The keyboard is one of the most versatile instruments and an integral tool that every self-producing musician must own. Today, we’ll be taking a look at some of the best 88-key Yamaha keyboards on the market.
Finding the best monetary value for a quality product is crucial for an independent musician and we’ve done the hard work for you! Below is a list of the top 12 88-key Yamaha keyboards (in no order), ranging from lower-cost beginner models to high-quality professional keyboards.
Here are the 12 best Yamaha keyboards with 88-keys
| Image | Description | Features | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
 | Yamaha P45, 88-Key Weighted Action Digital Piano
| 9.5 | Check Price On SweetwaterCheck Price On Amazon |
 | Yamaha P71 88-Key Weighted Digital Action Piano
| 9.5 | Check Price on Amazon |
 | Yamaha P125 88-Key Weighted Action Digital Piano
| 9.5 | Check Price On SweetwaterCheck Price On Amazon |
 | Yamaha DGX660B 88-Key Weighted Digital Piano
| 9.5 | Check Price On SweetwareCheck Price On Amazon |
 | Yamaha YPG535 Portable Grand Piano
| 9.5 | Check Price On Amazon |
 | Yamaha MX88 88-Key Weighted Action Synthesizer
| 9.5 | Check Price On SweetwaterCheck Price On Amazon |
 | Yamaha MODX8 88-Key Weighted Action Synthesizer
| 9.5 | Check Price On SweetwaterCheck Price On Amazon |
 | Yamaha Montage8 Synthesizer Workstation
| 9.5 | Check Price On AmazonCheck Price On Amazon |
 | Yamaha CP88 88-Key Graded Hammer Action Stage Piano
| 9.5 | Check Price On AmazonCheck Price On Amazon |
 | Yamaha P515 88-Key Weighted Action Digital Piano
| 9.5 | Check Price On SweetwaterCheck Price On Amazon |
 | Yamaha CP300 Stage Piano with Built-in Stereo Speakers
| 9.5 | Check Price On Amazon |
 | Yamaha CP1 Premium Stage Piano With Natural Wood Keys
| 9.5 | Check Price On Sweetwater |
1. Yamaha P45, 88-Key Weighted Action Digital Piano
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This keyboard is one of the lowest cost 88-key weighted digital pianos that Yamaha offers. It uses notes recorded from an acoustic piano and produces an authentic, natural sound in stereo. Its programming allows its owner to play moderately dense piano passages, perfect for a beginner to intermediate player.
The Graded Hammer Standard (GHS) feature creates a heavier weight in low-end keys and a lighter touch in the high end, mimicking a grand piano. As you would expect for a lower-cost option, this is not ideal for experienced players. It is, however, a high-quality option for a player who is just beginning to learn or only 1-2 years into their development as a player.
See It In Action
Key Specs
| Weighted Keys: | Yes (Graded hammer standard) |
| MIDI: | Yes (Over USB) |
| Portable Design: | Yes |
| Aux Input: | No |
| Line Input: | No |
| Line Output: | Yes |
| Built-in Speakers: | Yes |
| Dimensions: | 57.6 in. W x 16.5 in. D x 11.9 in. H (1463 mm W x 419.1 mm D x 302.3 mm H) |
| Weight: | 36.4 lb. (16.5 kg) |
2. Yamaha P71 88-Key Weighted Digital Action Piano![]()
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Description
The Yamaha P71 is a near-identical keyboard to the P45. Unlike the P45, the P71 is an Amazon-exclusive product and is cheaper, making it Yamaha’s lowest-costing weighted-key digital piano. This keyboard is also just over 10 lb. lighter than the P45, making it more portable and slightly less durable. These products are extremely comparable and equally strong options for a beginner to intermediate piano player.
See It In Action
Key Specs
| Weighted Keys: | Yes (Graded hammer standard) |
| MIDI: | Yes (Over USB) |
| Portable Design: | Yes |
| Aux Input: | No |
| Line Input: | No |
| Line Output: | Yes |
| Built-in Speakers: | Yes |
| Dimensions: | 58.2 in. W x 16.1 in. D x 11.7 in. H (1478.3 mm W x 408.9 mm D x 297.2 mm H) |
| Weight: | 25 lb. (11.34kg) |
3. Yamaha P125 88-Key Weighted Action Digital Piano
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Description
The Yamaha P125 is the new version of the extremely popular P115, which was discontinued in 2018. The P125 is a keyboard of higher quality than the P71 or P45, in both sound and hardware quality.
