Best pianos for beginners

New to playing the piano? Unsure about where exactly ‘middle C’ is, never mind what type of piano you need?

Buying a piano can be mind-boggling at the best of times but never more so than when you’re just starting out.

As a beginner, choosing the correct piano is essential. Get it right and it could be the start of something beautiful. Get it wrong and your piano playing days may be over before they’ve even begun.

But how do you pick the ideal piano for a beginner?

That’s where we come in. At Richard Lawson Pianos Ltd, pianos are what we do – upright, digital, grand, we love them all! And our team of resident experts are here to share their expertise and help you to find the perfect instrument to accompany you on this exciting new journey.

 

Why learn the piano?

The opportunity to learn to play a musical instrument opens a doorway to creativity, artistic expression and pleasure.

Pianos are an excellent choice of instrument to learn. Not only are they beautiful in their own right, but they are equally versatile for playing alongside other instruments.

For children just starting out, a piano can help to improve dexterity, build finger strength and develop an aptitude for reading. It also acts as an excellent bridge to learn the fundamentals for playing other instruments.

 

What should a beginner look for in a piano?

You need to find an instrument that will offer you the right quality of sound, and the potential to develop.

At Richard Lawson Pianos, we have a wide range of suitable pianos for sale and the expertise to help you to make the best choice, but some of the key things to consider are:

  • Size – when new to a room, pianos can feel large and imposing. You may find that the ‘ideal’ spot where you pictured it sitting doesn’t actually work quite as well as anticipated. Starting small not only gives you more options in terms of where you can position the piano but will also be less of a shock to the system when it arrives.

 

  • Price – in the same way a new driver is unlikely to buy a Porsche, it’s doubtful you really need a top piano model if you’re new to playing. That said, if you’re serious about learning nor do you want to go too basic either. Instead, it’s important to look for a piano that is a middle ground, one that will allow you to build up your playing.

 

  • Longevity – whilst as a beginner, you don’t need everything that’s available from an all singing all dancing piano, you do want to be confident you’re investing in a piano that you won’t outgrow. Yes, you can learn to play on a keyboard with just 66 keys but if you’re really eager it makes sense to invest in an instrument that offers more permanence.  72 keys are enough to play most music, but 88 is the magic number for a traditional piano, and the best option if you want to commit to learning without the need to keep upsizing.

 

Don’t forget you’ll also need a stool – being comfortable when you’re sitting in a new position is crucial to avoid aches and pains developing and encourages you to sit down and practice. Take a look at our blog ‘How to pick a piano stool’ for guidance on finding the right one – or talk to a member of the team.

 

 

Pianos suitable for beginners

When it comes to pianos, there’s a wealth of choice, but let’s keep things simple.

There are 3 main types of piano most suited to beginners – upright, grand and digital. And whilst grand is often reserved for the more professional player, there’s no reason it can’t work for a beginner too. Let’s take a closer look at the options…

 

Uprights

Yamaha upright piano models are a great choice for beginners. ‘Upright’ simply means that the strings are arranged vertically, so the piano takes up the minimum space, in contrast to the horizontal layout of a grand piano. The classic choices in this range are the Yamaha U1 and the Yamaha U3.

These two models offer a perfect balance of classic design with modern precision construction and are considered by many to be a benchmark for pianos for beginners. They have an improved soundboard and hammers, giving a richer tone, with a reinforced frame that is made to last.

The large music stand is perfect for beginner pianists, and the soft-close fallboard protects a beginner from trapped fingers and damaged keys by slowing the lid closing. The two models are similar, though the Yamaha U3 is slightly taller and deeper than the Yamaha U1, which results in increased richness and resonance in the tone. Both are excellent pianos.

 

Grands

If you have the space for something a little larger, then your next step would be the small to medium grand piano range. Whilst you might not think of this as a piano for beginners, these models are an investment and provide scope to progress beyond being a beginner.

A popular choice would be the Yamaha C1 model, which provides a beautiful depth of sound and key range. The C1 is 5’3” long; the Yamaha C2 model, with an extra 5”, makes full use of the longer strings and larger soundboard to offer a fuller range, which is characterised by a beautiful bass resonance that will enhance your playing.

 

Digital

Digital pianos offer excellent sound combined with modern-day convenience. Being digital, there are no strings which means you don’t need to worry about tuning.  And with no strings to house, digital pianos are typically much more compact, lightweight and portable – an advantage if you need to move about for lessons.

Other popular benefits of digital pianos for beginners are the additional options of volume control and plugging in headphones – ideal for learners who are unlikely to hit the right note first time!

