Keyboard bags come in all shapes and sizes, literally.  Since keyboards vary in length and in the number of keys, you will want to purchase a keyboard bag that caters to your keyboard’s dimensions.   Most keyboards range from 61-88 keys and keyboard bags usually are broken down in size by the number of keys.  If you have multiple keyboards of varying length, one option is to purchase a keyboard bag that matches up with the length of your biggest keyboard.   You can always put smaller keyboards in larger keyboard bags (it just might be a little awkward to carry), but the bag will still serve its purpose.

Similar to keyboard cases, when you are looking at keyboard bags to purchase, you should look at products that are light in weight.  The point of keyboard bags is to make the process of transporting a musical keyboard easier, so you want to look at options that don’t add excess weight.  Another thing to look out for is the padding of the product.  You want to make sure the keyboard bags you are looking at have enough padding to give your keyboard some protection.  Ideally, it should also be a snug fit for your keyboard, so you don’t have to worry about keys being pressed or getting stuck while traveling.  Purchasing snug fitting keyboard bags will also help to minimize small scratches and nicks that are common when traveling with instruments.

Keyboard bags do not have to cost an arm and a leg.  A great keyboard bag can be purchased for as low as $25.  The ranges in price are relatively low as well.  Some of the higher quality keyboard bags are currently selling for $50.  There tends to be a direct relationship between bag size (which correlates to the number of keys on the keyboard) and price.  One of the best vendors of keyboard bags on the market is Musician’s Gear.  The Musician’s Gear 61 Key Keyboard Gig Bag is currently being sold for $39.00, while their 76 Key Gig bag is slightly pricier at $44.99.

If your keyboard is too heavy to carry, then you may want to consider keyboard bags with wheels.  They are certainly more expensive, but incredibly more convenient.  One solid option is the Kaces XKP-14KB 88-key Keyboard Bag with Wheels, which costs about $130.  Keyboard bags are not as durable as hard keyboard cases, so it may be riskier to purchase a used keyboard bag.  Keyboard bags are often composed of nylon, so over time, they are prone to break down and have holes.  This can be prevented by properly caring for your keyboard bag and of course, never expose your keyboard bag to rain.  Most keyboard bags do not account for water damage, so you are putting your keyboard at risk if you are exposing it to rainfall.

One of the most common keyboard accessories is a keyboard bench.  For any musician looking to sit down while they practice or perform, a keyboard bench is a must own.  You can use a chair as an alternative, but you should make sure it is adjustable.  If you are a budding musician and are starting to play live, however, then you should seriously consider getting a keyboard bench.  It is much more professional and conducive to better posture, and therefore, a better performance.   Keyboard benches do not have to be expensive either; a decent keyboard bench can be purchased for $30.  Some of the best manufacturers of keyboard benches are Hammond, Yamaha and M-Audio.  The Yamaha PKBB1 Keyboard Bench is a standard keyboard bench that will get the job done, and is only $30 on Amazon.  If you are looking to purchase a keyboard stand, you will want to make sure it is adjustable.  If the model you are looking at is not adjustable, it is probably wise to move on and choose a slightly more expensive model.

Another common keyboard accessory is a keyboard pedal.  A keyboard pedal gives a keyboard more of a piano feel and helps recreate the sustained sound of an acoustic piano.  Keyboard pedals are useful for any pianist looking to add a true legato sound to their style of play without sounding digital and tacky.  Keyboard pedals are similar in price to keyboard stands, ranging from about $24-$60 for reliable products on Amazon.  M-Audio tends to be ahead of the competition with keyboard pedals.  One of M-Audio’s best and affordable products is the M-Audio SP-2 US65010 Sustain Pedal, which is currently being sold for about $20 on Amazon.

When purchasing keyboard accessories, there are several things to look out for.  First off, make sure that whatever products you are looking at are compatible with your keyboard.  If you have not yet purchased a keyboard, then it may be wise to look into getting the keyboard first

There are many places online to find great keyboard accessories.  Guitar Centre, Sam Ash and other music retailers are great options if you are looking to find keyboard accessories in person.   You can also check those stores online, but you may find better prices at Amazon or Sweetwater.com.  Sweetwater has a great selection of keyboard accessories, including keyboard benches, stands, pedals, cases and more.  Most of their products come with warranties included as well as tech support, which is a major bonus.

The most important thing to decide when purchasing electric keyboards is what size keyboard you want.  The most common options are 49 keys, 61 keys, 76 keys and 88 keys, which is the standard number of keys on acoustic pianos.  49 key electric keyboards are suitable for a beginner or a musician who simply needs a midi keyboard to create effects on their tracks.  In either case, 49 keys will eventually limit you as a musician and you are probably better off looking at 61 key electric keyboards.  The main difference between 76 keys and 88 keys is price.  88 key electric keyboards are obviously the most expensive, but tend to cost around $150 more than a comparable 76 key model.

After you know which size keyboard you are looking to purchase, you can focus on other details of your electric piano keyboard.  Another important thing to look out for is whether or not the keyboard has a keyboard pedal included.  Keyboard pedals are incredibly common and useful in reproducing the sound qualities of a standard piano.   The most popular types of keyboard pedals are sustain pedals, which are often included with electric keyboards.  If a keyboard pedal is not included with the models you are looking at, it is not the end of the world.  Great electric keyboard pedals can be purchased for under $50.  Boss, Casio, Yamaha and M-Audio are amongst the most popular manufacturers of electric guitar pedals on the market.

