In this article, we’ll be answering a common question: “can you learn piano on a keyboard?”. But first, let’s do a small refresher on both keyboards and pianos.
Most people are often confused between keyboards and pianos, but there are actually some differences. For example, keyboards can vary in sizes and can have different numbers of keys, whereas regular pianos will only have 88 standard keys. Pianos also have one single type of sound due to being mechanical while keyboards can be customizable with different sounds.
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Is playing the keyboard the same as playing the piano?
The short answer is yes and no. The long answer is that it depends on the keyboard that you have. For instance, if you practice and play on a keyboard that has pedals and weighted keys, then you might actually do well on a real piano.
A plus factor would be if the keyboard that you have has 88 keys in total, just like a real grand piano would have. However, this does not mean that you can’t learn to play the piano if you only have 61 keys on your keyboard! (mentioned below)
If you want more information about the differences between pianos and keyboards, here’s a previous article covering that question.
Can you learn piano on a 61 key keyboard?
Again, this would be a yes and a no. It depends on whether your keyboard has pedals and soft touch so it can simulate a real grand piano. A 61 key keyboard may not be enough if you want to practice keys that require higher octaves.
However, it can be enough if you just want to practice the feel of a grand piano overall. Nonetheless, learning how to play the piano on your own can be hard, just like this particular previous article mentioned.
A good piano that only has 61 keys would be the Plixio 61-Key Electric Piano Keyboard. This one already has a musical sheet stand, sufficient amount of buttons and functions and even has 60 demo songs for you to use and learn from. It’s also very portable so you can play and practice on the go without the need for an AC cord! It only takes 6 AA batteries and you’re all set! Most of the buttons are easy to understand on this piano keyboard.
In addition to that, regardless of keyboard size, there are actually ways you can learn the piano on your own, such as indicated in a previously written article. It’s all in the technique and asking for help from experts while doing some research on your own.
What is a sustain pedal and how is it used in keyboards and pianos?
A sustain pedal is used to prolong or lengthen the last keys that you played on 
a piano or keyboard. Grand pianos, by default, already have sustain pedals underneath, whereas not all keyboards have this feature. Sustain pedals can be useful for adding more dynamics to your music, and it’s one of the major differences between a keyboard and a piano.
If you plan to learn how to use sustain on a grand piano, you might want to start with a keyboard that is capable of using a sustain pedal. Usually, it’s those keyboards that also allow touch sensitive presses or weighted keys, so that you can get the feel of a real grand piano.
What type of piano is best for beginners?
A piano that would be the best for beginners should be one that is easy on the weighted keys, doesn’t have too many complex buttons and controls, and should also have lessons or tutorial modes to play along with.
Beginners usually learn better if they’re given a piano keyboard that’s easy on its tutorials. One such would be The ONE Smart Piano Keyboard, 61-Key Portable Keyboard, which has its own lighted keys to act as a guide for beginner players. It’s also MIDI-compatible so you can not only record your stuff but also use it for music production when you get better in playing the piano keyboard. You can also connect it to your tablet for endless music lessons!
Additionally, the Vangoa MK-816 USB-MIDI(APP) 61 Keys Electric Piano Keyboard would also make a great beginner’s piano keyboard due to 
its complete setup. It is also MIDI-compatible and has a friendly LCD screen to see and tweak your settings. It has key light as well so it can help you practice your piece properly, with over 65 demo songs to choose from.
It has various keyboard split features, such as ensemble, follow and one-key, so that you can enjoy a full and immersive experience. Keyboards like these would be beneficial to those who don’t know much about music theories yet.
If you want more information, here’s a previous article covering the best pianos/keyboards for beginners.
Best piano keyboard for the money
A good piano keyboard for the money would be one that has all the great features, a significant amount of durability and doesn’t have a price that’s too high. A good option would be the Joy JK-63M-KIT With USB 61-Key Keyboard, which is quite complete with a stand, a chair and a pair of headphones. It also comes with up to 255 tones/voices to choose from and 255 rhythms to go along with.
It’s also got many functions like percussion control, tempo, fingered chord, and even an mp3 player so you can play a backing track while you’re playing the keyboard piano! It comes complete as a setup so it’s pretty good for its price. Most keyboards of this price range usually don’t come with all the extras, especially those with popular name brands!
Conclusion
Overall, it’s not really that much of a big deal to try learning how to play a real mechanical piano with the right digital keyboard at hand, since most of them have weighted keys and pedals to simulate the real thing. We hope that these suggestions can help you in your journey to learning the piano or keyboard!
