If you’ve been on the hunt for keyboards or digital pianos, chances are you’ve stumbled across the Yamaha brand.
And while a lot of people might know the brand as a manufacturer of motorcycles, they have also been making some of the best musical instruments on the market for years now. Since the brand has been around so long, they’ve also made quite a wide catalog for themselves. In fact, going through all their models can be a tedious task since there are so many items for you to go through.
So to make things a bit easier, we’ve compiled a list of the best Yamaha keyboards available on the market today based on price, tone, and features. Through our research, we’ve figured that our top pick for the best Yamaha option is the Yamaha P125 as the instrument has fully-weighted keys, a sophisticated collection of voices, and could serve both professionals and students really well. That being said, it’s also pretty expensive so it might not be the right pick for everyone.
So if you didn’t find the Yamaha P125 to your liking, don’t worry, we’ll be going through a couple more options in this list and we’ve also included a buying guide at the end to further help you in your search.
So read on to learn more!
Quick Summary
Last update on 2024-12-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Top 6 Best Yamaha Keyboards
#1. Yamaha P125 – The Best Overall Option
- A fully weighted digital piano with 88 full sized piano style keys
- GHS weighted action is heavier in the low keys and lighter in the high keys, just like an acoustic piano
- The pure CF sound engine faithfully reproduces the tone of the acclaimed Yamaha 9 feet CFIIIS Concert grand piano; Tempo range: 5 to 280
- Split mode lets you play a different voice with each hand; Tuning: 414.8 440.0 to 446.8 hertz
- USB to host connectivity with MIDI and audio transfer means you only need 1 cable to connect to your music making software
Last update on 2024-12-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The last item on our list also happens to be our top pick for the best Yamaha keyboard. It is a great digital piano with fully-weighted keys, an 88-key layout, and premium voices. It’s equipped with Yamaha’s CF sound engine, which is designed to recreate the exact sound of the Yamaha CFIIIS Grand Piano, a very popular 9-foot grand piano that has one of the best tones in the market today.
It also has split mode, so you can have a different voice on each hand while playing, which is a feature used by a lot of different performing artists out there. You can easily connect this piano to your music software for recording and it can even be used as a MIDI controller!
It comes with GHS Weighted Action. This is a system that makes the lower keys heavier to press than the higher keys, which is designed to emulate the feeling of an acoustic piano even more accurately. So if you’re willing to make an investment for a top tier digital piano that you can use for rehearsals and performances, then this might just be the right one for you!
#2. Yamaha YPT-270 – The Best Beginner Option
- Hundreds of high quality voices, complemented by Drum kits and Special FX kits, that bring variety and authenticity to your music
- Whether you are playing country, rock and roll, or a samba, styles bring your music to life by adding natural feeling accompaniment instruments to your playing
- Smart Chord lets you play great-sounding chords from simple Pop triads to complex jazz 7th chords with only a single finger
- 61 full-sized keys are great for learning and developing keyboard playing technique
- Quiz mode makes learning fun by turning it into a game. Tuning Range- 427.0 - 440.0 - 453.0 Hz (approx.0.2Hz Increments)
Last update on 2024-12-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The first entry on our list is a product that is best for beginners and new piano students. It features a 61-key keyboard, so even if you don’t have the same range as you’ll get on an acoustic piano it’s very portable. And while it might be nice to have an 88-key instrument, a smaller, 61-key option might be better for beginners since they won’t need all those notes right away anyway.
It comes with hundreds of voices, so you’ll have a lot of sounds to experiment and play around with ranging from piano, synth, organ, and more abstract sounds like strings and guitar. This is great for those who plan to play a wide range of musical styles and would be a fitting pick any for a blues, country, rock and roll, or RnB artist.
It also has smart chord mode that transforms any simple triad into complex jazz chords. It does this by adding extra notes such as 7th’s and 9’s. All this is done by pressing one key on the keyboard, which can be a great way for people to learn songs. It also has a quiz mode that beginners can use to turn learning into a fun activity!
