Looking to buy one of the best stage pianos? Perhaps, you're getting back into gigging again, or you've got a cushty number working in a theatre or a place of worship. Maybe you're planning to take your band out on the road for the very first time, or you're a singer-songwriter who dreams of having an instrument more versatile than a guitar to accompany you.
Whatever your reasons for wanting a stage piano, you've probably already worked out that a simple home keyboard isn't going to cut it on tour. Stage pianos are built tough for the rough and tumble of gigging so that they'll work reliably night after night. More often than not, they also feature stage-friendly top panels that are easy to navigate even under the gloomiest stage lighting. But the most important feature, aside from great sound, is the ability to connect to a PA speaker or mixing desk via a pair of line outputs. It’s this key functionality that differentiates stage pianos from their home digital piano counterparts, and while almost all home digital pianos will have built-in speakers, it’s by no means standard for stage pianos to feature them.
Currently, my top choice is the Nord Piano 6. Here at MusicRadar, we praised this model’s unbelievable playability and stellar tones. The Nord is an industry standard at this point, so if you need a professional setup, this is the unit for you. For those on a smaller budget, the Yamaha P-145 is a brilliant choice for any amateur pianist moving out of the beginner digital piano bracket seeking more functionality and a decent sound, or gigging musicians in need of a stage piano that’s portable, reliable, and good value.
Now, I've also included a handy 'FAQs' section, so if you need further guidance on selecting the best stage piano for your needs, simply hit the link. Then, when you're ready to invest, our price comparison widgets find today's best prices so you can bag a bargain from a trusted retailer.
Quick list
The Nord Piano 6 is your ticket to fooling audiences into thinking you’re playing half a ton of concert grand, not to mention electric pianos, Clavinets, and a whole lot more. It’s a refinement rather than a reinvention, but honestly, that’s exactly what makes it brilliant.
Yamaha’s P series of digital pianos aims to reproduce the sound and physical response of an acoustic piano with a minimal footprint, and this approach has proved to be wildly popular with space-conscious musicians. As Yamaha’s most basic model of the P series, targeted squarely at the budget conscious, the P-145 delivers where it counts.
With this new model, Roland has taken user feedback to heart, refining the ultra-compact digital piano experience with a fresh new philosophy: a focus on playability, sound realism, and intuitive usability. The result is a brand-new sound engine, a new piano sound, improved speakers, half-damper support, sympathetic resonance modelling, and a host of modern upgrades.
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The Yamaha CK88 is Yamaha’s latest stage piano that came out back in 2023, and it’s honestly a bit of a game-changer for us at MusicRadar. While the company already had the CP and YC ranges, they decided to create something “markedly different” with the CK series. What makes this one special? It’s ridiculously portable.
The PX-S3100 is one of the more capable instruments in Casio's current lineup, boasting a broader range of onboard sounds and more opportunities for tone-shaping in the effects department. Coming in at 232mm in depth, it’s could be argued that it’s one of the slimmest digital pianos on the market, and at 11.4kg it’s one of the most portable options too.
The Roland V-Stage 88 is a feature- and sound-packed instrument that includes just about everything a keyboard player could need to perform music from the last 60 years, whether amateur or professional. This flagship model features a fully weighted 88-note keybed and unlimited polyphony across its acoustic piano and organ sections.
It's fair to say there’s a lot of love for the Rhodes electric piano, which is hardly a surprise considering its secure position in the history of contemporary music. Originally designed by Harold Rhodes, the instrument first appeared in the early '70s as a piano-like instrument that could compete with other amplified instruments in a band.
Best overall
✅ Buy if you want the very best: This is an industry-standard stage piano for a reason. It’s dependable, feels amazing to play and sounds incredible - but that does come at a cost.
❌ Avoid if you aren’t a pro: Okay, so if you are a beginner or just an amateur player, you may not need this level of investment.
What is it?: The Nord Piano 6 is your ticket to fooling audiences into thinking you’re playing half a ton of concert grand, not to mention electric pianos, Clavinets, and a whole lot more. It’s a refinement rather than a reinvention, but honestly, that’s exactly what makes it brilliant. The big news here is the improved dual-layer workflow. You can now stack two pianos, two sample synths, or mix and match however you like. The new slider-style volume controls take up less space, so you can see the volumes of all active parts at once. It’s available in 88-key and 73-key versions, both coming with a triple pedal.
