The popularity of digital pianos has ushered in an increase in innovations in the world of keyboard stands. While serving a simple purpose, these accessories can vary in design and be better suited to different situations.
Digital pianos in the slab and stage formats are built to be portable - something lightweight enough that musicians can carry them for short distances, transport them in cars or public transit, or store it in small spaces like a closet, dorm room, or a touring van.
Manufacturers achieve the smaller footprint mostly by compressing the electronics and speakers (much like a laptop vs a desktop computer) and ridding it of its pedals and furniture. What this means is if one of these becomes your instrument of choice, you'll very likely also need to purchase a sturdy keyboard stand to go with it.
In this article, we'll cover the most popular keyboard stands available on the market today, approximate price ranges you'll run into, and which stand is appropriate for different situations, all the way from basic home use, to those gearing up for a world tour.
It's important to know that there is no single best keyboard stand, but a variety of great choices depending on various considerations.
Types of Keyboard Stands
“X” Style Keyboard Stand
This simple X-Style stand gets its name from its design. There are two sets of 2 steel pipes each connected with a steel strut. There is a scissor-type folding action with a basic axel that connects the two sections; this design allows for height adjustments and for the stand to be collapsed completely flat, making it the lightest, easiest, lowest cost stand on the market meaning you can find these for sale in most musical instrument stores.It also has the lowest weight capacity, is prone to some wobble, and isn’t known for its durability. Some digital piano manufacturers, such as Yamaha and Casio, offer a low-cost X stand option as well.
When to use them?
The X-Style keyboard stand is the best stand when portability or cost is the only consideration, and your piano weighs less than 40 lbs (ideally less than 30 lbs).“Double X” Style Stand
The Double X-Style stand is an improvement on the first design, where the horizontal pipes that act as the feet and platform are braced with two sets of scissoring struts, instead of one set as with the first design. These also offer adjustable height via locking straps or some other type of locking mechanism.When to use them?
Where portability and cost are top priorities, and the weight of your keyboard is somewhere between 40 - 70 lbs.Z Stand
The Z-stand is one of the best blends of portability and stability on the market. Several companies make the type with a few differences in how they collapse. But once fully deployed, they’re all virtually the same and are ideal for heavier keyboards.There are two steel ‘Z’s which sit parallel to each other, connected by two telescoping shafts, and the vertical part of the ‘Z’ also telescopes, giving the stand both adjustable width and height, with lots of leg room. These are generally speaking high-quality options.
There are also certain heavy-duty Second Tier Keyboard Stand versions that allow you to place two keyboards on them at once, allowing keyboardists to rapidly switch between two keyboards or even play both at once. The single-tier stand is of course more popular, but these exist for those who need them.
When to use them?
If you have the budget for a $100 - 150 stand, you're looking for a height-adjustable piano keyboard stand, and it will be receiving frequent use and/or moves, this is an ideal option (with the collapsing arms). They’re rugged, stable, and can handle the largest and most heavy keyboards out there with great sturdiness. Hercules and Roland both make great options.When not to use them?
For super small keyboards in the 61 or 76 note range that are 20 lbs or smaller, this would be overkill.Folding Table Style Keyboard Stand
We don’t actually know if the industry has a ‘name’ for this, but these types of stands look like those ubiquitous folding tables that you see at every wedding or event hall. The top of the table is rectangular, and two sets of legs swing down from hinges along the two short sides of the table. This tabletop option is also a sturdy stand.When to Use Them?
The Table Style stand is essentially going to serve the same types of keyboardists, keyboards, and digital pianos as the Z stand, but in scenarios when portability isn’t as important.For example, if your keyboard is going to spend most of its time occupying space on a Church stage or rehearsal room, the Table Style stand might be an enticing option.
“T” Stand
The final stand type is referred to as a T stand since that’s precisely what it looks like when folded up. There are four articulating arms, all with a 90-degree elbow, which form the legs of the stand. They’re attached at either end of a central spine and are highly flexible.When to Use Them: Like the Table Style Stand, the T stand is another alternative to the Z stand that will come down to personal preference.
Closing Thoughts
We hope that this article has provided some insight into what might be the best choice for you, whether that’s a single X stand, double X stand, Z stand, Table Style stand, or T Stand.Ultimately, the focus should be on finding a stand that's stable and will last a few years, and not fall apart on a gig if you’re a performing musician.
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The post Keyboard Stands | Which Type is Best For You? first appeared on Merriam Pianos
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