The base model is just as portable (unless you get the bundle with the stand and pedals), and weighs just one pound more than the P71. It features two aux out jacks and would do great for coffeehouse gigs or jam sessions. The notes mimic those of a grand piano even closer than the P71 or P45 and the built-in speakers are very well made and can fill a practice room beautifully without an amplifier.
It is more than the previous two models so it is more suited for an intermediate player, but it would be a great keyboard for beginners to learn on as well.
See It In Action
Key Specs
| Weighted Keys: | Yes (Graded hammer standard) |
| MIDI: | Yes (Over USB) |
| Portable Design: | Yes |
| Aux Input: | No (Aux Out only) |
| Line Input: | No |
| Line Output: | No |
| Built-in Speakers: | Yes |
| Dimensions: | 52.2 in. W x 11.6 in. D x 6.6 in. H (1325.9 mm W x 294.6 mm D x 1167.6 mm H) |
| Weight: | 26 lb. (11.8 kg) |
4. Yamaha DGX660B 88-Key Weighted Digital Piano With Furniture Stand
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Description
The Yamaha DGX660 is a keyboard that is great not only for playing, but for composing as well. The LCD screen displays notation for internal MIDI recording on the keyboard, there is no need to plug into an external software via USB.
The recorder can take up to 6 different tracks and contains a catalog of 554 instruments and over 100 sound effects! The DGX660 also features a “Piano Room” option which allows users to choose different environments (Room, Stage, Recital Hall, Concert Hall), different types of grand pianos and even lets users adjust the position of the piano lid.
The wide array of built-in sounds and ease of arranging makes this a perfect keyboard for songwriters and intermediate to advanced players.
See It In Action
Key Specs
| Weighted Keys: | Yes (Graded hammer standard) |
| MIDI: | Yes |
| Portable Design: | Yes |
| Aux Input: | Yes |
| Line Input: | No |
| Line Output: | No |
| Built-in Speakers: | Yes |
| Dimensions: | 59 in. W x 21.5 in. D x 12.5 in. H (1498.6 mm W x 546.1 mm D x 317.5 mm H) |
| Weight: | 46 lb. (82.9 lb. with stand) [20.9 kg/37.6kg] |
5. Yamaha YPG535 Portable Grand Piano
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Description
If the DGX-660 caught your attention but it was either too bulky or expensive, then the Yamaha YPG-535 might be a better alternative. Like the DGX, the YPG-535 contains a 6-track MIDI recorder and a detailed visual interface. It can be plugged into a computer and be used as a MIDI recorder as well for your digital audio workstation (DAW) software.
It is significantly lighter, weighing just 24 lb. without the stand, nearly half of the DGX-660. The light design makes it great for gigging players, and it is able to run on battery power as well. Rather than the GHS keys of the previous models, the YPG-535 uses graded soft-touch keys that have some weighted resistance but not enough to mimic a grand piano. It also uses the piano sampling of the P45/P71 models for its grand piano sounds, a slight drop in sound quality compared to the P125/DGX-660.
The piano also comes with a furniture stand. It is a great option for songwriters and beginning to intermediate players. There is also a great built-in learning software to help players both practice and improve their playing.
See It In Action
Key Specs
| Weighted Keys: | Yes (Graded soft touch) |
| MIDI: | Yes |
| Portable Design: | Yes |
| Aux Input: | No |
| Line Input: | No |
| Line Output: | Yes |
| Built-in Speakers: | Yes |
| Dimensions: | 58.7 in. W x 22.4 in. D x 13.4 in. H (1491 mm W x 568.96 D x 340.4 mm H) |
| Weight: | 24 lb. (37 lb. with stand) [10.89 kg/ 16.8 kg] |
6. Yamaha MX88 88-Key Weighted Action Synthesizer
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Description
The Yamaha MX88 is a true keyboard workstation. It boasts over 1,000 different tones and effects and is also capable of extremely high-quality acoustic piano sound presets.
This is a piece of equipment that a songwriter looking to take their craft to the next level would adore. It is designed to immediately work as a controller for several DAWs, notably Logic Pro X, and provides endless possibilities in terms of sound design.
The keyboard contains the same GHS weighted keys as models like the P125 and is more than capable of live performances, equipped with 128-note polyphony to process intricate note combinations and passages. This keyboard is a tool that professional songwriters and intermediate to advanced keyboard players would be thrilled to have.