Another question to ask when looking at electric keyboards is whether or not a warranty is attached.  You want to be sure that there is a warranty attached!  Electric keyboards can easily cost hundreds of dollars, if not thousands.  You want to be sure that your product is protected with a warranty.  It is standard practice that a warranty will be attached, but if there is not one included (or available for purchase with the keyboard), look elsewhere.

If you are on a tight budget but are interested in electric or digital keyboards, then you may want to consider looking into refurbished electric keyboards.  Refurbished products are significantly cheaper, usually a couple hundred dollars cheaper than the same product if it were sold new.  If you can find a refurbished electric keyboard with a warranty attached, then that is definitely something to consider.

Some of the best brands of electric keyboards include Casio, Yamaha, Roland and Korg.  If you are looking at 61 key digital keyboards, then Yamaha offers one of the best options in the Yamaha PSR-E223.  This model is includes a foot pedal and is currently being offered for $139.99.  Korg electronic keyboards tend to be more expensive, but for an 88 key electric keyboard, you won’t find better value for the money than the Korg SP170.  This keyboard ranges in price from $479-499 depending on which site you are looking at.

A keyboard rack is not recommended for an amateur musician or for a band unless you have endless pockets.  They tend to be very expensive and are only for extremely experienced musicians who would need to do things like switch keyboards mid-songs.  The most impressive keyboard rack out there is made by String Swing Instrument Displays and holds up to twelve keyboards at once.  This model is currently on the market for $1199.99.  If you check smaller online music stores such as stateoftheartmusic.com, however, you will be able to find the same model for approximately $973.

If you are a keyboard collector and have run out of room to store your keyboards, then a keyboard rack can come in handy for that as well.  Since you can hold your keyboards on the rack, it can double as a storage unit.

If you are simply looking for a product to help you store your keyboard or keyboards, then you may want to look at a keyboard display rack.  A keyboard display rack usually is mounted to a wall and then the keyboard is placed on the sturdy rack.  In addition, a keyboard display rack is much cheaper than a keyboard rack.  The String Swing STW-CC47 Single Keyboard Display for Tree Rack can be purchased for approximately $73 on opentip.com.

When it comes to finding a keyboard rack for purchase, there are few places to look.  First off, if you have a major music instrument store in your area such as a Guitar Center or Sam Ash, check those out first.  If they do not have keyboard racks in stock, you can also check out a local music shop or see if the store can order it for you.  If you are trying to find a keyboard rack online, then your best bet is to look at boutique music instrument websites.  Amazon seems to have limited inventory when it comes to musical keyboard racks, so you are better off looking on sites like Sweetwater.com, or Stringswing.com.

The other type of keyboard rack that people who find this site may be looking for is a computer keyboard rack, which is used to hoist a computer keyboard up at a certain angle.  This type of keyboard rack has no relation structurally to a musical keyboard rack.  If this is what you are looking for, you should know that there are several different type of keyboard racks, including ones with a sliding shelf.

There are many different types of keyboard case makes and styles.  The more popular keyboard cases used to be soft cover, but recently hard keyboard cases have become more common.  This makes sense, since keyboards are delicate and dropping a keyboard in a soft case won’t necessarily protect your instrument.  If your keyboard is going to be stuffed into the back of a truck and endure long road trips, then you may want to look at harder keyboard cases.  If you occasionally bringing your keyboard to a recital or friends house to play, then a soft cover case may be enough to get the job done.  As it stands right now, musicians tend to be leaning towards hard and semi-hard cases.  Seeing as a keyboard is usually an expensive investment, this is not a surprise.

Hard keyboard cases are a great way to give yourself the security of knowing that your keyboard is safe, regardless of where it may be.  Hard cases are usually made of metals or tougher compounds like polyethylene. Because of their durability and higher cost of production, hard keyboard cases are understandably more expensive than soft cover cases.  In general, you won’t find a hard keyboard case for under $150.  One feature to look out for when purchasing a hard keyboard case is if the case has wheels.  A lot of the new makes have wheels attached, which make traveling with your keyboard infinitely easier.  A great hard case model is the Gator GK261R ATA Keyboard Case, which is currently going for $239.99 on Amazon.  Since hard cases are so durable, you may want to consider purchasing a previously owned case at a local music store or online.  Sure, the case may be a little banged up, but if you are not concerned with aesthetic, then you can find great deals.

That is not to say there aren’t positive benefits of using a soft cover keyboard case.  There is minimal bulk compared to a semi-hard keyboard case, which saves space in tight quarters.  Soft cases are also significantly lighter than harder cases.  Traveling with a keyboard can be a pain if it’s a heavy model, and adding extra weight from a hard case does not help the cause.  If you are going to purchase a soft case, make sure you get one with ample padding.  One of the best options on the market right now is the Ultimate Support USS1-61 Series One 61-Key Electronic Soft Case Keyboard, which is currently selling for $49.95 on Amazon.