Build: It’s solid and robust, and it feels reassuring to play. This isn’t some flimsy stage keyboard that you’ll worry about during load-in. Nord’s robust construction gives you the confidence to pound away on it without worrying about inflicting harm on its keybed. The panel has had a proper overhaul too, making it way easier to tweak sounds on the fly during a gig. Everything just feels more immediate and professional.
Performance: The keybed is undoubtedly one of the jewels in the Piano 6 crown. Nord described the action as a Premium Triple Sensor Keybed, but this description just doesn’t do it justice. The keys themselves feel longer, which provides a beautiful sense of counterbalance as you play, exactly what you would get with an acoustic piano. The keybed has had a subtle but welcome tweak – it’s still a triple-sensor Fatar keybed, but Nord’s optimised it for a slightly quicker response. It’s a small change, but you do feel a bit more connected to the sound.
Sound: This is where the Piano 6 really shines. The full range of depth and detail is here – it’s got all of that Grand piano authority! The White Grand sample is particularly impressive, capturing that semi-concert grand vibe perfectly. The Stockholm EP9 sample, captured from a 1976 Rhodes Mk1, offers a beautiful trade-off between the tines' sound and the gritty bottom end a Rhodes can deliver. Each layer gets its own effects section with two modulation effects and an amp simulation, letting you craft even more complex sounds.
"We are absolutely in love with this keyboard, thanks to the unbelievable playability and quality of its makeup. If you’re a pianist who yearns for a better electric playing experience, your new piano may have just arrived!"
Read our full Nord Piano 6 review
Best on a budget
✅ Buy if you want a great mid-priced option: We all know that stage pianos get very expensive, very quickly, but the Yamaha CK88 manages to offer lots of features and Yamaha’s renowned build quality for a very modest price.
❌ Avoid if you are a complete beginner: If you are new to piano, I’d suggest looking at the Yamaha P-145 instead.
What is it?: As Yamaha’s most basic model of the P series, targeted squarely at the budget-conscious, I think the P-145 delivers where it counts. Yamaha’s mission statement with this instrument is clear: a no-frills digital piano with only the bare minimum of features and a laser focus on playability and affordability. Now, the most notable difference between the P-145 and its predecessor is size. Yamaha has managed to shave off an impressive 60mm and 400g from an already compact design, leaving this model with an exceptionally efficient form factor.
Build: Despite its sleeker form, the P-145's casing remains as robust and reliable as the P-45's, and is likely to withstand the wear and tear of daily use for years to come. Convenience is the P-145’s greatest strength, and physically, there’s very little to improve on here. With its light but sturdy build, moving the instrument between rooms or homes makes owning an acoustic piano seem like a Kafka-esque nightmare by comparison. An AC power supply, an attachable music rest, and a footswitch sustain pedal are included with the piano, giving you everything you need to get started. Yamaha also offers the LP-5A pedal unit to expand the P-145’s capabilities, which integrates elegantly with their accompanying L-100 keyboard stand.
Performance: Yamaha has replaced the Graded Hammer Standard weighted keybed of the P-45 with their new Graded Hammer Compact model, and, as the name suggests, the main difference is again size. That’s no knock against the P-145, though, as the older keybed it is based on was already excellent at this price point. “Graded” refers to the nonlinear response of an acoustic piano’s keyboard, with lower notes having a slightly different action than the higher register.
Sound: The onboard speakers are powerful and pretty weighty, well, sonically, anyway. Yamaha has included an option they call Sound Boost to get the most out of the built-in speakers, which appears to be a simple gain increase coupled with some psychoacoustic trickery, and it works surprisingly well. The two included grand piano models, sampled from Yamaha’s full-size concert grand CFIIIS, are clear and consistent with an acceptable level of realism. The sounds don’t respond particularly expressively to velocity, but it’s important to keep things in perspective when reviewing a beginner-centric instrument at this price point. The P-145 covers the piano's sonic territory with enough detail to be perfectly serviceable for players at the start of their musical journey.
"Yamaha's P-45 was most definitely one of the most popular beginner pianos on the market, and it was easy to see why. It was robust, compact, and offered players an authentic-feeling instrument at a stellar price. The latest iteration - the P-145 - stays within the guidelines of the previous unit but manages to shrink the model to an even more compact size, making it more portable."