See It In Action
Key Specs
| Weighted Keys: | Yes (Graded hammer standard) |
| MIDI: | Yes |
| Portable Design: | Yes |
| Aux Input: | Yes |
| Line Input: | No |
| Line Output: | Yes |
| Built-in Speakers: | No |
| Dimensions: | 52 in. W x 15.9 in. D x 6.6 in. H (1320.8 mm W x 403.9 mm D x 167.6 mm H) |
| Weight: | 30.6 lb. (13.88 kg) |
7. Yamaha MODX8 88-Key Weighted Action Synthesizer
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Description
The Yamaha MODX8 is a synthesizer workstation that is filled with sound capability. The sleek design’s centerpiece is an awesome touch screen that allows you to easily navigate the keyboard’s features.
The keyboard contains a 5.67 gigabyte (GB) sound bank with over 6,000 different sound waveforms at your disposal. There is an additional 1 GB of space to import your own sound samples as well. The MODX8 is capable of sending/receiving 16 MIDI channels to and from your computer’s DAW. There is also a total 192-note polyphony, able to process any performance without any lag or cutoff of notes.
The lightweight design is an ideal keyboard for live performance like the MX88 and would be a perfect centerpiece for any studio or workstation. The MODX8 is a great second or third keyboard for a proficient musician or composer looking to take the next step in their playing and arrangement.
See It In Action
Key Specs
| Weighted Keys: | Yes (Graded hammer standard) |
| MIDI: | Yes |
| Portable Design: | Yes |
| Aux Input: | Yes |
| Line Input: | Yes |
| Line Output: | Yes |
| Built-in Speakers: | No |
| Dimensions: | 52.5 in. W x 15.9 in. D x 6.3 in. H (1333.5 mm W x 403.9 mm D x 160 mm H) |
| Weight: | 30.7 lb. (13.93 kg) |
8. Yamaha Montage8 Synthesizer Workstation
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Description
The Yamaha Montage has become the company’s flagship 88-key synth. The Montage is essentially the MODX8 but with even more power and arranging capability.
This keyboard is in the top tier of keyboard workstations and any intermediate to advanced composer would kill to own this instrument. The sound library and engines are nearly unrivaled in their customization and quality, with sounds capable of sounding completely analog and one of the best internal orchestral sound packages available for a keyboard. The Montage can also send 16 tracks to your computer via MIDI and is a wonderful tool for any studio.
The keys are semi-weighted Balanced Graded Action, so they are not ideal for traditional piano playing, but the Montage will certainly get the job done. This keyboard is more suited to composers and electronic music performers rather than pianists or those wishing to learn how to play piano, this is a tool for advanced musicians and songwriters.
See It In Action
Key Specs
| Weighted Keys: | Yes (Balanced hammer standard) |
| MIDI: | Yes |
| Portable Design: | No |
| Aux Input: | Yes |
| Line Input: | Yes |
| Line Output: | Yes |
| Built-in Speakers: | No |
| Dimensions: | 57 in. W x 18.2 in. D x 6.7 in. H (1447.8 mm W x 462.3 mm D x 170.2 mm H) |
| Weight: | 63 lb. (28.58 kg) |
9. Yamaha CP88 88-Key Graded Hammer Action Stage Piano with Sustain Pedal
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Description
The Yamaha CP88 is a professional quality stage keyboard. It is everything you could possibly want in a digital piano. It features Yamaha’s premium grand piano sounds and contains high-quality organs, clavs, and synths as well.
The CP88 features a digital screen and many customizable knobs for sound adjustments. It is also great for recording, capable of sending MIDI tracks to your computer or playing them back right on the keyboard.
The star of the show for the CP88 are the keys. The natural wood keys are perfectly weighted, having the texture and feel of an authentic grand piano’s keys. The keyboard is portable as well, being meant to be brought on stage, and weighs a manageable 41 pounds. The keyboard isn’t cheap, but not over the top given the professional quality of this keyboard. This is not necessary for a beginner, but an intermediate to advanced player looking for their 2nd or 3rd keyboard would be extremely interested in this amazing digital piano.
See It In Action
Key Specs
| Weighted Keys: | Yes (Graded hammer standard natural wood) |
| MIDI: | Yes |
| Portable Design: | Yes |
| Aux Input: | Yes |
| Line Input: | Yes |
| Line Output: | Yes |
| Built-in Speakers: | No |
| Dimensions: | 51.1 in. W x 14.3 in. D x 5.5 in. H (1297.9 mm W x 363.2 mm D x 139.7 mm H) |
| Weight: | 41 lb. (18.6 kg) |
10. Yamaha P515 88-Key Weighted Action Digital Piano
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Description
The P-515 is Yamaha’s flagship P series digital piano. It is a portable, realistic feeling piano with over 500 preset sounds. It is great for recording and gigging alike, being slightly heavy but still portable at 48 lb.
