If you’re thinking “which digital piano should I buy”, trying to choose the best digital piano for a beginner or simply looking to upgrade, I’ve chosen three instruments from Casio that should be at the top of your list for 2020.

Whatever model of digital piano you buy, it’s important to choose one with a good key feel. Ideally, the keys should feel similar to an acoustic piano, so that when you or your child play a traditional instrument you’re not put off by something that feels different to what you have at home. The keys that you need to have on your piano are called weighted keys.

What are ‘weighted keys’?

Weighted keys are a feature that digital pianos include in their design to mimic how it feels to play an acoustic piano.

Pressing a key on an acoustic piano sets a series of mechanical parts in motion. When the key goes down (the long wooden part that looks like a see-saw), a hammer is pushed up, hitting a set of strings to produce the familar piano sound.

Because of this, and also because piano makers add small weights to balance the key, there is a noticable resistance when you play, hence the term weighted keys. All pianists need to get used to this key resistance so as they can play expressively.

CASIO CDP-S100 (RRP £369)

Good for:

• Beginners on a budget.

• Weighted keys encourage the correct piano technique.

• Good piano tone, with a wide range of expression.

• Sustain pedal, power supply and music rest included.

• Headphone connector for silent practice.

Dr Chris says: “The CDP-S100 is my choice of entry level piano because of the good feel of the keys and its compact size. I recommend this model to all my beginning students.”

CASIO PX-S1000 (RRP £549)

Good for:

• Beginners and Advanced players alike.

• Pianists that need portability without compromise.

• Smart Scaled II weighted keys cope well with advanced piano pieces.

• AiR Piano tones give excellent expressive potential.

• Bluetooth Audio, battery power and USB to iPad / MIDI connection.

• Power supply, sustain pedal and music rest included in the box.

• Headphone connector for silent practice.

Dr Chris says: “It turns out that the world’s slimmest digital piano* is also one of the best. If you have a slightly bigger budget, and need a portable digital piano, there are many benefits to upgrading to the PX-S, not least the excellent quality of touch and sound. I have one of these as my go-to portable piano.”

CASIO PX-760 (RRP £499)

Good for:

• Beginners and advanced players.

• All-in-one design with stand means the keys and hands are at the correct playing height, encouraging good posture and technique.

• Excellent quality Tri-Sensor II keyboard with weighted keys.

• Larger speakers provide superior sound quality.

• Slim, compact design fits into small spaces well.

• Three foot pedals make this piano suitable for all levels of playing.

• Headphone connectors for silent practice.

Dr Chris says: “The PX-760 offers unbeatable value. The slimline cabinet design has useful benefits, such as larger speakers that provide full-range sound even at low volumes, three sturdy foot pedals and keys that are the same height as a tradiitonal piano. This is important, as it encourages the correct hand shape, posture and technique.”