The 10 Best 61-Key Keyboards In 2022 (By Use Case)
Electric keyboards are one of the most versatile instruments on the market and they only keep improving with time. Whether you need a beginning piano, stage piano, or an arranger, there is a model out there that has your specific needs covered.
When making your choice on which keyboard to purchase, it is important to take into account what you require from your keyboard and what you intend to use it for: practice, performance, composition, or recording.
Specific factors to consider are if you require your keys to be weighted like an acoustic piano, how large your bank of sounds need to be, what ports and connections are available, and how portable the keyboard is. This article will cover ten of the best keyboards available across several different categories.
Factors To Consider
Sound:
The sounds are the most important part of any digital keyboard. Most come loaded with hundreds of presets, but there is quite a difference between 200 and 600. Additionally, some keyboards place an emphasis on specific sounds, for instance a keyboard that has dozens of different organs.
Connections:
It is crucial that you are aware of what ports your keyboard comes with. Are there enough ¼” line inputs and outputs for your needs? Do you require a dedicated MIDI or XLR port? Consider the rest of your gear that you will use with your new keyboard when weighing your options.
Portability:
Regardless of your playing ability or if you are gigging or not, portability is a benefit for any instrument. The two main elements of making a keyboard portable are weight and battery power. The lighter the weight, the more portable a keyboard is. Additionally, if your keyboard can be powered on batteries rather than a cable adapter, then you can play just about anywhere.
1. Best Budget: Casio Casiotone CT-S300 61-Key Keyboard
The Casiotone CT-S300 is a 61-key keyboard that has so much to offer at a shocking price, costing under $200. It is an arranging keyboard, meaning it has a massive sound bank of tones (400 of them), as well as a MIDI capability via USB and a pitch bend wheel. It also comes with a built-in handle and can be powered by batteries for ultimate portability.
Key Specs
| Weighted Keys: | No |
| MIDI: | Yes (Over USB) |
| Portable Design: | Yes (batteries) |
| Inputs: | 1 x ⅛” aux |
| Outputs: | 1 x ⅛” headphones |
| Accessories: | Music rest, power supply |
| Built-in Speakers: | Yes |
| Dimensions: | 36.6 in x 10.1 in x 2.9 in (929.64 mm x 256.54 mm x 73.66 mm) |
| Weight: | 7.3 lb. (3.31 kg) |
2. Best For Beginners: Yamaha Piaggero NP-12 61-Key Keyboard
The Yamaha Piaggero is an excellent 61-key keyboard that is widely used by music teachers and students. It is a digital piano that is straightforward and simple, focusing on quality sounds and playability.
The keys aren’t weighted, but they are touch-sensitive, meaning the volume of the keys correspond with how hard or soft you press. It is also very portable, meaning it is light and battery powered. A wired power supply is optional for purchase, but does not come included.
Key Specs
| Weighted Keys: | No |
| MIDI: | Yes (Over USB) |
| Portable Design: | Yes (batteries) |
| Inputs: | 1 x ¼” (pedal) |
| Outputs: | 1 x ¼” |
| Accessories: | Music rest |
| Built-in Speakers: | Yes |
| Dimensions: | 40.81 in x 10.18 in x 4.12 in (1036.57 mm x 258.57 mm x 104.65 mm) |
| Weight: | 9.94 lb. (4.51 kg) |
3. Best For Portability: Yamaha PSR-E373 61-Key Keyboard
is an awesome keyboard from Yamaha. It is known for its portability, being lightweight and battery-powered, it also is compact and easy to maneuver in small spaces.
It features 611 high-quality sound voicings, on-board lessons and touch-sensitive keys. It also comes with mobile phone connectivity. This is a wonderful keyboard that is perfect for anyone who values quality and portability.
