Casio SA-76 44 Review

We rated this Casio SA-76 44 8/10. This little 44-key keyboard was designed for kids and does exactly what it was meant to do. With easy-to-navigate controls and simple sounds, the Casio SA-76 is a niche kid instrument that we approve of. But, because the keyboard is so small, there literally isn’t very much room for piano students to grow. That’s why we rated it an 8/10. But, it’s a cute and high-quality little instrument overall!

Introduction

Casio was first founded in 1964 in Tokyo, Japan. The brand was founded by Tadao Kashio Toshio Kashio. They produce everything from phones to calculators to instruments and cameras. But they are especially known for their piano keyboards.

The Casio SA-76 44-key mini personal keyboard is a cute little electric keyboard for those who are just starting out. It’s easy to use and is rated pretty high for the price point. Let’s dive in, and see if this instrument is the right pick for you. For years, musicians have been captivated by the keyboards made by Casio. So let’s see what the Casio SA-76 44 has to offer.

Overview

Here’s what this Casio has to say about itself:

“Casio SA-76 44-Key Mini Personal Keyboard”

Musical Fun Starts Here:

Designed for little fingers, but with lots of features to keep the whole family entertained, the SA-76 44 Mini Keyboard from Casio is a colorful and fun introduction to music.

Use the 44 mini keys to explore any of the 100 built-in sounds, such as Pianos, Guitars, Saxophones, and much more. You can play any melody you like or teach yourself to play a song from the included music songbook.”

This description sounds honest enough to me. In addition, Casio is a large and reputable name brand. Now, on to the features! 

Features

Casio SA-76 44 mini-keyboard is Easy to use and carry: The electric piano is very small and hence it is very easy to carry. Since the piano has 44 mini keys it is perfect for beginners with little fingers to use. The mini-keys make it easier for a young player to focus on hand and finger placement. They won’t have to worry about big stretches as they would with full-sized keys. In addition to all this, the piano weighs less than 4 pounds which make it an ideal product for young children. 

Kid-Friendly Controls: The controls on the piano are very easy to use. It’s simple to pull up a specific sound or rhythm pattern.  

A Plethora of Sound Options: The piano really treats the kids here. The Casio SA 76 has 100 voices. It also features 5 drum pads, 50 rhythms so that you can play to any beat you like. Here are some of the examples of rhythms that you will find in the Casio SA-76: Ballads, salsa, waltz, and more. 

In addition to the rhythmic backing options, there are also ten preset songs. These practice songs vary in tempo and style and will help the littles learn. 

The Rehearsal System: This piano has a Rehearsal system. What that means is that, when the piano is in this mode, it acts as your tutorial. Rehearsal mode helps young players learn how to coordinate using both their left and right hands, individually and together. 

The Value of Buying A Brand Name: Casio has been in the industry for several decades now and it makes a mean electric piano. While it might not be the top of the line (of course not, this is a kids piano!) you can rest assured that you are purchasing a high-quality, brand-name item. 

Casio SA-76 44 Specifications

• Keys: 44
• Weight: 3.1 pounds
• Dimensions: 23 13/16″ x 8 5/16″ x 2 1/4″
• Sounds: 100
• Drum Beats: 50
• Songs: 10
• Drum Pads: 5

Who Is It Suitable For?

The Casio SA-76 44 is best suited for little hands, just as the description says. An adult beginner is probably going to want a bigger keyboard with higher quality. But getting this Casio for a little one is a perfectly respectable choice. Parents are all-too-aware of how expensive hobbies can get, as well as how fast children are known for dropping them. If you get the SA-76 for a child, you will be able to provide them with a shocking gift, without breaking the bank. If they really take to the piano, you can always upgrade later. 

Pros and Cons

Pros

• The  Casio SA-76 44-Key is very portable, so you can carry it almost anywhere!
• It is very easy to use, so even beginners can operate it with ease
• The piano has built-in tutorials
• It has 100 voices, so nobody will be getting bored anytime soon!
• It has 50 drum patterns and 5 drum pads. Rhythmic exposure is essential for musical development, especially on a percussion instrument like the piano
• You can plug in headphones into the headphone jack and practice without disturbing your friends, family, or neighbors

Cons

• Product quality
• There’s limited polyphony
• There’s no sustain pedal
• Quiet speakers
• Number of keys
• There is no touch sensitivity
• The metronome does not click
• Power cord not included
• There is no recording capability

In all honesty, the piano quality could be much better. The speakers are not loud enough for many customers’ tastes. That being said, you can plug in an amplifier… But I’m going to play devil’s advocate again here. So this is a beginner’s piano. If you’re a beginner, you probably don’t have an amp just lying around. So a $50 piano sounds like a great deal…Until that piano needs an amp to go along with it. Now you have at least an over $100 investment, in what you thought was going to be a $50 investment.