 

Best buying options for beginners

  • Hire – hiring can be a great option for anyone new to playing. Offering you the flexibility to ‘try before you buy’, it allows you time to make sure you’re going to stick with playing before committing to a sale. Not only can you experiment with different types of pianos to suit your playing style, but you can test out different shapes and sizes in your home setting.

 

  • Finance schemes – the initial outlay for a new piano can be off-putting. Ease the strain and look out for finance options and interest-free loans to help manage the financial commitment.

 

  • Buy pre-loved – buying a pre-owned piano can dramatically reduce the cost whilst still offering you an excellent instrument – making great financial sense for anyone but especially for a player who’s just starting out. To find out more about buying second hand, check out our blog on the topic.

 

Talk to the piano experts

Wherever you’re at in your piano playing journey – be it a new player or a seasoned professional – our team of piano experts are here to help.

We offer piano hire if you’re not yet ready to purchase a piano, and we’re also part of the ‘Take it Away’ finance scheme.

Why not visit our showroom or contact us to see how we can help with finding the right piano for you?

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      Richard Lawson Pianos Ltd

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      24 Lime Tree Walk, Rickmansworth

      Richard Lawson Pianos Ltd - Showroom

      Unit 12, Commercial Park, Raans Road, Amersham

      4.9 306 reviews

      • Diana Chiru ★★★★★ a week ago
        Colin was highly professional and informative, especially … read more for me and my husband who do not possess a great deal of knowledge about pianos. The delivery was smooth and without any hitches and it was the perfect surprise for my son! All in all a wonderful buying experience which I cannot recommend enough!
      • Neil Changela ★★★★★ 2 weeks ago
        My wife and I recently bought a refurbished Yamaha … read more U3 Piano from Richard Lawson Pianos. The team were really informative and we felt very supported when making our decision. We were keen to receive the piano before Christmas and Richard went to every effort to make that happen.
      • Alexander Read ★★★★★ 3 weeks ago
        Great experience, Colin in particular was very helpful. … read more Piano delivered and ready to play in a very short time also. Recommend using Richard Lawson as they are real piano experts.
      • Lorna Akers-Douglas ★★★★★ 3 weeks ago
        Cannot recommend Richard Lawson Pianos highly enough. … read more I am delighted with my wonderful Bosendorfer piano! I was really impressed by the number of grand pianos available at the showroom to try out and was given as much time as I liked to wander around and have a good look at all the pianos. Colin was delightful and very knowledgeable. The delivery and installation of the piano went so smoothly - having owned a grand piano for many years, I have seldom had such an efficient and easy experience.
      • Charlotte Moore ★★★★★ 3 weeks ago
        Highly recommend Richard Lawson pianos. The amount … read more of pianos they have available to try is impressive and Colin is extremely knowledgeable. I did not feel rushed or pressured into making a decision to purchase and tried well over 30 pianos! They understand that finding the right piano is important and I fell in love with a beautiful Yamaha U3. Delivery was well arranged and efficient.
      • Phil Hargreaves ★★★★★ a month ago
        I simply can't recommend Richard Lawson Pianos … read more highly enough.Firstly, their customer service is second-to-none and are extremely responsive to enquiries, often coming back to me within the hour and always keeping any commitments made.Secondly, Colin is extremely knowledgeable and offers as much advice and expertise as you need. In my case, I was allowed as much time as I felt I needed to select my perfect instrument from a very wide choice of all piano types to suit all budgets. I was left alone to compare and contrast the many instruments on display and at no time was in any way pressured, but with Colin always on hand.One simply should not choose a piano without visiting their modern, expansive showroom. I am absolutely delighted with my purchase and for the excellent service from initial enquiry through to expert delivery. Absolutely delighted.
      • Ivy Chung ★★★★★ a month ago
        Recommended by a friend who bought a Kawai K800 from … read more Richard Lawson. We went to the showroom to try on the pianos. Richard spent time with us explaining each piano patiently. Bought a Kawai K300 at the end. Love the experience and the price match. Thanks Richard and Colin
      • Peter Watkinson ★★★★★ a month ago
        Excellent knowledge and very patient as I tried various … read more options - followed by efficient delivery. Many thanks
      • Daisy Wang ★★★★★ a month ago
        I had very good shopping experience with Colin at Richard … read more Lawson Pianos Ltd. He gave us advice on how to select our first piano. And the delivery was went very smooth. I will recommend to my friends if anyone would think to buy a piano.
      • Michael Price ★★★★★ a month ago
        I recently bought a Kawai K500 Aures 2 from Richard … read more Lawson Pianos for my study at home, and couldn't have been more impressed with the service. The choice of pianos in their showroom is huge, and the trade-in paperwork was dealt with very quickly and without fuss. Colin's advice was civilised and expert, and he had a good understanding of what I was going to use the piano for. Strong recommend!