#3. Yamaha PSR-EW300 – The Best Bundle Option
- Bundle includes PSRE EW300 keyboard, PKBS1 keyboard stand and PA130 power supply
- A 76 key portable keyboard with 574 voices, 165 styles and 154 preset songs; Recording number of songs 5; Number of tracks 2; Data capacity approx; 10,000 notes
- Yamaha Education Suite (Y.E.S.) allows you to practice using the preset songs (or MIDI files on compatible instruments) at your own pace, 1 hand at a time, or both together
- Touch tutor lesson mode tracks the velocity or strength the keys are played at in order to teach dynamics
- USB to host connectivity with MIDI and audio transfer means you only need 1 cable to connect to your music making software. Number of Polyphony (Max.): 48
Last update on 2024-12-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Next up is the PSR-EW300, which is an upgrade compared to the last entry on the list, making this a great option for more serious students out there. This is a 76-key keyboard, so all you’re missing out on is one octave compared to a full 88-key instrument. This gives you a fairly wide range of notes while also making the piano more compact and portable.
It comes loaded with over 500 voices that include pianos, synths, and other instruments. It also comes with over 150 preset songs that you can either jam and play along to or study and learn the chords. It also comes loaded with the Yamaha Education Suite (Y.E.S.) that allows you to practice the preset songs on your own pace. On top of that, you can also load MIDI tracks in yourself so you can learn some of the songs you like as well!
It also has touch tutor lesson mode that can help you become a more dynamic player. This mode tracks the way you play certain songs and how you hit the notes so you can make adjustments to you own dynamics to make your playing more interesting and captivating. It also has a USB to host connectivity options so you can use it as a MIDI controller on your Digital Audio Workstation.
On top of all that, it also comes with a stand and power supply, making it a great bundle overall for any music student out there.
#4. YAMAHA P71 – THE MOST PORTABLE OPTION
- Acoustic Piano Feel - Touch-sensitive keys allow for true expression and dynamic performance. The weighted action replicates the acoustic piano experience
- Elevated Sound - Choose from 10 unique Voices, including the richness and resonance of a Yamaha grand piano, with full dynamic sound and deep bass
- Effortless Control - Simple one-button operation and streamlined functionality designed to keep you focused on your music
- Layered Sound - Dual Mode lets you blend two Voices, like piano and strings, creating a rich, layered sound for an inspiring new playing experience
- Included sustain pedal allows for subtle variations and greater expression in your performances
Last update on 2024-12-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
This Amazon Exclusive is one of the best Yamaha digital pianos you can get on a budget, which is also why it’s a favorite of a lot of musicians. One of the biggest selling points of this option is that it comes with a full-size 88-key weighted keyboard, so you will have a very similar feel with instrument as you’d get with a real acoustic piano.
Digital pianos are great instruments for those who really want something that feels and sounds the same as an acoustic piano. This specific model comes with 10 premium voices, some of which were sampled from real Yamaha grand pianos, which makes it a very viable option for those looking for an authentic piano sound. It also comes with something called dual mode, which is a very useful tool you can use both on stage and when rehearsing along.
This mode will allow you to combine two different voices at the same time. So that means you could have a regular grand piano voice on half the keyboard and an organ sound or synth sound on the other half. This opens up a lot of sonic possibilities, making it a great choice for performing musicians.
On top of that, it’s also relatively light for a digital piano. It only weighs 26 pounds and measures in at around 12” deep. This makes it very easy to carry this instrument around to gigs or rehearsal venues without much of a problem. So if you’re a performing musician looking for a high-quality instrument you can bring around with you, then this might be the right Yamaha model for you.
#5. Yamaha P45 – The Best Digital Piano On A Budget
- Includes the P45 Digital Piano, power adapter, sustain pedal and music rest
- 88 fully weighted piano style keys simulate the feel of an acoustic piano and provide a quality playing experience
- GHS weighted action is heavier in the low end and lighter in the high end, just like an acoustic piano
- Contains 10 different voices, including digitally sampled tones from real Yamaha acoustic grand pianos
- Dual mode lets you combine 2 voices together, like piano and strings, for an inspiring new playing experience. Tuning- 414.8 - 440.0 - 446.8 Hz
Last update on 2024-12-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
The Yamaha P45 is one of the best digital pianos you can get on a budget in today’s market. If you’re looking for authentic piano sounds and an authentic feel, then you might be better off getting a digital piano than a keyboard since these instruments are designed specifically to emulate an acoustic piano.
This model comes with a full 88-key setup that’s fully weighted. So you won’t have to worry at all when it comes to getting the same feel as you do on an acoustic instrument. On top of that, it comes loaded with comes with a bunch premium voices. The sounds were sampled from real Yamaha instruments and really recreates the sound you’ll get on an acoustic piano.