Key Specs
| Weighted Keys: | No |
| MIDI: | Yes (USB) |
| Portable Design: | Yes (batteries) |
| Inputs: | 1 x ⅛” aux |
| Outputs: | 1 x ⅛” headphones |
| Accessories: | Music rest |
| Built-in Speakers: | Yes |
| Dimensions: | 37.19 in x 14.5 in x 4.63 in (944.63 mm x 368.3 mm x 117.6 mm) |
| Weight: | 10.14 lb. (4.6 kg) |
4. Best For Portability Runner-Up: Roland GO:KEYS 61-Key Keyboard
The GO:KEYS keyboard from Roland is amazing and has so much to offer to any keyboard player. It costs just under $300, and weighs only 8 pounds, making it very portable.
It also has over 500 sounds and has built-in software for producing and recording songs right on the keyboard! Not only does it offer MIDI connectivity, but it also contains Bluetooth as well. The red paint finish is a great aesthetic touch as well.
Key Specs
| Weighted Keys: | No |
| MIDI: | Yes (USB) |
| Portable Design: | Yes (batteries) |
| Inputs: | 1 x ⅛” aux |
| Outputs: | 1 x ⅛” headphones, Bluetooth |
| Accessories: | Power supply |
| Built-in Speakers: | Yes |
| Dimensions: | 34.56 in x 10.68 in x 3.25 in (877.82 mm x 271.3 mm x 82.55 mm) |
| Weight: | 8.63 lb. (3.9 kg) |
5. Best For Producers: Korg EK-50 L 61-Key Portable Keyboard
is an arranging keyboard that is a perfect option for producers. It is affordable, costing under $1,000 and packs 790 sounds and 59 drum kits into its software. It can be connected directly to your DAW via MIDI as well as a ¼” line out.
It is less portable than the others, weighing 5-10 pounds more, but it still can be battery-powered. That said, this keyboard is best kept in the studio, rather than for gigging.
Key Specs
| Weighted Keys: | No |
| MIDI: | Yes |
| Portable Design: | Yes (batteries) |
| Inputs: | 1 x ⅛” aux, 1 x ¼” |
| Outputs: | 1 x ⅛” headphones,1 x ¼”, MIDI |
| Accessories: | Music rest |
| Built-in Speakers: | Yes |
| Dimensions: | 39.13 in x 15.43 in x 5.2 in (993.9 mm x 391.92 mm x 132.08 mm) |
| Weight: | 16.5 lb. (7.5 kg) |
6. Best For Producers Runner-Up: Kurzweil KP-150 61-Key Portable Arranger
The KP-150 from Kurzweil is a great alternative to the Korg arranger. They are similar in price and have similar features as well. The KP-150 is lighter, but it does not offer battery power and a wired power supply is included.
There are 618 preset sounds and features an onboard MIDI recorder as well. It can also plug right into your DAW via USB and doubles as a MIDI recorder once plugged in. This keyboard is an amazing deal and one that anyone with a home studio should consider.
Key Specs
| Weighted Keys: | Semi-weighted synth action |
| MIDI: | Yes (USB) |
| Portable Design: | Lightweight but no battery power |
| Inputs: | 2 x ¼” |
| Outputs: | 1 x ¼” |
| Accessories: | Music rest |
| Built-in Speakers: | Yes |
| Dimensions: | 38.2 in x 14.6 in x 5.6 in (970.28 mm x 370.84 mm x 142.24 mm) |
| Weight: | 11 lb. (4.99 kg) |
7. Best For Intermediate Players: Roland V-Combo VR-09-B 61-Key Stage Performance Keyboard
This Roland V-Combo is a favorite among gigging keyboardists and is perfect for intermediate players. It isn’t overly pricey, costing just over $1,000. It is portable, being lightweight and capable of battery power.
There are 245 different keyboard sounds and several built-in effects, including delay, reverb, overdrive, chorus, vibrato and rotary. It also offers great production features, such as a MIDI In/Out, and onboard WAV audio recording and playback.