Read our full Yamaha P-145 review
Best beginner
✅ Buy if you are a beginner: This affordable option is ideal for beginners and is even light enough to carry to school or lessons.
❌ Avoid if you're a more experienced player: More advanced players might find the key action lacking the responsiveness of more premium stage pianos.
What is it?: In 2019, Roland introduced the GO:Piano 88, its first ultra-compact 88-key digital piano. This lightweight instrument marked a new direction for the Japanese brand, offering a full-length keyboard in a highly portable design. In 2025, Roland returned with an updated version - the GO 88PX. With this new model, they’ve taken user feedback to heart, refining the ultra-compact digital piano experience with a fresh new focus on playability, sound realism, and intuitive usability.
Build: The GO 88PX features a clean, updated design with contours that reflect a classic home digital piano, all within a very compact frame. At just 128 cm by 27.6 cm and weighing only 5.8 kg, lighter than its predecessor, it’s easily transportable. It can be powered by 8 AA batteries for around 6 hours of playtime, or by the included AC adapter and USB. There’s not much clutter on this instrument, just a sleek, intuitive control panel with buttons for volume, Bluetooth, and metronome, plus two subtly placed speakers on the top panel, designed to deliver a clean, open sound.
Performance: As you'd expect, the GO: Piano 88 features 88 touch-sensitive, full-size keys. In my opinion, the ivory-textured key surface enhances grip during extended playing sessions, delivering a more natural feel. The keyboard is velocity-sensitive, but there is no hammer action. Overall, the keys feel remarkably good, but where the new Roland GO:Pianos 88 falls short is in its key action. While the keys aren’t weighted, they are quite heavy, resulting in minimal action. While it works well for louder, more energetic passages, achieving soft, expressive nuances can be challenging. That said, for beginners or synth players not used to piano-like keys, it shouldn’t be a problem.
Sound: The speakers on the new GO:Piano 88 are impressive and perform very well. While they have a more boxy sound than premium digital pianos, they pack a punch with a relatively clear tone throughout the keyboard. One of the main strengths of the new GO:Piano model lies in its sound quality and the variety of voices available. The GO 88PX comes with an interesting collection of beautifully sampled voices. It comes with 40 unique and inspiring sounds. Some are more classic ones, like harpsichords, church organs, and strings, while others are more unconventional, such as a lo-fi piano and an electric piano with the fluttering, crackling sound of an old record player.
"Roland's new GO:PIANO 88PX is one of the most compact and lightweight 88-key digital pianos on the market. Despite its size, it delivers impressive audio quality and premium functions as well as featuring a good selection of inspired sounds."
Read our full Roland GO:Piano 88XP review
Best intermediate
✅ Buy if you want a great mid-priced option: We all know stage pianos can get very expensive, but the Yamaha CK88 manages to offer lots of features and Yamaha’s renowned build quality for a very modest price.
❌ Avoid if you are just starting out: If you are new to piano, I’d suggest looking at the Yamaha P-145 instead.
What is it?: The Yamaha CK88 is Yamaha’s latest stage piano that came out back in 2023, and it’s honestly a bit of a game-changer for us at MusicRadar. While the company already had the CP and YC ranges, they decided to create something “markedly different” with the CK series. This piano is lightweight enough that your back will actually thank you, and it runs on eight AA batteries with built-in speakers. So you can literally play anywhere you like. Whether you’re a hobbyist looking for your one-and-done keyboard or a gigging musician who needs something easy to throw in the car, this thing’s designed with you in mind.
Build: The CK88 is very lightweight, which is the whole point here. Now, it doesn’t feel as sturdy as some other stage pianos, but honestly, that’s expected when you’re prioritising portability. The good news is that the retro styling looks great from all angles and draws nicely on Yamaha’s heritage. The GHS action gives it that proper piano feel. Overall, the build quality is solid where it counts, with clear labelling and a logical workflow, so there’s very little menu diving required.
Performance: You get 363 voices powered by Yamaha’s AWM2 sample-based engine, covering everything from acoustic pianos to organs to synths. You can layer up to three voices into a Live Set Sound, with 160 storage slots available. The control panel is brilliantly organised with real drawbars on the left, central controls, and effects knobs on the right. Connectivity is pretty comprehensive with Bluetooth audio, L/R inputs for mixing external sources, MIDI I/O, dual USB ports, and foot pedal inputs. The keyboard can be split into three areas, which is perfect for performers who want maximum flexibility from a single instrument.
