Things to look for when buying a piano stool / bench

If your brand new piano or keyboard didn’t come with a stool, here’s what you need to look out for when choosing a new one.

Height adjustable

Being able to adjust the height may be important if you suffer from back problems or want to prevent any future problems. Many hours are typically spent at the piano or keyboard, so it’s really important to make sure you are sat at the correct height.

Typically you want your arms to be level with the keys, so you are neither reaching up or reaching down to play. This preference varies from person to person, but usually this would be the best approach to consider.

Buying a height adjustable stool may also be required for small children, as they may struggle to reach up for the keys. You can of course consider using a cushion, but this may not solve the problem correctly. It’s also important to remember that you may be looking to keep the stool for a very long time, so why not get something that can adjust as your child grows up.

Comfort

Piano stools come with many different types of material to sit on ranging from leather to cloth. Most of the time it’s personal preference as to what would be the most comfortable for you, but typically some of the more expensive stools are usually the best option for comfort.

However, I still use my gigging cross stand that I’ve had for about 10 years, and I find this extremely comfortable and it only cost me about £15! So although you might be paying for more comfort with a thick stool, the difference can be quite small.

For someone who plays for many hours on the piano each day, then I would personally recommend the Yamaha B1B, as this is extremely comfortable and sturdy, and will easily last for many years.

Players on the move

If you are a performer and like to travel around with your piano or keyboard, then a portable fold up stool is the best option. I would recommend the RayGar as it is perfect for someone on the move.

It’s extremely comfortable, has fold up legs and is very light and sturdy. I like to use this type of stool myself for the home and on the road. It nicely tucks under my piano as well so it’s not stuck out taking up too much room.

Price

How much you spend depends on what you need the stool to do. If you are only going to be playing at home and want comfort, luxury and high quality – then you should be looking at spending between £50-£80. You should also be able to get a height adjustable stool/bench for this kind of money too, if that appeals to you.

If however you would rather spend much less, then anything between £15-£25 will get you what you need. For players on the move then you can easily pick up a great portable stool for this price.

The midrange option at around £50 is typically what most people spend. The Tiger adjustable piano stool sits perfectly at that price, and offers great quality. It basically has everything you need with a thick comfortable padded seat, height adjustable – and looks great!

Click here to look at my recommended pianos and keyboards.