Key Specs
| Weighted Keys: | Semi-weighted synth action |
| MIDI: | Yes (In/Out) |
| Portable Design: | Yes (Batteries) |
| Inputs: | 1 x ⅛” |
| Outputs: | 2 x ¼” |
| Accessories: | Power supply |
| Built-in Speakers: | Yes |
| Dimensions: | 39.68 in x 11.81 in x 4.18 in (1007.87 mm x 299.97 mm x 106.17 mm) |
| Weight: | 12.81 lb. (5.81 kg) |
8. Best For Professionals: Hammond SK Pro 61-Key Keyboard
The Hammond SK is a high-quality keyboard that is perfect for professionals. It offers many organ options, with 100 different sounds and organ effects like rotary. It also has 100 analog-style mono synth sounds and 300 piano/ensemble sounds that include brass, reeds, strings, choir and percussion instruments.
Key Specs
| Weighted Keys: | Semi-weighted |
| MIDI: | Yes (In/Out) |
| Portable Design: | No |
| Inputs: | 1 x ⅛”, 1 x ¼” |
| Outputs: | 2 x ¼” (Individual out) 2 x ¼” (line) |
| Accessories: | Power supply |
| Built-in Speakers: | No |
| Dimensions: | 39.52 in x 12.67 in x 4.29 in (1003.8 mm x 321.82 mm x 108.97 mm) |
| Weight: | 20.5 lb. (9.3 kg) |
9. Best For Professionals Runner-Up: Nord Electro 6D 61-Key Keyboard
The Nord Electro 6D is another keyboard that is perfect for the professional player. It contains 400 different presets with four different sound engines. It has semi-weighted keys that feel amazing and the interface is laden with knobs and controls that allow you to adjust your sound in real time, invaluable for live performance.
It is not cheap, and similar to the Hammond keyboard it will cost slightly less than $3,000. This is a top-quality keyboard for any gigging professional looking for a new instrument.
Key Specs
| Weighted Keys: | Semi-weighted |
| MIDI: | Yes (In/Out) |
| Portable Design: | No |
| Inputs: | 1 x ⅛”, USB |
| Outputs: | 2 x ¼”, USB |
| Accessories: | Power supply |
| Built-in Speakers: | No |
| Dimensions: | 35.4 in x 11.7 in x 3.8 in (899.16 mm x 297.18 mm x 96.52 mm) |
| Weight: | 17.85 lb. (8.1 kg) |
10. Best Overall: Yamaha YC61 61-Key Stage Keyboard
The Yamaha YC61 is the best overall 61-key keyboard on this list when factoring price, sound quality and built-in features. The sound bank contains over 250 excellent presets and contains nine effects processors including reverb, chorus, rotary, vibrato, delay, drive and guitar amp.
It also features a great LCD as well as intuitive knobs and sliders for easy sound control. This stellar keyboard will cost you just under $2,000 and is completely worth its price.
Key Specs
| Weighted Keys: | Semi-weighted |
| MIDI: | Yes (In/Out) |
| Portable Design: | No |
| Inputs: | 2 x ¼” USB types A and B |
| Outputs: | 2 x ¼”, USB |
| Accessories: | Power supply |
| Built-in Speakers: | No |
| Dimensions: | 35.25 in x 12.18 in x 4.25 in (895.35 mm x 309.37mm x 107.95 mm) |
| Weight: | 15.6 lb. (7.08 kg) |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is portability important and how do you gauge it?
Portability is key especially for gigging musicians. Being able to transport and maneuver your keyboard through the tight spaces in bars, clubs and other small venues is crucial. The factors you look for in portability are size, weight and power. The lighter and more compact, the better. If it is able to be powered by batteries rather than limited by a power cable, then that helps portability as well.
Are Built-In Speakers Necessary?
They aren’t necessary, as many players prefer to connect to a keyboard amp or simply use headphones. For a beginner, however, or in an educational environment, built-in speakers make learning the instrument easier and more convenient. Their sound quality will never be as good as that of a PA system or amplifier, but it still is a nice feature to have.
What Does A Keyboard Typically Cost?
Like guitars, the price of keyboards vary wildly based on quality, features and brand name. As evident in this list, some of the keyboards geared towards beginners cost a few hundred dollars, while the professional grade keyboards cost thousands. It all depends on the requirements of the player.