It has 64-note maximum polyphony. There are pianos out there with more sophisticated polyphony systems and can play up to 128 or even 256 notes at the same, but that’s a small sacrifice you’ll have to make since this is an inexpensive and budget-friendly option. Like most Yamaha digital pianos, it also comes with a dual mode so you can combine two voices at the same time, making it a great pick for performing and recording musicians as well.
#6. Yamaha YPG535 – The Best Keyboard Package On A Budget
- Your purchase includes One Yamaha Portable Grand Piano, YPG535 model | Music Rest, Power Supply (PA-150), Sustain Pedal (FC5), Owner’s Manual and CD-ROM
- Piano dimensions (with stand) – 53-1/3” W x 30-1/2” H x 19-1/8” | Weight (with stand) – 37 lbs. | Display Size – 320 x 240 dots
- Specifications: Headphones – 1 | Sustain Pedal – 1 | USB to device | USB to host | Reverb – 9 types | Chorus – 4 types | Master EQ – 5 types
- Yamaha Portable Grand comes with 30 built-in songs plus 70 more on an included CD-ROM and an interactive lesson system, divided into left and right hand parts, for learning them
- Keyboard is not weighted. Easy-to-use panel, a wealth of piano-centric features including piano-style keys, Graded Soft Touch (GST) action with different levels of resistance and a high-resolution stereo piano sample
Last update on 2024-12-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
If you’ve been looking for a full package on a budget, this could be your pick. This bundle comes with a keyboard stand and a keyboard. A lot of pianos out there do not come with a stand, so most people are left wondering where to place their instrument when it arrives, which is a problem that’s completely eliminated with this option.
The piano itself is a great budget option for both beginners and more serious musicians. It’s a full 88-key keyboard, so you’ll be getting the full range of an acoustic piano with this model. It has a dual mode, so you can combine voices on the keyboard for more sonic variety. And since it comes loaded with a bunch of fun voices, you’ll have a lot of fun experimenting on your own!
It also has a 6-track sequencer built in, which allows you to record and sequence your own songs and tracks. This is a great option for composers and arrangers looking for a quick and easy way to record their music. It’s one of the best deals you can get in this price range, and would make for an amazing instrument at home or even for performing on stage!
What To Consider When Buying A Yamaha Keyboard
When looking at digital pianos or keyboards, the first things you need to figure out is what type of instrument you’re getting. Typically, you will either choose between a keyboard, digital piano, or console, all of which have their own set of pros and cons that we’ll be getting into in this section.
Type of piano
Let’s start with keyboards. This is an option that has both cheap affordable picks and expensive premium ones. They can either be weighted or non-weighted, and usually come with a whole lot of different voices and sounds you can play around with. This is an ideal pick for those who play a lot of different musical styles as it gives you a wide variety of voices to choose from, and since the market for these instruments is very big, there are a lot of options available. That being said, they don’t have the clearest tones and best piano sounds out there, so there will be a bit of compromise when it comes to that area.
Next up, we have digital pianos. Typically, they will have a full 88-key setup and be fully weighted, so you can really get the same feel as playing an acoustic instrument. However, these instruments will only come with 5-15 different voices, which isn’t a lot to choose from. That being said, these voices are usually premium samples that come from real instruments or are made through a sophisticated physical modelling software so the sound quality is much higher.
These options are a bit more expensive, but if you’re looking for an authentic sound and feel, then this might be the option for you. On top of that, they are also portable so you can bring them to your gigs without that much of a fuss.
Lastly, we’ll be looking at the console options. These are large and bulky instruments that are meant to really simulate an acoustic piano. They are not portable, so they are more fit as in-house instruments for performance venues or as home pianos. They contain very premium piano voices, and some even have synth and organ sounds loaded into it, and they also have speakers that are meant to simulate the way pianos project sound, giving you a much more authentic feeling.
So if you’re looking for the closest thing you can get to an acoustic piano without busting the bank and are willing to sacrifice portability for superior feel and sound quality, this might be the right pick for you.
Tone, voices, & FX
The next thing you’d want to consider is how the piano sounds. This is largely subjective, and everyone will have different tastes, which is why it could help a lot if you had the opportunity to test and hear the instrument before buying it. Tone is a very subjective matter in the music world, so it’s best to trust your own ears on this one.
