Best Electric Keyboard for Gigging Musicians in 2023
Electric keyboards are a staple for gigging musicians, providing a versatile range of sounds and effects that can enhance any performance. When it comes to choosing the best electric keyboard for gigging, there are several factors to consider.
The most important is portability, as gigging musicians need a keyboard that is easy to transport and set up. Weight and size are also important, as the keyboard needs to fit comfortably on stage without taking up too much space.
Another critical factor is sound quality, as the keyboard must be able to produce a wide range of sounds and tones. Durability is also essential, as gigging can be tough on equipment, and a keyboard that can withstand the rigors of touring is a must.
After researching and testing several electric keyboards, we have identified the best options for gigging musicians.
Our top picks offer excellent sound quality, portability, and durability, making them the perfect choice for musicians who need a reliable and versatile keyboard for their performances.
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Best Electric Keyboards for Gigging Musicians
We understand that as a gigging musician, you need an electric keyboard that is not only portable but also has great sound quality. After researching and testing various electric keyboards, we have compiled a list of the best electric keyboards that meet these requirements.
Our selection includes keyboards that are perfect for beginners, intermediate, and professional musicians. Here are our top picks for the best electric keyboards for gigging musicians.
If you’re a gigging musician looking for the Best electric keyboard, you should definitely consider the Roland E-X50 Electronic Arranger Keyboard. It has a lot of great features that make it a versatile and easy-to-use keyboard for any type of performance.
Pros
The professional Roland sounds and features are top-notch and will make your performances sound amazing.
The attractive design and free-flowing user interface make it easy to use and navigate.
The onboard stereo speaker system with independent woofers and tweeters and bass-reflex port will give you big, powerful sound.
Cons
The lack of a lyric display and poor MIDI features may be a dealbreaker for some.
The keys are a bit flimsy and noisy, which may be a turnoff for some users.
The sound quality is not significantly better than other keyboards in this price range.
Overall, we think the Roland E-X50 is a great choice for gigging musicians who want a versatile and easy-to-use keyboard with professional sounds and features.
The rich, expressive acoustic pianos derived from Roland home and stage pianos are especially impressive, and the nearly 700 additional tones, including electric pianos, organs, orchestral instruments, percussion, and world sounds, give you a lot of options for customizing your sound.
The auto-accompaniment function allows you to control sophisticated music arrangements with left-hand fingering, and the 300 onboard music styles, plus the ability to add 30 custom styles with Style Converter software for macOS and Windows, make it easy to create your own unique sound.
The recording feature is also a nice touch, allowing you to capture keyboard and arranger performances.
One downside is the lack of a lyric display and poor MIDI features, which may be a dealbreaker for some users.
Additionally, the keys are a bit flimsy and noisy, which may be a turnoff for some users. However, the sound quality is still impressive, and the onboard Bluetooth audio for streaming music from a mobile device through the speaker system is a nice touch.
Overall, we think the Roland E-X50 is the Best electric keyboard for gigging musicians who want a versatile and easy-to-use keyboard with professional sounds and features.
If you’re looking for a portable electric keyboard for gigging, the CASIO Electric Keyboard 49Black CTK-240 is a great option.
Pros
Slim and easy-to-use 49 keyboard model
High-quality sound with 100 tones and 100 rhythms
Automatic accompaniment function for a variegated rhythm
Cons
Only 49 standard keyboard keys
No weighted keys
Not suitable for advanced players
We recently tried out the CASIO Electric Keyboard 49Black CTK-240 and were impressed by its slim and easy-to-use design. It’s lightweight and portable, making it a great option for gigging musicians who need to move their equipment around frequently.
The keyboard has 100 tones and 100 rhythms, which burst firmly in high-quality sound. The liquid crystal display displays various information, including a tone, a rhythm, a built-in music name, a code, tempo, 拍, melody ON and OFF, etc., in loading.
The automatic accompaniment function allows you to perform accompaniment of a variegated rhythm in the back.
One downside to the CASIO Electric Keyboard 49Black CTK-240 is that it only has 49 standard keyboard keys, which may not be enough for advanced players. Additionally, the keys are not weighted, which may be a dealbreaker for some players.
Overall, we think the CASIO Electric Keyboard 49Black CTK-240 is a great option for beginner to intermediate gigging musicians who need a portable and easy-to-use keyboard with high-quality sound.
If you’re looking for a portable electric keyboard that’s packed with features, the Alesis Melody 32 is a great option. With 32 mini piano-style keys, this keyboard is perfect for kids or adults who want to learn to play the piano.
Pros
The Alesis Melody 32 has 300 voices, including acoustic piano, electric piano, strings, organ, synth, drums, and more. The built-in speakers deliver room-filling sound that’s perfect for performing to your friends and family.
With 40 demo songs and an accompaniment mode with 300 built-in rhythms, this keyboard has plenty of features to keep you entertained and help you practice. There’s even a built-in record feature for capturing your performance on the fly.
The Alesis Melody 32 can be powered via USB or with 4 AA batteries (not included), making it easy to take with you wherever you go. And with a dedicated headphone output, you can practice in private without disturbing others.
Cons
The Alesis Melody 32 only has 32 keys, which may not be enough for more advanced players.
Some users have reported that the lower clef keys are not pitch perfect, but this may not be noticeable to everyone.
The Alesis Melody 32 does not come with a power adapter, so you’ll need to purchase one separately if you don’t want to use batteries.
