Do you dream of typing faster or maybe even building your own custom computer setup? Picking out your very first keyboard can feel like navigating a maze! There are so many buttons, switches, and features, and it’s easy to feel lost. You want something that feels good, works well for school or gaming, but you don’t want to spend too much money.
That confusion is exactly why we created this guide. Many beginners buy the wrong keyboard and end up frustrated. They might get one that’s too loud, too big, or just doesn’t have the right feel for what they need. We understand those pain points!
By the time you finish reading, you will know exactly what terms like “mechanical” and “membrane” mean. We will break down the key features you need to look for so you can confidently choose the perfect keyboard for your needs and budget. Let’s dive in and find the best typing companion for you!
Top Keyboard For Starters Recommendations
- The RockJam 5061 keyboard piano super kit includes a digital keyboard with 61 full-size keys giving you that traditional piano feel whilst maintaining a portable and compact design that can be powered by either mains (power supply included) or batteries
- This RockJam 5061 piano keyboard features a LED panel that both displays and engages the 200 rhythms, 200 tones, a teaching function, and 30 demo songs that are part of its functionality
- The RockJam 5061 electric piano has record and playback functionality allowing you to build layers to your sound and an aux input so you can play along to your favorite songs
- This music keyboard super kit package includes a keyboard stand that is sturdy in design and can be adjusted to suit keyboard piano players both young and old
- This electric piano keyboard super kit contains a padded seat that is easily folded and has a thick padded seat for hours of comfortable play
- Comprehensive Beginner's Bundle: Embark on your musical journey with an 88-Key Electric Digital Piano that features semi-weighted keys, delivering an authentic and immersive playing experience. This all-inclusive package comprises essential accessories, including a Sustain Pedal, Power Supply, Stand, Carrying Case, and Headphones, making it the ideal choice for beginners seeking a seamless start to their musical exploration.a1
- Diverse Sound Palette and Inspiration: Unleash your creative potential with a wide array of sound options, encompassing 128 different instrument voices and rhythms. This versatility allows you to explore and experiment with a variety of musical styles. Dive into the world of music with 80 included demo songs, serving as a valuable resource for practice and performance, enriching your musical repertoire and providing inspiration.
- Authentic Playing Experience: Equipped with a standard touch-sensitive keyboard, this digital piano ensures that you experience the genuine feel and responsiveness of a traditional piano, catering to individuals of all skill levels.
- Seamless Connectivity with Bluetooth: Enjoy the convenience of Bluetooth functionality, which enables effortless connections to other devices. This feature expands your creative horizons, making collaboration and musical exploration a breeze.
- Portability and Convenience: With the included Carrying Case, you can take your music on the go, allowing you to play your favorite tunes wherever inspiration strikes. The Stand and Headphones facilitate practice and performance without constraints, ensuring your music accompanies you on your artistic journey.a1
- All-Inclusive Kit-The DEK-610S Piano Keyboard Kit includes an easy-to-assemble keyboard stand, an adjustable-height bench, a sheet music stand, a microphone, and a power adapter. It provides everything you need in one package
- Unlimited Possibilities-With 32-note polyphony, 249 voices, 249 rhythms, 50 demo songs, and 3 teaching functions, you can unleash your creativity and enjoy band performances
- HD Display-The 61-key beginner keyboard piano features an LCD display panel that shows the current functions and operations
- Practice Makes Perfect-The "Record" feature allows you to capture your performances for timely correction. The headphones with a 3.5mm jack enable private practice
- Superior Sound & Portability-Equipped with two built-in 10W speakers, the DEK-610S electric piano delivers room-filling sound. Its slim piano body makes it portable and perfect for indoor or outdoor activities
- UNLIMITED CONNECTION: This true full size 61 key keyboard piano is made of premium material. The LCD display can simply and clearly displays the status of the functions being used. With audio input/output/microphone jack(with UDISK port),you can connect microphone and headphone(included), you will not interfere with others when practicing singing and playing late at night, fully enjoy the music
- TIMBRE AND RHYTHM: JIKADA 61-key electronic music keyboard has two built-in stereo speakers, provide 255 tones, 255 rhythms, 50 demo songs and 61 types of keyboard percussion and give you premium sounds and effects. With status memory function, you can save the tone, rhythm, tempo and other parameters to be changed during playing, for fast shifting
- 3 TEACHING MODES: JIKADA 61 light-up keys keyboard piano with 3 powerful teaching modes, lead you to step by step. And piano note stickers help you more easily to learn and memorize the music theory, musical notations and keys positions
- MULTI FUNCTIONS: This electronic keyboard has master volume/ accom volume/ tempo control, single-finger chords, fingered chords, sustain, vibrato, split, transposition, metronome, volume or transpose control. With record and playback function, and the playback function can also help the performer recall the performance effect and make targeted connections to improve the performance next time
- SUPER BUNDLE: Includes a keyboard (size: 36.4in * 13.4in * 3.5in), a x-shaped stand, a soft stool, headphones, a microphone, a music rest and a power adapter. And the stool can be folded for convenient storage and space-saving. This item is not intended for users under 12 years old
- The RockJam 61 Key Keyboard Piano (RJ361) features 61 keys and is packed with 200 sounds, 200 rhythms, and 10 demo songs, making it an ideal keyboard piano for beginners and experienced musicians alike.
