What type of piano should I buy?

There’s no easy answer to this question! A lot of it comes down to personal choice, budget and the space available.

It’s definitely possible for beginners to start on a keyboard, however it’s best if it’s a weighted keyboard. This means that the harder the keys are pressed the louder the note will be, similar to a piano. Without this it’s harder to develop the muscles needed to play the piano with a good technique. Suitable keyboards can cost a few hundred pounds. If you don’t need the bells and whistles of a keyboard and you don’t have the space for a permanent instrument, a good option is a weighted digital piano, such as the Yamaha P-45 which costs just over £350. This has the advantage of piano-sized keys and the full number of 88, but it can either be placed on a table or a stand and then tucked away afterwards.

If you have a little more space and budget then a digital upright piano would be the next option. There is a wide range of digital pianos on the market by companies such as Kawai, Yamaha and Roland. These start at around the £700 mark going all the way up to several thousand, but there are some cheaper makes out there too.

For a new acoustic upright piano you would be looking to spend upwards of £3,000 and also factor in ongoing costs such as tuning and maintenance. However, the market in second hand pianos is huge. You could go to a dealer, a local music centre or buy privately. Pianos are even given away for free, more often than you might think! Check out local Facebook reuse/recycle sites. Just remember that there is a cost to transport a piano properly and to use the services of a specialist if repairs are needed.

When purchasing any new keyboard instrument I would always recommend to “try before you buy” and find an instrument that you like and suits you, and that way you are much more likely to have fun playing it!