing the piano.

Simple, Compact Yet Effective
If you want something with realistic piano sounds, minus all those extra sounds, drums, effects etc. this one fits the bill perfectly. The metronome is great for beginners. Compact and portable, easily fits in a corner of any room.

Recording Function
There’s a recording function on this keyboard, which you can use to assess your keyboard playing. Just record your playing, and play it back, and see how you can improve your playing.

Has Several Features
You can layer the sounds, and it has just about enough effects that you need for playing. Its portable, all the operations are easy to use, and it can be used as a midi controller as well.

Basic & Easy to Use
This is a pretty good keyboard and quite easy to use, just Hit the power button and start playing. You don’t have to do any elaborate menu selections. Ability to change the pitch +/- one octave, would have been better.

Connect to your iOS device
You can easily connect your Piaggero piano to any iOS device (iPhone, iPad) for more creative possibilities – learning, recording, creating music, etc.

Competition Check

Couple of options that I can suggest, besides this keyboard are:

• Yamaha NP-32, which comes with 76 keys (you can play more songs)
• Yamaha PSR-e373, which is a 61-key keyboard with touch-sensitive keys and several features (voices, styles, effects)

Yamaha Piaggero NP12: Video Review

Features / Tech Specs

Here are more features of this piano-keyboard.

• 61 Key, Touch Sensitive, semi-weighted keys
• Easy access panel – Dedicated buttons for each Voice
• Polyphony: 64-notes (allows playing of dense piano passages even using heavy sustain pedal)
• Synthesis Method: AWM Stereo Sampling
• 10 Voices including electric piano, organ, harpsichord, strings or vibraphone. Effects: Reverb: 4 types. Number of Preset Songs: 10 Voice Demo Songs + 10 Piano Preset Songs
• Power: Optional Adaptor (PA-3C/PA-130), or batteries (six 11AA11 batteries provide five hours of life)
• Dual/Layers: Yes
• Inputs/Outputs: DC IN DC IN 12V Headphones: x1
• Sustain Pedal: Yes (Half-damper pedal control)
• MIDI: In/Out
• Amplifier: 2.5W x2
• Speakers: (12cm x 6cm) x2
• The USB to HOST port
• You get Controller App for iOS devices
• Dimensions: 46.9 x 14.1 x 7.7 inches
• Weight: 15 pounds
• Yamaha NP12 manual

Overall: Buying Links & Pricing

The Yamaha NP12 61-key piano features high-quality voices and comes with simple, user-friendly functions, without any bells-and-whistles. Its a great practice piano that is absolutely amazing for the price. If you want more than 61-keys, you may consider the Yamaha NP32. Yamaha NP32 and Yamaha NP12 have almost the same features, the only major difference being the number of keys.

Buying Links

• Buy on Amazon   |   Buy on zZounds

Are you already using the Yamaha NP12 61-key piano? Please share your experience in the comments below.

KeytarHQ Editorial Team

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.