Sound: The star of the show is the fine-sounding CFX grand piano that’s genuinely a pleasure to play. The upright and electric piano models are up to snuff, too, and those prominent '80s-style DX sounds are ready for your power ballads. The built-in speakers sound clear without distortion even at high volumes, though they are relatively quiet since they’re not top-mounted. The effects section is comprehensive and sounds good while giving you the hands-on control you need on stage.
"Hardly revolutionary, but these get so much right and offer such a high level of convenience, who wouldn’t enjoy owning one?"
Read our full Yamaha CK88 review
Best battery-powered
✅ Buy if you need battery power: This model has the ability to run on batteries, meaning it’s a very portable option indeed.
❌ Avoid if you don’t like a light action: Casio are well-known for their light key action, so best avoid this one if you prefer a heavier touch.
What is it?: In 2022, Casio upgraded the popular PX-S series digital pianos, bringing them up to date with Bluetooth connectivity, a redesigned speaker system and lots more. The PX-S3100 is the more capable instrument in the lineup, boasting a broader range of onboard sounds and more tone-shaping options in the effects section. Coming in at 232mm in depth, it could be argued that it’s one of the slimmest digital pianos on the market, and at 11.4kg it’s one of the most portable options, too. The PX-S3100 is a brilliant choice for any amateur pianist moving out of the beginner digital piano bracket, seeking more functionality and a decent sound, or for gigging musicians in need of a portable, reliable, and good-value stage piano.
Build: I was particularly taken with the piano’s design. Sleek, modern, and stylish, the PX-S3100's look hits all the right notes, with the smooth, touch-sensitive, backlit interface putting many-buttoned competitors like the Yamaha P-125 to shame. Beyond its impressive aesthetic, Casio’s outstanding array of features is where it really hits a home run. The headline here is the Bluetooth connectivity, which spans both audio and MIDI, giving you oodles of possibilities. There’s also a 3-track, 5-song MIDI recording and playback system that’s useful for both composition and practice.
Performance: When it comes to the piano’s action, feel, and playability, the PX-S3100 is decent enough, but it doesn’t quite stack up against other contenders in this price bracket, such as Roland’s FP-30X. Perhaps due to slight compromises made to achieve the piano’s compact form factor, the action feels a touch less natural than we’d like. It’s a lighter touch than some players may be expecting. However, that’s not to say the PX-S3100 isn’t responsive to play. For anyone other than experienced pianists, the action isn't likely to be an issue and certainly doesn’t outweigh the piano’s many pluses.
Sound: The PX-S3100 delivers a fantastic collection of 700 onboard sounds. The stars of the show are the 24 piano voices, which offer variations on the standard concert grand (the ‘mellow’ setting is particularly impressive) alongside genre-specific options for pop, jazz, rock and even ambient music. Thanks to a newly implemented speaker system powered by dual 8W amplifiers, the PX-S3100 sounds noticeably better than its predecessor. The dynamic range is broader, there’s more presence and definition, and the bass response is improved.
"An impressive bundle of features in a slim, stylish and portable package that exceeds competitors in all areas but one."
Read our full Casio PX-S3100 review
Best for sounds
✅ Buy if you want impressive sounds: From pianos to synths, and so much more, you’ll be hard-pressed to find better sounds at this price point.
❌ Avoid if you only need piano sounds: If you are on the hunt for a unit that only delivers acoustic piano sounds, then there are better and more affordable options out there.
What is it?: The Roland V-Stage 88 is a feature- and sound-packed instrument that includes just about everything a keyboard player could need to perform music from the last 60 years, whether amateur or professional. This flagship model features a fully weighted 88-note keybed and unlimited polyphony across its acoustic piano and organ sections.
Build: Housed within a beautifully engineered metal casing, the V-Stage comprises four clearly defined sections that act as sound sources, described by Roland as Parts: Organ, Acoustic Piano, Electric Piano, and Synthesiser. The Synth section is doubled, meaning that you can generate two sounds simultaneously. The 88-note version is predictably a fully-weighted affair, with a hammer action and escapement, specifically designed to accompany the Acoustic V-Piano section. The large central display guides your path at all stages, with control backlighting mostly in white and the part on/off buttons illuminating in red, so you can clearly see where to go to deactivate a part.