- Enhance your musical creativity with the sustain and vibrato functions, along with the record and playback capabilities, ensuring this digital piano meets all your musical needs.
- This kids piano is perfect for young musicians, featuring piano keynote stickers to help visualize notes and improve muscle memory, making it a great educational tool.
- The RockJam keyboard includes a headphone socket for private practice and is compatible with the Simply Piano app, as a RockJam customer you receive exclusive content straight out of the box.
- With a sturdy and compact design, this electric piano is ideal for home use or on-the-go practice, ensuring you can play music anytime, anywhere.
- The RockJam 49 Key keyboard piano macaron range is living proof that good things come in small packages, these 49 key musical keyboards combine style, sound quality and functionality making it the ideal first keyboard piano.
- This electric piano is PACKED with features, 200 tones, 200 rhythms, 50 demos, and a record and playback function.
- The inbuilt stereo speakers on this electronic keyboard deliver a powerful 10 Watts of sound and comes with a headphone input so you can choose to perform with confidence or practice in privacy all without the fear of disturbing others.
- Additional inputs and outputs on this digital piano include an Aux input so you can play along to your favourite songs, and an additional 3.5mm input for a microphone.
- To complement this keyboard piano, you will receive piano note stickers, and exclusive content from Simply Piano, an IOS and Android application that will help you learn your favourite songs in addition to the piano playing fundamentals.
- The RockJam 561 keyboard piano super kit boasts a digital keyboard with 61 full-size keys, offering the authentic feel of a traditional piano within a compact, portable design, perfect for both beginners and seasoned musicians.
- This electric piano features a dynamic LCD display that provides access to 100 rhythms, 50 tones, teaching functions, and 30 demo songs, making it a versatile and engaging keyboard piano for all learning levels.
- Equipped with record and playback functionality, the RockJam 561 electric keyboard allows you to layer sounds and review your performances, enhancing your creativity and musical development.
- This impressive music keyboard set comes with a sturdy, adjustable keyboard stand and stool set, accommodating pianists of all sizes, from young beginners to experienced players.
- Additionally, the electric keyboard piano super kit comes with a padded, foldable seat for hours of comfortable play, along with headphones for private practice and piano note stickers and lessons from Simply piano to aid learning, making this RockJam keyboard a comprehensive and thoughtful gift for any aspiring musician.
- 3 TEACHING MODES: 3-Step Intelligent Teaching helps novice beginners learn by mimicking with One-Key, Follow, and Ensemble modes
- CUSTOMIZABLE SOUND: Draw inspiration from the 24 demo, then use the 255 timbre options to create different sounds and the 255 rhythms to accompany your melody along with 32 percussion sounds
- ULTIMATE BUNDLE: With an H-style keyboard stand, music stand, power adapter, padded stool, LED screen, recorder with playback, it makes for the perfect birthday or holiday present for any aspiring musician
- QUALITY SOUND: Perform a recital with built-in speakers, headphones, a rhythm programmer, and music player function that help to find the perfect sound and re-create classic music pieces
- MICROPHONE INCLUDED: Plug in and play along to songs stored on a USB and let your creative side out as you sing along with your microphone headset; OVERALL DIMENSIONS: 33"(L) x 15.5"(W) x 33.5-37.5"(H) (With Stand)
The Ultimate Buying Guide: Finding Your First Keyboard
Starting your keyboard journey can feel a bit overwhelming. So many buttons, so many types! This guide will help you pick the perfect first keyboard without breaking the bank or your brain. We focus on what matters most for beginners.
1. Key Features to Look For
When you buy your first keyboard, focus on these main features. They make typing easier and more fun.
Size and Layout
- Full-Size (104/105 Keys): This keyboard has everything: the main keys, function keys (F1, F2, etc.), navigation keys, and the number pad on the right. It’s great if you often use spreadsheets or need that number pad.
- Tenkeyless (TKL – About 87 Keys): This version removes the number pad. TKL boards save desk space. They let you move your mouse closer, which is better for gaming or just keeping things neat.
- Compact (60% or 65%): These are much smaller. They remove the number pad and sometimes the arrow keys. Beginners often find these too confusing at first because you have to press extra buttons to use missing keys. Start bigger!
