When looking for an electric portable keyboard, Casio is one of the reputable brands that comes to mind. Their keyboard lineup is impressive, ranging from lightweight portable keyboards to heavier console pianos, with the priciest ones being high quality keyboards.
While this blog will not go into the details of individual keyboards (check out their website and specific Casio keyboard reviews for that!), we will instead take a look at the pros and cons of the piano keyboard in general, and how the Casio brand fits into all this.
Pros of the Electric Keyboard
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Portability
The piano is one of the heaviest and largest instruments, beatable only by the organ. So to have a portable piano is a great thing. This is especially true for the traveling musician or for students who are moving around a lot. The electric keyboard is lightweight, movable, and takes up less space than a piano, and easy to store when not in use.
Casio keyboards range from small, 44-key, beginner keyboards to 88-key console pianos that look like mini upright pianos. The SA-77, for example, is a mini desk-size keyboard that is good beginner keyboard for children. It comes with 100 tunes, 50 rhythms, and 10 integrated songs, along with piano and organ sounds – perfect for young children to begin exploring music right in their bedrooms.
The GP-510 is one of their newest hybrid models, with a price tag equal to that of a used upright piano. But it boasts an authentic touch that mimics the mechanism of a piano, complete with hammer action, and would be great for those in the performance field or serious students. This keyboard weighs approximately 175 lbs, so it is still portable if you wish to redecorate your space!
Check out these keyboards here:
SA-77: https://www.casio.com/products/electronic-musical-instruments/mini-keyboards/sa-77
GP-510: https://www.casio.com/products/electronic-musical-instruments/celviano-grand-hybrid/gp-510
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Wide range of instrumental sounds
One of the best parts of an electric keyboard is the wide range of instrument sounds to choose from. Light up your room with an organ or full string orchestra. Or jam out your tunes with guitar or electric bass sounds.
All Casio keyboards come with a wide range of sounds. Some, like the PX-S3000, have 700 tones to choose from. This keyboard does not come with a stand (table-top keyboard), but does have the full 88-keys and mimics the hammer-action of the piano. The mini keyboards for children have around 100 tones, while the console keyboards only have 35 tones since it is meant more for performance.
Whatever keyboard you go for, the electric keyboard has a wide range of fun tones that you would not get with a piano.
Check out these keyboards here:
PX-X3000: https://www.casio.com/products/electronic-musical-instruments/privia/px-s3000
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Wide range of additional music functions: metronome, rhythms, recording & playback
In addition to the plethora of tones, electric keyboards usually come with a built-in metronome and some fun background rhythms that can add another layer to your music-making. The more complex keyboards meant for arrangers and composers, like the WK-7600, also come with other functions like sequencers and mixers. Make a list of what you want in a keyboard before searching the market for the right product.
Check out these keyboards here:
WK-7600: https://www.casio.com/products/electronic-musical-instruments/workstation-keyboards/wk-7600
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Low maintenance
Electric keyboards are always in-tune and since there are no moving parts besides the keys, you will not need to hire a piano tuner. As long as the keyboard is shut off after usage and treated with care, the quality of keyboards has improved drastically these days and can last you a lifetime.
Casio keyboards usually come with a 1-5 year warranty. So make sure to get your keyboard registered within days of purchase.
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Headphones
Ever wanted to practice piano late into the night, but your parents or roommates were asleep? With the electric piano, you can do so! All Casio keyboards come with a headphone jack, so you can plug in those earbuds and jam away into the night. No more neighbors pounding at your walls yelling at you to tone down the music!
Cons of the Electric Keyboard
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Key action
The quality of keyboards has improved greatly but no matter how expensive your keyboard is, it will never match the key action of a real piano. The piano consists of over a thousand moving parts, hand-made and matched to each instrument. The keyboard is electric and uses technology to produce sounds. The keys on a keyboard do respond to your touch, but the sensitivity is limited. Additionally, piano keys are weighted and the amount of force needed to press down a key is hard to re-create electronically. The more expensive the keyboard though, the closer the hammer action gets to the real thing.
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Range of dynamics & expressivity
In addition to limited sensitivity, the range of dynamics is also less on a keyboard. Again, this is because the keyboard produces sounds electronically rather than manually. On a piano, there is no limit to the amount of sound you can get on either end of the spectrum, but on a keyboard, there is.
In piano playing, dynamic and sensitivity equals expressivity. So your music-making may feel a little limited depending on your keyboard.
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Pedaling
Pedaling on the keyboard is extremely limited. The resonance and decay that you experience with real strings and real hammers is far from that mimicked by technology. Additionally, only the higher-end keyboards like console pianos will have a pedal action even remotely close to the piano. The table-top keyboards require an extra pedal plug-in, which barely does much to improve the resonance.
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Requires Electricity
Ever have a power outage before? Enough said. Of course, who would be playing the piano in the dark anyways? But with TVs and electricity gone, our phones and tablets die out and piano playing in the dark starts to sound like a great idea!
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Aesthetics
A piano is a beautiful instrument. From the wood finish to the ivory and ebony keys, a piano is a great addition to any living room. The higher-end Casio console pianos may look and sound like upright pianos, but there is still something to be said with the real thing.
Should You Choose a Casio Keyboard Piano? That’s Up to You
Whether you choose an acoustic piano, and electric keyboard, or a Casio piano keyboard, make sure you choose an instrument that meets your needs. If you travel with your instrument, a Casio piano keyboard might be the perfect choice. If you love the natural sound of the piano, then an acoustic instrument might be best.
Weigh the pros and cons for yourself, and find the instruments that fits your lifestyle and musicality.
Alison Chiang