Performance: As each section is so clearly defined, it’s very easy to immediately switch sections on and off. With so many sounds and parts in play, you can store any overall patch in what is described by Roland as a Scene. This stores all active sounds and settings, including applied effects. There are 512 Scene locations available, and you can chain up to 128 of them, which will be very useful for building a set list. There is a wealth of live-inspired control, allowing keyboard zoning and layering, guided by the central display.
Sound: Unlike many competitors, the Acoustic Piano section is modelled rather than sampled, giving the sound a certain organic quality. There’s a considerable collection of pre-ordained piano instruments, including a beautiful new Felt Piano. The electric piano section includes various incarnations of Rhodes, with Dynos, Wurly’s, various digital and FM-styled pianos, and finally Clavinets. The organ section offers unlimited polyphony and hosts plenty of Tone Wheel and Transistor-based organs, as well as church-like Pipe organs, with real drawbars that perform beautifully. The V-Stage ships with 400 ZEN-Core tones, opening a wealth of possibilities through the Roland Cloud.
"The V-Stage is an impressive product, which has taken a sideways look at the requirements of live players. Its total flexibility, coupled with its incredible ease of operation, make it a very appealing and great sounding live keyboard."
Read our full Roland V-Stage 88 review
Best electric piano
✅ Buy if you want authentic electric piano sounds: If you are after the sound of a Rhodes piano, then you kinda need to buy a Rhodes - and this modern version is as good as it gets.
❌ Avoid if you need more sounds: As you’d expect, this piano only does one sound, so if you want more flexibility, then best look elsewhere.
What is it?: It’s fair to say there’s a lot of love for the Rhodes electric piano, which is hardly a surprise considering its secure position in the history of contemporary music. Originally designed by Harold Rhodes, the instrument first appeared in the early '70s as a piano-like instrument that could compete with other amplified instruments in a band. The Rhodes is referred to as an electromechanical tine piano because its keyboard mechanism is not entirely dissimilar to that of an acoustic piano. Each key mechanically triggers a hammer that strikes a tine, rather than strings. The tine vibrates, oscillating across a pickup, much like those found on an electric guitar, resulting in a beautifully rich, lush tone synonymous with the '70s and beyond. With the release of Stage 61, the quality and feel are maintained, but in a streamlined, arguably more reliable format, at a very attractive price compared to bagging an original example.
Build: The Stage 61 looks and feels immediately familiar. A handmade wooden tray, covered in black tolex, forms the base of the unit, with plastic buffers at each corner, recalling a traditional, rugged Stage look. The keybed sits in front of a long metal panel that features the Rhodes logo and elegant go-faster stripes. On the left-hand side of the panel, two rotary pots provide control of volume and tone. On the left-hand side of the base, a mono 1/4" jack output provides a single connection to head off to some form of amplifier or preamp. On the right, there is a fitted USB socket; a MIDI retrofit kit will be available, turning your Stage 61 into a MIDI controller keyboard with polyphonic aftertouch. Now, the Stage 61 isn’t light at 26kg, but it is far lighter than any vintage model.
Performance: The keybed is assembled by hand using premium components; the keys are produced by Kluge Klaviaturen, which also supplies Steinway with keys. At the playing level, the weighting and action are nothing short of sublime. The keys are well-balanced, providing a moderate level of resistance with a very fast return. Perfect for when you find yourself playing fast vamps or melodic phrases. Rhodes prides itself on using top-notch materials, with hammers and tips designed to be exceptionally hard-wearing, and damper combs that are apparently aerospace-grade.
Sound: Given the instrument's passive nature, it integrates beautifully with contemporary hardware. There's a real depth, with enormous clarity in the bell-like tones created by the tines. Tradition dictates that a Rhodes will often sound fantastic through a Fender Twin or Roland Jazz Chorus amplifier, but it also sounds pretty amazing through a conventional keyboard amp. In the hardware domain, amazing sounds simply fall out of the Rhodes when you add pedals, with the control you only find with conventional hardware.
"The Rhodes Stage 61 is nothing short of perfection! A classic Stage Rhodes, in every sense, which plays like a dream and sounds every bit as classy as its timeless heritage would suggest. The opportunity for creativity, through the addition of effects, is pretty limitless!"
