The Use Of Electric Pianos/Keyboards - Part 2

January 09, 2026•5 min read

"...it is always worth getting a proper piano-style pedal for your keyboard, as it moves around less, is easier to control, and works more like the pedal on a real piano."

What are some things you should consider when looking to buy a keyboard?

In the last blog post, we looked at whether it makes a difference using an electric piano or a keyboard, and also knowing when you might think about using one of these compared to a regular acoustic piano.

Now, we're going to be looking at some pointers to help you choose a keyboard, should you be in that situation or when the time arises.

Make sure it is a full size keyboard (88 notes).

While it may be cheaper to get a smaller size, unless you are only playing parts in a band context, you need the full range of the piano to properly support the congregation.

Make sure it is a weighted keyboard.

There are keyboards you can get that aren’t weighted, but this is a really bad option for a piano player. You can’t play the same, or get the same dynamics, and it will also mess up how you play on a normal piano if you use a keyboard like this too much. So, it really is important to make sure the keyboard is weighted.

Make sure the piano sound is one that sounds good and you are happy with.

There are some bad sounding keyboards and pianos out there so you really do need to check this. Does it sound authentic, tinny, or maybe too electronic? These are definitely things to consider, and you should also make sure it has a transpose button.

If you buy an electronic piano, you will get a better quality piano sound than if you buy an electronic keyboard.

You can get weighted 88-note electronic pianos and keyboards, but there are often significant differences between them. The keyboard will have hundreds, if not thousands, more sounds and features, whereas an electronic piano will typically, though not always, have just the basic piano sounds, plus some strings, harpsichord and organ sounds. If that’s all you need, don’t pay for all the extra sounds, or you will get a more inferior piano sound.

Make sure you get a pedal that looks like a piano pedal, not a footswitch.

Some electronic pianos and keyboards come with a cheaper footswitch. However, it is always worth getting a proper piano-style pedal for your keyboard, as it moves around less, is easier to control, and works more like the pedal on a real piano.

Invest in a good sturdy stand, so the keyboard doesn’t wobble.

While it is tempting to get a cheap stand, I would definitely recommend avoiding that if you can. I'm sure we've all had times when you sit in a cafe to have a nice coffee, and then you notice your table has a slight side to side wobble. Well, the same thing can happen to cheap music stands too!

Think about the size and weight of the keyboard, if you are having to move it around.

I recently bought a keyboard that’s great to use at home but I’m glad I’m not playing it elsewhere much at the moment as it takes 2 people to carry it! That is, unless I’m willing to have a sore back for 24 hours.

So, don’t just buy a keyboard without thinking about this; you should check the weight and make sure it’s manageable. However, if it’s going to be permanently based at your church this won’t be an issue of course.

If it is based at your church, make sure you take some time to go and familiarise yourself with the keyboard, and if possible practice on it during the week, so it’s not too much of a change for you when you play on Sundays.

So that’s a few things to consider then if you are looking at changing to an electronic piano or keyboard.

I haven’t said anything specific about brands, but my suggestion would be to look at the known established ones like Kawai, Casio, Roland and Yamaha, rather than cheaper unknown brands. They may cost less, but the quality isn’t always the same.

Just to recap, here are the the points again...

Make sure it is a full size keyboard (88 notes)
Make sure it is a weighted keyboard
Make sure the piano sound is one that sounds good and you are happy with
If you buy an electronic piano, you will get a better quality piano sound than if you buy an electronic keyboard.
Make sure you get a pedal that looks like a piano pedal, not a footswitch.
Invest in a good sturdy stand, so the keyboard doesn’t wobble.
Think about the size and weight of the keyboard, if you are having to move it around

I hope that's been helpful for you in deciding the use of electronic pianos and keyboards.

[Return to The Church Piano Player Website]

This blog post was written by pastor and pianist Kris Baines, from The Church Piano Player. Kris lives in the UK with his family, having recently moved back from New Zealand where he worked as a pastor for the past 26 years (also leading worship/worship teams). Kris has also spent over 35 years writing, recording, and performing music and is now bringing all that combined experience together to help equip church piano/keyboard players.

Check out the church piano player website for more information on online courses by Kris Baines.