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A keyboard piano is a great alternative to uprights or baby grands — especially if you're trying to stay on budget, travel, experiment with new sounds, and keep it in a smaller space. The best keyboard pianos have pre-loaded instrumental tones, rhythms, and accompaniment features you can experiment with. Some even come in bundles that include almost all the necessary equipment you'll need to play comfortably like chairs, music stands, and headphones. However, before you dive in, be sure to note the difference between digital pianos and keyboards:
- Digital pianos generally have 88 weighted or semi-weighted keys (which is the same amount as a full piano), and they mimic the sound of a standard acoustic piano.
- Electric keyboards, on the other hand, have more add-ons — like tones and accompaniments — and fewer keys (usually between 61 and 76). Some even have as few as 54, and those are more portable. That's because they typically omit the lower octaves, which shouldn't be an issue if you're not concerned with playing many bass notes. Keyboards don't usually have weighted keys, either — but many come with touch-responsive keys that play sound loudly or softly, depending on the pressure you put on them.
No matter whether you're making your own music or playing the classics, picking out the best keyboard piano can help you get started.
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