Read our full Rhodes Stage 61 review
Also tested
How to choose
Build & weight: When looking for the best stage piano, we suggest an instrument built to take a pounding, performance after performance. You'll want tougher casings and more robust switches and buttons.
Conversely, look for a stage piano that's light, so that it's easy to carry from gig to gig. The good brands go to a lot of trouble developing stage pianos that perform like they're hewn from rock, but when it's time to pack them away, they feel like there's nothing to them.
Speakers & outputs: Built-in speakers are traditionally the preserve of home digital pianos and arranger keyboards, so if your stage piano doesn’t have them, don’t worry, you're not missing anything. Internal speakers aren't loud enough for even the smallest gigs, so they're often discarded to save both weight and money. Instead, look for a sturdy pair of XLR or 6.3mm jack audio output sockets on the back panel that will allow you to connect to a keyboard amp, a PA speaker or a mixing desk.
That said, speakers have found their way into a few models - the Roland RD-88 has some, and the Korg SV2 has a twin brother in the shape of the SV2-S that comes with a very rad-looking pair of speakers that certainly aren’t just for show. If you’re after a true stage piano, however, speakers probably shouldn’t be at the top of your list of essentials when buying.
Think about polyphony: Polyphony governs how many notes can be played at the same time. It's not to be confused with the closely related timbrality, which governs how many different sounds can be played at the same time. The higher the polyphony, the more likely it is that the stage piano you're considering will be multi-timbral too.
High polyphony is very important for classical pianists. Sure, they've only got a maximum of ten fingers, so what's the big deal? Here's just one example. Imagine a concert pianist playing a long, fast legato run with the sustain (damper) pedal engaged. That beautiful cascade of notes is going to sustain for ages, with all the individual sounds running into one another. Limited polyphony will cut some of those notes off early, which is clearly undesirable!
MIDI: If you plan to use your stage piano as the central controller for your entire live setup, look out for comprehensive MIDI implementation. Fortunately MIDI is ubiquitous, but some stage pianos are better in this regard than others.
Sounds & voices: Beyond specs and features, the most crucial factor is how the piano sounds and feels to you. Every manufacturer voices their instruments differently. Some prioritise bright, cutting tones that slice through a mix, while others favour warm, rounded sounds perfect for intimate settings. Spend time with different models if possible. Play the genres you’ll perform most. Trust your ears and fingers. The best stage piano isn’t necessarily the one with the most features, but the one that inspires you to play and delivers the tones that match your musical vision. If it doesn’t feel right, keep looking.
Glossary of terms
- Action: How the keys feel when you press them. Weighted action mimics the resistance of an acoustic piano, while semi-weighted is lighter and easier to play fast passages on.
- Aftertouch: When you press down on a key after you’ve already hit it, some keyboards can sense that extra pressure and use it to add vibrato or other effects. Pretty cool for expressive playing.
- Balanced/Unbalanced: Types of audio connections. Balanced (like XLR) reduces noise over long cable runs—super useful for stage setups. Unbalanced (like regular 1/4" jacks) works fine for shorter distances.
- Controller: When your stage piano sends MIDI messages to control other gear like synths, computers, or sound modules. Many stage pianos double as MIDI controllers.
- Damper Pedal: The sustain pedal. Press it down and notes ring out even after you lift your fingers. Essential for piano playing. Make sure your stage piano has a good input for one.
- Effects: Built-in sound processors like reverb, delay, chorus, and distortion. The more effects your stage piano has, the more you can shape your sound without extra gear.
- Hammer Action: The most realistic key action that simulates the actual hammers inside an acoustic piano. Heavier and more responsive, perfect if you’re a serious pianist.
- Keybed: The actual mechanism under the keys. Quality keybeds feel consistent, responsive, and durable. Cheap ones feel mushy or uneven.
- MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface): The universal language keyboards use to talk to each other and computers. Your stage piano can send MIDI to control software, record into a DAW, or trigger other instruments.
- Pitch Bend: A wheel that lets you bend notes up or down, like a guitar string bend. Great for synth leads and adding expression.
- Polyphony: How many notes your stage piano can play simultaneously. 64 is minimum, but 128 or 256 is better, especially if you layer sounds or use the sustain pedal a lot.
- Reverb: Adds space and ambience to your sound, from small rooms to massive cathedrals. Every stage piano should have this—it’s essential for making sounds feel natural.