We recently had the chance to try out the Alesis Melody 32 and were impressed with its features and portability. The keyboard is lightweight and compact, making it easy to take with you wherever you go.
The 300 voices and built-in speakers provide a wide range of sounds that are perfect for practicing or performing. We especially liked the accompaniment mode, which allowed us to play along with different rhythms and experiment with different styles of music.
The Alesis Melody 32 is also great for kids who are just starting to learn the piano. The mini keys are perfect for smaller hands, and the built-in lessons from Skoove are a great way to get started. We also appreciated the headphone output, which allowed our kids to practice without disturbing others.
Overall, we think the Alesis Melody 32 is a great choice for anyone looking for a portable electric keyboard with plenty of features. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced player, this keyboard has something to offer.
If you’re a gigging musician looking for a portable electric keyboard, the Donner Keyboard Piano is worth considering.
Pros
The two 4-inch 20W high-quality speakers in the DEK-610 electronic keyboard produce superior sound quality with three-dimensional surround sound, heavy bass, and warm tone.
The keyboard has 3 excellent teaching modes to help beginners get familiar with traditional piano and meet the needs of different learning styles.
The DEK-610 music keyboard is equipped with a huge music library, with 500 tones, 300 rhythms, and 40 demo songs, making it a great choice for professional players.
Cons
The keys are not weighted, which may be a deal breaker for some professional musicians.
The microphone that comes with the keyboard is not of the highest quality.
The stand assembly instructions are not very clear and may require some extra time to figure out.
We were impressed with the Donner Keyboard Piano’s sound quality and portability. The lightweight piano body makes it easy to transport to gigs or outdoor activities.
The LCD display panel shows the running functions, and there are many practical and interesting functions to enhance your playing experience, such as auto chord, recording, keyboard drum, MP3 playing, and more.
Overall, the Donner Keyboard Piano is a great choice for gigging musicians who need a portable electric keyboard with excellent sound quality and a wide range of features.
If you’re a gigging musician looking for a versatile keyboard with professional sounds, the Roland E-X50 is a great option.
Pros
The E-X50 has a sleek design and an easy-to-use interface, making it a great choice for beginners and experienced players alike.
With nearly 700 tones, including acoustic pianos, electric pianos, organs, orchestral instruments, percussion, and world sounds, the E-X50 has a wide range of sounds to choose from.
The auto-accompaniment function and 300 onboard music styles make it easy to control sophisticated music arrangements with left-hand fingering.
Cons
The mic input with effects is a nice feature, but the lack of a lyric display may be a drawback for some singers.
Some users have reported that the keys are flimsy and noisy, which may affect the overall playing experience.
While the E-X50 has Bluetooth audio for streaming music from a mobile device, the poor MIDI features may be a drawback for some users.
We recently had the chance to try out the Roland E-X50, and we were impressed with its professional sounds and features. The keyboard has a stylish design and a free-flowing user interface, which made it easy to navigate and find the sounds we were looking for.
The onboard stereo speaker system with independent woofers and tweeters and bass-reflex port provided big, powerful sound, and the rich, expressive acoustic pianos derived from Roland home and stage pianos were a highlight.
We also appreciated the nearly 700 additional tones, including electric pianos, organs, orchestral instruments, percussion, world sounds, and more, which gave us a wide range of sounds to choose from.
The auto-accompaniment function allowed us to control sophisticated music arrangements with left-hand fingering, and the 300 onboard music styles, plus the ability to add 30 custom styles with Style Converter software for macOS and Windows, made it easy to experiment with different genres and styles.
While the mic input with effects was a nice feature, we did find the lack of a lyric display to be a drawback for singers.
Additionally, some users have reported that the keys are flimsy and noisy, which may affect the overall playing experience.
Finally, while the E-X50 has Bluetooth audio for streaming music from a mobile device, the poor MIDI features may be a drawback for some users.
Overall, we think the Roland E-X50 is a great choice for gigging musicians who want a versatile, easy-to-use entertainment keyboard with professional sounds and features.
Buying Guide
When it comes to buying an electric keyboard for gigging musicians, there are several factors to consider. We want to make sure you get the best product for your needs, so we’ve put together this buying guide to help you make an informed decision.
Keyboard Action
As per MI (.edu), keyboard action is one of the most important factors to consider when choosing an electric keyboard. There are several types of keyboard actions, including weighted, semi-weighted, and synth action.
Weighted keys simulate the feel of an acoustic piano, while synth action keys are lightweight and easy to play. Consider your playing style and preferences when choosing a keyboard action.
Polyphony
Polyphony refers to the number of notes that can be played simultaneously on the keyboard. For gigging musicians, a polyphony of at least 64 is recommended to ensure that all notes are played accurately, even during complex pieces.
Connectivity
Connectivity is another important factor to consider. Look for a keyboard with a variety of input and output options, including USB, MIDI, and audio outputs. This will allow you to connect to other devices and equipment, such as computers, mixers, and amplifiers.
Portability
For gigging musicians, portability is key. Look for a keyboard that is lightweight and easy to transport. Consider the size and weight of the keyboard, as well as any additional accessories, such as stands and cases.
Additional Features
Finally, consider any additional features that may be important to you. This could include built-in speakers, effects, and recording capabilities. Look for a keyboard that has the features you need, without paying extra for unnecessary bells and whistles.
In summary, when choosing an electric keyboard for gigging musicians, consider the keyboard action, polyphony, connectivity, portability, and additional features. By keeping these factors in mind, you can find the best product for your needs and take your performances to the next level.
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