My first keyboard was a Yamaha PSR-E363 I bought from some guy's garage for $147. Sticky D key. Power adapter that buzzed. Sustain pedal held together with electrical tape. Smelled like cat. I loved that thing.
But I didn't know what I was doing when I bought it. Got lucky that it was semi-weighted. Could've easily ended up with a toy that would've set me back months. This guide is everything I wish I'd known about piano gear before that garage sale purchase.
The most important thing about buying a keyboard: weighted keys. This matters more than brand, features, sounds, or anything else. Regular cheap keyboards have "synth action" – keys that feel like pressing buttons. No resistance. You can technically play them, but your fingers won't develop the strength and control needed for real piano.
Weighted keys have resistance when you press down. They respond to how hard you press – light touch = soft sound, hard press = loud sound. This is called "touch sensitivity" and it's essential for developing dynamics.
Fully weighted keys feel closest to acoustic piano. Semi-weighted is lighter but still has response. Synth action has none. For serious learning, you want fully weighted. Semi-weighted works for starting out. Synth action will hold you back.
How many keys: Real pianos have 88. Many beginner keyboards have 61 or 76. For the first few months, 61 is honestly fine – most beginner music stays in the middle range. But you'll run out of room eventually. If you can afford 88 keys, get 88. Full breakdown in my keyboard buying guide.
Brands I trust: Yamaha makes solid stuff at every price point. Roland is excellent, especially for key feel. Casio gets overlooked but their CDP-S series punches above its price. Korg and Kawai are solid too. Avoid random Amazon brands you've never heard of.
Budget breakdown: Under $200 gets you something usable, probably 61-key semi-weighted. $300-500 is the sweet spot – 88 weighted keys, decent sound, will last years. Yamaha P-45, Casio CDP-S100, Roland FP-10 all fall here. $500-800 adds nicer key action, better speakers, more features. Above $800 you're getting premium stuff – probably overkill for beginners.
Digital vs acoustic is a common question. See my full take in digital vs acoustic piano, but short version: digital makes sense for most beginners. Way cheaper. Volume control (headphones). No maintenance. Modern digital pianos sound and feel good enough to learn real skills.
Accessories you actually need: Sustain pedal ($20-50 if not included). Stand – X-style stands are cheap ($30-50) and adjustable, Z-style stands are more stable ($60-100). Bench or adjustable seat – you need to sit at the right height. See piano setup at home for details.
Headphones if you live with people or practice late. Over-ear, wired, accurate sound. I cover this in headphones for piano practice.
Add it up and that $300 keyboard actually costs $400-500 with accessories. Budget accordingly.
What I use now after a few years: Yamaha P-125 (about $600). Z-style stand. Adjustable bench. Audio-Technica headphones. Total investment maybe $750 over several years. Not cheap, but this setup will last a decade.
My recommendation if starting from zero: Get a Yamaha P-45 or Casio CDP-S100 ($400-500), an X-stand ($40), adjustable bench ($60), and decent headphones ($80). Around $600 total gets you everything you need for years of learning.
Don't overthink gear. A decent setup matters, but once you have it, practice matters infinitely more. I spent way too much time researching keyboards when I should've been playing.