The critic in me says that it would be best to look to the higher-quality Casio, even if it is just one or two levels up. In addition, the power adapter has to be purchased separately. Ideally, when I purchase a piano, I was to be able to use it right away. Not to have to page through Amazon or call up Guitar Center, looking fervently for a power source for my new toy. 

In addition to this, there is only 8 note polyphony and no sustain pedal. Any serious piano student needs a sustain pedal. 

The next issue that I have with this piano is that it only has 44 keys. So, if you choose to start a student on this and they do become relatively serious about the piano, you’re going to want to upgrade later. This is because the full-sized piano is 88 keys. That’s twice as many keys! The only way a serious player can really get a feel for the piano is to feel a full keyboard, spatially speaking. 

The list really does go on here. This Casio does not have touch-sensitive keys. While I don’t necessarily say weighted, graded keys are absolutely necessary for a beginner, touch-sensitivity, to me, is a must-have. New students need to learn this essential part of the piano: The harder you press the keys, the louder the sound. The same goes for vice-versa. 

Another essential piece that they need is the metronome. While this Casio SA does have a metronome, it is only visual. Feeling and hearing the click of the metronome is so important for piano beginners. If the metronome is only visually active, the student will only ever feel the beat when they are looking at the light. So, when they start to get distracted and have fun with the silly sounds and drum rhythms? They’ve now lost the metronome…

Another con is that there is no recording capability. But, chances are, you only are going to want to get a keyboard to record with if you are an adult. And this keyboard isn’t made for adults (as some other blogs but try to convince you..Anyways!)

I’m not saying the Casio SA 76 mini-keyboard is a bad choice. (Although I have to say, the more research I do on this one, the more mixed feelings I have about it…) What I’m saying is that there are better choices out there. If you’re going to get a Casio, go ahead and save up. Start with a $100 one, unless you really, really can’t afford it. Remember, always get the best that you can afford. If the Casio SA-76 44 is the best you can afford, then there’s your answer. 

Quick View 

Casio SA-76 44: Unboxing and Listening

I’m a big believer that you should hear and research before you buy. In fact, Stu Harrison with Merriam pianos has a helpful, in-depth video on this particular Casio.

If you don’t have the time to listen to it, it’s your lucky day. I watched it for you! Stu did complain that there is no power cord. On the upside, he mentions that this piano is actually in tune with a true middle C. That was a pro that didn’t even occur to me until he said it! So, since it is a children’s instrument, this is a pretty impressive thing. 

He comments that the tones are pretty basic, and I agree. But really, for a $50 kids keyboard, it’s not bad. 

Want to hear this instrument in action? Just click on the Youtube link, and fast-forward to around 5 minutes. You can hear him playing using the basic piano tones, as well as on a more bluesy, old-style piano sound. So what sounds will you hear in this unboxing? You can hear him riffle through:

• 1-11 are basic piano tones
• After that, there are church bells and organ sounds
• Next up are strings (These aren’t very good in my opinion)

There are also brass and mallet instrument sounds, but he doesn’t play them in the unboxing. For instance, 7 minutes in, he shows us a sampling of the rhythm patterns from ‘Pattern mode’. They’re a little cheesy, but they’re more than enough for a kid! 

He also mentions a soundbank option, which you can hear at about 9.5 minutes. I think this feature is really great because it allows students more exposure to music, with everything from The Little Brown Jug to Tchaikovsky. 

SA-76 Mini-Keyboard Conclusion

So, now you know all there is to know about the Casio SA-76 44. Casio is a reputable brand name, but here at BestPianoKeyboards, we think that it isn’t the best this brand has to offer. Certainly, this electric piano is fun for kids and piano newbies. But the short keyboard, among other features (such as the visual metronome and small speakers) unfortunately, makes this piano very limiting. That being said, you know what you want in an instrument. I’m just here to offer my two (musical) cents! 

Thanks for stopping by our blog. Until next time!

8Expert Score

We rated this Casio SA 8/10. This little 44-key keyboard was designed for kids and does exactly what it was meant to do. With easy-to-navigate controls and simple sounds, the Casio SA-76 is a niche kid instrument that we approve of. But because the keyboard is so small, there literally isn’t very much room for piano students to grow. That’s why we rated it an 8/10- But it’s a cute and high-quality little instrument overall!

PROS

• The Casio SA 76 44-Key is very portable, so you can carry it almost anywhere!
• It is very easy to use, so even beginners can operate it with ease
• The piano has built-in tutorials
• It has 100 voices, so nobody will be getting bored anytime soon!
• It has 50 drum patterns and 5 drum pads. Rhythmic exposure is essential for musical development, especially on a percussion instrument like the piano
• You can plug in headphones into the headphone jack and practice without disturbing your friends, family, or neighbors

CONS

• Product quality
• There’s limited polyphony
• There’s no sustain pedal
• Quiet speakers
• Number of keys
• There is no touch sensitivity
• The metronome does not click
• Power cord not included
• There is no recording capability