- Sample/Sampling: Real recordings of acoustic instruments built into your stage piano. High-quality samples sound more realistic than synthesized imitations.
- Synth Action: Lighter, springier keys without weighted resistance. Faster for synth playing but doesn’t feel like a real piano. Some players prefer this for non-piano sounds.
- Voices: The different instrument sounds in your stage piano, from pianos to organs, strings, synths, etc. More voices mean more sonic options.
- Weighted Keys: Keys with resistance that mimics acoustic piano action. Heavier at the bottom, lighter at the top. Makes your stage piano feel like the real thing.
FAQs
What is a stage piano?
Good question, because most stage pianos look remarkably like the sort of inexpensive digital pianos or keyboards tucked away in people's homes. Big, dark slabs with a screen and lots of buttons.
Trust us, they're very different animals. Stage pianos are built for live performance, not home practice.
Are stage pianos easy to use?
The curtain's up, the pressure is on. The last thing you want to be doing during a gig is stumbling your way around a complex top panel. Just remembering how to play your instrument is hard enough.
The very best stage pianos have a deep feature set conveniently hidden behind a simple, logical top panel. You'll just want to be able to select patches quickly, recall favourites/scenes, work with zones, layers and splits and make some on-the-fly adjustments. The top panel should be working with you in this regard, not against you.
So, seek out simplicity not complexity when it comes to top panel design. Big buttons, rotary encoders and so on. Oh, and leave the complex sound design duties until you get home.
Don't forget that stages can be dark, gloomy spaces. Sliders and rotary encoders with LED tracking are a godsend, as are buttons with individual LED lights. If those lights are contextual – they change colour – so much the better.
Finally, discard that old beginner keyboard and buy yourself a decent stage piano. Your gigging life will be transformed.
What sounds do stage pianos come with?
If you're a classical pianist, all you will ask of your stage piano is that it feels incredibly authentic to play and sounds like a concert grand! This is where models such as the Kawai MP 11 SE fit in.
We'd wager that most players, as opposed to pianists, need more sounds – at the very least some good organ emulations and perhaps some synth bass and lead sounds. Those of you working in theatre will require everything from grand pianos to string sections to special effects.
Instead of loading their stage pianos with a fixed set of sounds, many brands are now curating huge online libraries of tones that can be downloaded from the internet. These sounds can be swapped in and out of their stage pianos at will. Collections like these are constantly growing, so look out for this feature if you need a vast amount of sonic versatility.
What keyboard size and type do you need?
You may have noticed that some stage pianos come in two or three different sizes – an 88 key model, a 76 key model and finally a compact model with even fewer keys. The Nord Stage 4 is a good example.
The 88-key models are aimed squarely at pianists, and it's likely they'll come with hammer action, weighted keyboards to give that acoustic grand feel. The smaller sizes are aimed more at organists and synth players (or pianists with not much room!). They tend to be fitted with waterfall or synth-type keybeds.
Who makes the best keyboards? Kawai, Yamaha, Fatar…? That's a question only you can answer, so try out as many as possible.
How we chose the best stage pianos
Here at MusicRadar, we are experts in our field, with many years of playing, creating and product testing between us. We live and breathe everything music gear related, and we draw on this knowledge and experience of using products in live, recording and rehearsal scenarios when selecting the products for our guides.
When choosing what we believe to be the best stage pianos available right now, we combine our hands-on experience, user reviews and testimonies and engage in lengthy discussions with our editorial colleagues to reach a consensus about the top products in any given category.
First and foremost, we are musicians, and we want other players to find the right product for them. So we take into careful consideration everything from budget to feature set, ease of use and durability to come up with a list of what we can safely say are the best stage pianos on the market right now.
Find out more about how we test music gear and services at MusicRadar.
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We also interview world-renowned musicians and stars about their creative processes and the nuts and bolts of their gear and technique. This gives fans an insight into the actual craft of music-making that no other music website can.
But that's not all. We also provide excellent tuition, from bite-sized tips to advanced techniques and guidance from recognised musicians.
As well as delivering high quality written reviews and features, we also produce a wealth of video content on YouTube. MusicRadarTV is where you'll find all of our access-all-areas interviews, hot gear demos and exclusive video lessons.
Below you'll find more information on the authors of this guide.
Latest updates
11/02/26: This guide has been completely rewritten from the ground up, featuring an all new line-up of products informed by our recent reviews.
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