Connectivity
- Wired (USB): This is the simplest connection. You plug it in, and it works right away. Wired keyboards rarely have lag, which is good for fast typing or gaming.
- Wireless (Bluetooth/2.4GHz Dongle): Wireless means no messy cables. Bluetooth connects to many devices easily. Make sure the keyboard has long battery life.
Switch Type (Mechanical vs. Membrane)
This is the biggest difference in how a keyboard feels.
- Membrane Keyboards: These are common and cheap. They use rubber domes under the keys. They feel soft and quiet. They are good for quiet offices.
- Mechanical Keyboards: These use individual switches under each key. They feel clicky or smooth and offer better feedback. Many beginners like the feel of mechanical switches, even if they are a bit louder.
2. Important Materials
The materials used affect how long the keyboard lasts and how it feels to touch.
Keycaps (The Tops of the Keys)
- ABS Plastic: This is the most common material. It is cheap, but over time, the letters can wear off, and the keys can get shiny.
- PBT Plastic: This is a tougher plastic. PBT keycaps resist shine and last much longer. If you see PBT on a beginner board, that’s a big plus!
Case (The Body)
Most beginner keyboards use durable plastic for the case. Metal (aluminum) cases feel much sturdier and heavier, but they cost more. Plastic is perfectly fine for your first keyboard.
3. Factors That Improve or Reduce Quality
Good quality means the keyboard works reliably for a long time.
Things That Improve Quality
- Hot-Swappable Sockets (For Mechanical Keyboards): These sockets let you pull out and replace switches without soldering. This lets you try new switch types later without buying a whole new keyboard.
- Anti-Ghosting/N-Key Rollover (NKRO): This feature makes sure the keyboard registers every single key press, even if you press several keys at once. This is important for fast typists and gamers.
- Stable Feet: Look for rubber feet on the bottom. These stop the keyboard from sliding around on your desk while you type.
Things That Reduce Quality
- Flimsy Plastic Case: If the case bends easily when you press on it, the keyboard might feel cheap and break sooner.
- Generic or Unlabeled Switches: If a mechanical keyboard doesn’t say what switches it uses (like “Brown” or “Red”), the quality might be inconsistent.
4. User Experience and Use Cases
Think about what you will use the keyboard for most often.
Typing and Productivity
If you write papers or emails all day, comfort is key. A keyboard with a slightly curved profile or a wrist rest helps prevent strain. A tactile switch (like a “Brown” mechanical switch) often provides a good balance of quietness and feedback for long typing sessions.
Gaming
Gamers need speed and reliability. Wired connections are preferred to avoid latency (delay). Mechanical switches are often chosen because they actuate (register the press) very quickly. TKL layouts are popular because they give the mouse more room.
Portability
If you plan to carry your keyboard between home and school, choose a smaller TKL or 75% layout. Make sure it has a detachable cable (USB-C is common), which makes packing easier.
10 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Starter Keyboards
Q: Should my first keyboard be mechanical or membrane?
A: Most people enjoy starting with a mechanical keyboard. They feel nicer to type on and last longer. If you need total silence, stick with a quiet membrane keyboard.
Q: Do I need a number pad?
A: If you work with numbers a lot, yes. If you mostly write or game, a Tenkeyless (TKL) board without the number pad saves space and is often preferred.
Q: What is the best size for a beginner?
A: A Full-Size or a TKL board is best. They have all the keys you know, so you do not have to learn new shortcuts right away.
Q: How important is keycap material (ABS vs. PBT)?
A: PBT is better quality. It resists shine and wear much longer than cheaper ABS plastic. Look for PBT if the price is similar.
Q: Is a wired or wireless keyboard better for starters?
A: Wired is simpler and cheaper. Wireless is cleaner and more flexible, but you must remember to charge it sometimes.
Q: What does “switch color” mean on a mechanical keyboard?
A: Switch colors (like Red, Brown, Blue) tell you how the switch feels. Red is usually smooth/fast, Brown is a gentle bump, and Blue is loud/clicky.
Q: How do I clean my new keyboard?
A: Unplug it. Use compressed air to blow out crumbs. You can gently wipe the keycaps with a slightly damp cloth. Never spray liquid directly onto the keyboard.
Q: Can I use any keyboard with a Mac?
A: Yes, most USB keyboards work with Macs. You might need to change a few settings in your computer’s preferences to swap the Command and Option keys if you want the layout to feel familiar.
Q: What is “keyboard flex”?
A: Flex is when the keyboard case bends slightly when you press hard. Good quality keyboards have very little flex. More flex usually means a cheaper build.
Q: What should my budget be for a decent starter keyboard?
A: For a quality membrane board, expect to spend $30-$50. For a very good entry-level mechanical board, look in the $60-$90 range.