If you’re a performing musician or recording artist who needs a lot of sound variety when playing, you might want to get a keyboard with a lot of different voices. But if all you really need are quality piano sounds and you don’t think you’ll find yourself using the more abstract voices out there, then digital pianos with 5-10 pre-loaded sounds would be sufficient.
Lastly, you’d also want to consider the effects loaded into the instrument. While usually, a sustain pedal is all you’ll need (and most pianos have that option anyway), but for some musical styles, having built-in reverb and chorus FX could be a great plus.
Hammer action
Hammer action refers to the weight of the keys. Ideally, you would want to get a fully-weighted keyboard as they feel the most authentic. And while that is nice, these products tend to fetch much higher price tags compared to other instruments. So if you still want to have some semblance of playing an acoustic piano but you’re on a budget, you might want to consider some of the semi-weighted options out there.
But if you’re really on a tight budget and don’t mind not having the same feel as an acoustic piano, then there’s nothing wrong with getting non-weighted keyboards. And plus, if you look hard enough you might even find a model that perfectly suits your playing styles and is loaded with a lot of premium voices that you can use in your music making!
Portability
If you’re a performing musician or music student who rehearses in a lot of different venues you might need a portable instrument. This means one that can easily fit in a bag or carrying case and be brought around with you without much effort. That will usually mean either getting a keyboard or a digital piano since console-type instruments are simply impractical to be bringing around too much.
However, if all you need is a home instrument or an in-house piano on a budget, then you don’t need to think about portability too much and simply get a console-type.
Number of keys
A full-key piano has 88 keys. That is the ideal pick for any musician or student. But that doesn’t mean that the 61-key and 72-key options aren’t ideal. In fact, these are very popular amongst beginners and even professional musicians who are looking for a more compact and lighter instrument.
The number of keys you need will largely depend on your playing style, the music you play, along with what you personally need. So make sure to ask yourself these questions before deciding on an instrument for you.
FAQ’s
Which Yamaha keyboard is the best?
In this list, out favorite pick for the best Yamaha Keyboard is the P125. It has a sophisticated GHS Weighted Hammer Action System that simulates an acoustic piano very well, comes with high-quality voices, and has all the outputs you’d need to perform live. This is one of the pricier options on our list, but would make a great pick for any serious musician or performer out there.
What is the best Yamaha keyboard for beginners?
Our pick for the best Yamaha keyboard for beginners is the YPT-270. This is because it an affordable and portable 61-key instrument that is a great pick for beginners to start on. This is because you won’t exactly be needing all 88-keys while starting out anyway and it’s best to get a cheap instrument first before buying a more premium option when you start to take things more seriously.
Which is better Yamaha or Casio?
This largely depends on what you’re looking for. Casio is as brand that is very well-known for their keyboards and digital pianos, just like Yamaha. Yamaha, on the other hand, is also known for their wide range of other instruments such as acoustic pianos, guitars, and even violins.
If you’re on the hunt for a digital piano or keyboard, either brand will serve you well. But if you’re on the hunt for an acoustic piano, grand piano, or other instruments, you might be better off looking at Yamaha products since they have a much wider range.
Do Yamaha keyboards have weighted keys?
Yes, but not all of them. Weighted keys are a great option to have on a keyboard, as they can better simulate the feeling of playing on an acoustic instrument. However, this can also greatly raise the price of the instrument. So if you’re on a tight budget and willing to sacrifice some of that “authentic” playing feel, then you might be better off getting a non-weighted option instead.
How long will a Yamaha keyboard last?
This will largely depend on the model you get and how you take care of it. However, digital pianos, since they don’t have any complex sound-making components such as strings and hammers, are much less complicated to maintain than acoustic ones. And if taken care of right, can last you anywhere between 20 and 50 years.
Conclusion
And with that, our list comes to an end.
Yamaha has a great and varied collection of instruments, which is why you can find a lot of budget-friendly and premium options in their catalog. This is one of the go-to brands for musicians, and the sheer quality of their instruments is one of the main reasons why.
So if you think you found the best Yamaha keyboard for you on this list, then the only thing left for you to do is head out and get your hands on one yourself! And sooner or later, you’ll be practicing and playing around with your very own keyboard.
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