The keyboard is an integral part of worship of any kind. Its poignant and inspiring sounds hardly go unnoticed, especially when playing live. Keyboards also come with added features such as strings and pads to further accentuate the sounds. For this reason, the keyboard has become a top instrument of choice during worship. That said, the numerous keyboard brands and products on the market makes it hard to find the best keyboard for worship.
We look at several features in our quest to help you find the perfect keyboard. One of the most important features to consider is the keys. Weightier keys are often higher quality and closely resemble the keys on the piano. They make work easier for the instrumentalist and finely develop finger strength. You may also want to check how many keys are on the keyboard itself too, the more the keys the wider the range of tone and sounds you can play. Moreover, the best keyboard for worship should feature additional settings and features to help amplify and add effects to the sound.
| № | Name | Rating | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yamaha CP88 |
9,7
|
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| 2 | Roland RD-2000 |
9,6
|
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| 3 | Korg SP280BK |
9,5
|
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| 4 | Yamaha P125 |
9,4
|
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| 5 | Casio Privia PX-770 |
9,3
|
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More features: natural wood keys, hammer action keys, delay option, sustain pedal included, triple sensor, 128-voice polyphony
Yamaha launched the CP88 in 2019, the latest in the CP series. It boasts of an aluminum chassis, which combines the durability of metal while still maintaining its light plastic nature. It has a front control panel with user friendly knobs and buttons that allow you to make the most precise changes.
It uses the Nord-style scheme and has three sections for piano, electric piano and other instruments. We found this super friendly as opposed to the alternative screen focused layouts. As for the key action, the CP88 uses the natural wood graded hammer action. The key tops are made from ivory and ebony, offering just the right amount of friction to prevent slippage. The sounds on the Yamaha CP88 are purely sample based with no modeling.
However, the Yamaha CP88 only has 57 voices, which is very small in comparison to other brands. It has a sub section covering sounds that did not fit in the above-mentioned sections, such as strings, pads, organs and synthesizers.
More features: weighted keyboards, 128-voice polyphony, LED status indicators, 23W
Released in 2017, the Roland RD-2000 is one of the most advanced digital pianos in the Roland series. Ardent music lovers can remember the popularity of this keyboard in most 1980’s hits. But, what are the main features of the Roland RD-2000 and what makes it a special keyboard?
The Roland RD-2000 is an easy to carry digital piano measuring 55.6 x 5.6 x 14.5, consisting of 88 keys and over 1,100 different sounds. It features a 128-voice polyphony and 23 watt power, which means that you do not have to worry about it consuming much power.
The Roland RD-2000 has a sleek and excellent body build. All accessory buttons including knobs and faders have been laid out on the front hence you can toggle in between commands without necessarily having to go for the menu. It further comes with LED status indicators and is USB compatible allowing you to record music and add more sounds to the piano.
More features: 22W power consumption, weighted keys, line out jacks, damper pedal included, folding metal stand
If you are looking for a portable keyboard for worship then you may be in luck today. The Korg SP-280 BK is a stylish portable digital piano with over 30 expressive onboard sounds. It comes with 88 weighted keys and has a power consumption of 22W.
This keyboard is mostly used as a stage piano, although it can be used in indoor settings too. The Korg SP280BK has a folding metal stand that is lightweight and easy to attach. Its line out Jacks otherwise known as Phone Jacks allow you to connect to amplified speakers or recording devices while you play along.
Korg SP280BK provides an experience close to that of an acoustic piano. It
varies from crucial pianissimo to high fortissimo almost matching a grand piano. This, coupled with a damper pedal will give you a true piano playing experience.
And while the Korg SP280BK offers refreshing acoustic tunes, the number of sounds it offers is relatively low. Some may argue that 30 sounds is enough for the average keyboardists. However, additional sounds are an added advantage and provide for an even better worship experience.
More features: weighted keys, 2-way speaker, app compatible, 192-voice polyphony, 9W power consumption, USB connection
The Yamaha P-125 belongs to the P series, which is way more advanced than its predecessors. However, it comes with the same Graded Hammer key action as the other Yamaha models. The P125 uses samples of the CFIIIS9 concert by Yamaha to create some thrilling sounds.
Unlike the other products that we reviewed, this keyboard has a 192 voice polyphony and 4 speakers of 14W. It also features a 2 track MIDI recorder, line out jacks and split mode, which allows you to play a different sound on either half of the keyboard. To add on to that, the Yamaha P-125 offers its users smart compatibility with its Yamaha owned app, Smart Pianist.
A great feature of this keyboard is its USB connectivity. This means that with MIDI and audio transfer you would only need a single cable to connect to your production software. There are up to 14 buttons located on the front of the keyboard with LED indicators to show which function is currently being used. Besides that, it comes with a stereophonic optimizer feature, which basically alters the sound to make it appear more real and engaging.
More features: weighted hammer-action keys, stereo speaker system, recording system, USB connection, app-compatible
The PX-770 is yet another addition to Casio’s Privia range. Along with its great features, it is also their most affordable digital piano so far. The cabinet has a well finished wooden texture and a minimalistic compact design. Comes with three pedals and a triple sensor hammer action keyboard. The keytops here are also plated with ivory and ebony.
This model incorporates Casio’s Air Sound Source, which features increased memory capacity. This in turn allows for better samples and an even more accurate sound. It also features a 128-voice polyphony and a total 19 sounds to play. Besides that, Casio fitted a new sampled Grand Piano tone.
Other effects such as reverb and chorus have different settings that you can use to add tone and pitch variations. The Casio PX-770 has 2x12cm speakers with 2x8W amplifiers, producing enough sound to play casually but not for live performances. It has a concert play feature that lets you play along a recording of a live performance, which is a bonus for church settings.
