So you have been thinking of getting an electronic keyboard for the last couple of weeks or months. Perhaps you promised yourself you’ll learn to play an instrument back at the beginning of 2010. Or perhaps you’re keen to reacquaint yourself with some culture after a decade of listening to popular music.

But now you’re faced with a problem: you’re not so sure what criteria to use when you venture out – or stay warm inside in front of your laptop – to buy what will soon be your prized musical instrument.

The basic criteria for a electronic keyboard are that it contain at least 61 keys, it should have full size keys that are touch sensitive, and the palette should contain a reasonable number of sounds and rhythms.

There are more than a couple of things to consider but one of the most important questions is the following: what is it you’re looking for? Are you hoping to find fame and fortune with a digital piano or with a Casio electronic keyboard? Once you’ve answered this satisfactorily, you can move onto the others.

Read about the different types of electronic keyboards.

Another important question concerns the size of your budget. If you’re on a smallish budget, you may want to consider buying a second-hand electronic keyboard. If this is not something you’d like to do, then you have two options: save up more cash or settle for a electronic keyboard with fewer functions. Advanced electronic keyboards are generally better value for money but a beginner electronic keyboard should also do the trick. And you can always upgrade when the opportunity presents itself.

The third important bit is which brand to go for. The three most well-known brands are Casio, Roland, and Yamaha. Each brand has its own advantages, features, and disadvantages. Yamaha is known for its electronic keyboards and their ranges are generally more advanced than what a beginner would need. Casio makes good entry-level to intermediate machines and their more advanced electronic keyboards do have some features that would impress. Roland focuses on high-end electronic instruments and does not, therefore, have as impressive a range as that of Casio and Yamaha.

And the final bit to ponder is the technical aspects. These include things such as the sounds, the amount of keys the electronic keyboard has, the display, and the type of synthesis it has.