This keyboard is in the tier between the P125 and the CP88 stage piano, perfect for intermediate players looking for what would most likely be their second piano. This keyboard would also be a fine piano to learn on, given the natural wood weighted keys and acoustic sounds available from Yamaha’s Virtual Resonance Modeling (VRM) software in the keyboard.
It has an LCD display for easy navigation and doesn’t overwhelm the user with a plethora of knobs and buttons. The Piano Room software found in other P series keyboards is also present and allows for even more fine-tuning of your particular sound. It is also a high-quality keyboard that contains built-in speakers, which are typically found in lower costing keyboards.
See It In Action
Key Specs
| Weighted Keys: | Yes (Natural Wood X) |
| MIDI: | Yes |
| Portable Design: | Yes |
| Aux Input: | Yes |
| Line Input: | Yes |
| Line Output: | Yes |
| Built-in Speakers: | Yes |
| Dimensions: | 52.6 in. W x 14.8 in. D x 5.7 in. H (1336 mm W x 375.9 mm D x 144.8 mm H) |
| Weight: | 48.5 lb. (21.99 kg) |
11. Yamaha CP300 Stage Piano with Built-in Stereo Speakers
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Description
The Yamaha CP300 is the same price and similar to the CP88 Stage Piano, but with a few notable differences. The CP300 has built-in stereo speakers as well as even more authentically weighted keys, but they do not have the natural wood feel of the CP88.
The CP300 is also significantly heavier and bulkier than the CP88, giving it a more durable feel but much less portable. The same kind of pianist that would be interested in the CP88, an intermediate to advanced player, would be just as interested in the CP300. At their cores, they are very similar keyboards, but the differences in built-in speakers and the feel of the keys will make the decision between the two, one of preference.
See It In Action
Key Specs
| Weighted Keys: | Yes (Advanced Graded Standard) |
| MIDI: | Yes |
| Portable Design: | Yes |
| Aux Input: | Yes |
| Line Input: | Yes |
| Line Output: | Yes |
| Built-in Speakers: | Yes |
| Dimensions: | 54.75 in. W x 18.1 in. D x 6.9 in. H (1390.65 mm W x 459.74 mm D x 175.3 mm H) |
| Weight: | 71.6 lb. (32.48 kg) |
12. Yamaha CP1 Premium Stage Piano with Natural Wood Keys and 3-Pedal Unit
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Description
The Yamaha CP1 is the company’s first iteration in the CP series and what they claim is the “most expressive stage piano that has ever been created.”
This powerful keyboard is a powerful work of art, using its Spectral Component Modeling (SCM) tone generation system to create beautiful vintage electric piano tones. The CP1 contains 17 acoustic piano and vintage electric piano sounds with a customize function to modify the sounds to your specific needs. The keyboard has an extremely minimalist and vintage look to it, with a small LCD display and a few knobs.
The CP1 also has emulations of historical pedals such as phasers, flangers, wahs, and choruses. It comes with a three-pedal unit (Sustain, Sostenuto, and Soft) as well. This instrument is a top of the line piece that an advanced player looking for vintage tones and an extremely expressive wood stage piano would love to own. Being the highest quality digital piano on this list, the CP1 is far from cheap. That said, this is for a player looking for a top of the line model, and the CP1 will get the job done and then some.
See It In Action
Key Specs
| Weighted Keys: | Yes (Natural Wood) |
| MIDI: | Yes |
| Portable Design: | Yes |
| Aux Input: | Yes |
| Line Input: | Yes |
| Line Output: | Yes |
| Built-in Speakers: | No |
| Dimensions: | 54.5 in. W x 16.5 in. D x 6.8 in. H (1384.3 mm W x 419.1 mm D x 172.7 mm H) |
| Weight: | 60 lb. (27.22 kg) |
Whether you’re at the beginning or advanced stages of piano playing there is a Yamaha keyboard that will provide you with a quality instrument to suit your needs. Some of these keyboards are more suited to composing and sound design and some are ideal for a mainly practicing and performing context.
The keyboard you ultimately choose must be the best fit for your particular needs as a musician and if you make your decision with these needs in mind you surely will not be disappointed!