Buying a keyboard can be quite a challenge, whether you are making the purchase online or at a physical store. The market is currently full of many brands, all promising to deliver unmatched quality. To make this selecting process faster and easier, you need to understand what is important to consider when buying a church keyboard. What unique features will you need more of, particularly in worship, as compared to other types of music genres.
How keyboard for church differs from the rest
When selecting a keyboard for church, you need to remember that this is a live setting. The type of keyboard you select should have the relevant features for live, outdoor play. The quality of sound from a church keyboard differs from your regular use keyboard because of the hall-like set up of the church building. Different settings have to be applied to make the sound richer and fuller. Church keyboards have weighted keys that are more in resemblance to the acoustic piano.
Not everyone is a professional at playing the keyboard. Whether you are a novice or have some few years under your belt, there are some tips you should consider when using your keyboard. These include;
You should not just buy the first keyboard for worship that you find. Here are some important features to consider before you remove your credit card.
There is a vast range of keyboards with different numbers of keys ranging from 25 to 88, like the acoustic piano. The number of keys you have on your keyboard will depend on the available physical space and the type of music being played. We recommend choosing a keyboard with at least 88 keys for the best quality sound.
There are also different types of keyboards when you look at the keyboard’s response to touch. Each type of action provides a different feel for instance weighted, hammer action and semi weighted. The weighted and semi-weighted keyboards have a similar response with the traditional acoustic piano. Church keyboards with hammer action employ actual mechanical hammers to enhance the keys’ response. The CP88 and the Roland RD-2000 are made with this key action technology.
The pricing is another important factor to take into consideration. You want a keyboard for church worship that fits within your budget and/or saves you from extra charges. Basically a keyboard that incorporates many features into it so you do not have to purchase many external accessories. The price of the keyboard largely depends on how close in resemblance it is to the acoustic piano. Also, the more expensive it is means higher quality samples and speaker systems. From the examples highlighted here, the Casio is the most affordable but it has the least features.
For a church keyboard, whether or not it should be portable is unique to every situation. If portability is required, the best option will be the Yamaha CP88. Reason being, it lacks the internal speakers and is therefore very light in weight. It is much more convenient when you have to host outdoor church events and programs. In case there will be no need for movement, the rest of the models can be considered.
Most keyboards on the market currently can be connected to computers, laptops and smartphones. This gives the player access to added features like cloud storage, recording and music collaborations. The connections could be through USB, MIDI, mLAN or any other interface whether external or in-built. As you are playing live in church, you would also want to consider a keyboard with audio inputs and outputs to connect to mixers and external amplifiers.
When buying a keyboard for worship, you are looking for a keyboard with rich and full high-quality sounds. The best keyboard for worship offers maximum polyphony, which is the highest number of individual notes it can produce at one time. Most range between 64 and 128, however, the best polyphony is 128. It would also be wise to choose one with a broad range of melodic and rhythmic instruments, as well as effects such as reverb, delay and chorus. For instance, the Yamaha CP88 and the Roland RD-2000 both have a 128-voice polyphony.
A good church keyboard comes with the Dual and Split Voice feature. In dual voice mode, the entire keyboard plays similar sounds on either side. Most of the keyboards on the market offer a dual voice feature. The split voice effect, on the other hand, enables you to play one voice on one half of the keyboard, and a different voice on the other half. The split voice mode comes in handy if you would like to integrate two songs or to change songs without any stops. YAMAHA P125 comes with this split mode to allow you to listen to two different sounds.
There are two main types of keyboards. These include standalone keyboards for worships with built-in sounds and midi controllers that use software hosted on your laptop. If you would like a quick plug-and-play instrument then you should go with a standalone keyboard. However, if you would like to get a keyboard with a wider range of sounds then you can use one with software. You can then use the software to create more sounds from your computer. Some keyboards like the YAMAHA P125 come with an integrated app to improve how you work with the keyboard.
A keyboard with an in-built recorder allows you to record the audio output and save it on an external drive. The recording is frequently in mp3 or WAV format thus you won’t need any special software to playback the recording externally. You can use this feature to record worship or practice sessions and use it to become a better worship player. Be careful not to purchase a keyboard that lacks this feature in case you would need to use it. The Casio PX-770 for instance, lacks this audio recording feature.
Velocity Sensitivity
When selecting a keyboard for worship, ensure to look out for the Velocity Sensitivity feature. It gives variations in volume and attack based on how hard you press the keys. This is an important feature during worship to evoke emotions and set the right mood to worship. Keyboards with the hammer action make most use of this feature, including the Yamaha CP88, the Roland RD-2000, the KORG SP280BK and the Yamaha P125.
For church keyboards, some accessories like the stands, stools, cases and replacement power adapters are actually of major use. A good quality case or cover will keep the keyboard dust free and in good condition. For instance, the KORG SP280BK keyboard comes with its own cover to protect against dust. Sustain pedals are also a good buy in order to make most use of the church digital piano. You can find these on the Casio PX-770.
Our first pick for the best Keyboard for Worship is the Yamaha CP88. This beautiful piece uses natural wood keys designed with the weighted hammer action. The keys are made with triple sensor technology and an incredible 128 voice polyphony. It comes with no internal speakers so is conveniently light to move around with.
Second on our list would have to be the Roland RD-2000. It boasts of the highest number of sounds on the list, at 1100 sounds. The keys are also weighted and it is compatible with your USB card. This Roland is equipped with LED status indicators and all the important knobs and accessories are set up front for ease of access too.
Our best value pick is the KORG SP280BK. It has a very stylish design with a newly introduced folding metal that’s easy to attach. It also has a sampled grand piano sound to it, which is highly advantageous in a church keyboard. Aside from being affordable, it is relatively light in weight and includes a damper pedal.
