Unlocking the full potential of your keyboard performances hinges on having the right gear. That’s where expression pedals come in—they’re the secret sauce for infusing your music with creativity and depth.
In this post, we’ll take a dive into the world of keyboard expression pedals, spotlighting some of the best picks on the market. From premium to budget-friendly options, we’re here to help you discover the perfect pedal to level up your keyboard playing.
Let’s dive in!
Best Keyboard Expression Pedals
Yamaha FC7 Volume Expression Pedal
Yamaha’s FC7 Volume Expression Pedal has earned its popularity among keyboardists for some very good reasons. In addition to offering versatile functions such as volume and effect control, it is incredibly well-built and sturdy, promising years of dependable use.
Beyond being a volume controller, it offers the capability to adjust the effects on your keyboard or digital piano. One unique feature of this expression pedal is the “fortissimo function,” which allows you to emphasize specific sections of your performance with ease. This really makes the pedal a valuable tool for dynamic and expressive playing.
This heavy-duty pedal, weighing just 1.5 pounds, is designed to stay firmly in place during use, which I think is an important feature for convenient use of the pedal during performances. Plus, its 5-foot cable and standard 1/4″ jacks ensure compatibility with a wide range of instruments.
Overall, it also has a pretty good response curve, which is a huge plus for smooth and precise control over your keyboard’s volume and effects. One thing to note is that it lacks a polarity switch or a range adjustment knob, but I don’t think these are deal breakers considering the durability, functionality, and performance this pedal offers at such an affordable price point.
M-Audio EX-P Expression Pedal
If you’re on a budget, you should definitely check out The M-Audio EX-P Expression Pedal, which perfectly combines quality, functionality, and versatility at an incredibly affordable price. It is one of the best deals if you’re looking for a budget expression pedal for your keyboard.
It allows for real-time manipulation of various assignable controls such as volume, modulation, or panning. You can simply assign your desired control or parameter while performing. It functions very smoothly and is straightforward to use.
While it is made of cheaper materials, it still boasts a very robust and molded construction, offering great durability. With its polarity switch, you can easily use it with any keyboard or other instruments.
Another feature I really love about the M-Audio EX-P expression pedal is that it is very convenient to use thanks to its textured footrest that allows for a secure grip. Plus, the smooth and wide-angled action allows you to have precise control over the effects, which greatly adds to the expressiveness of the performances.
Roland EV-5 Expression Pedal
While the Roland EV-5 Expression Pedal is more on the expensive side, its incredible durability and sturdiness make it well worth the investment. Just what you’d expect from Roland—top-notch quality and lasting durability.
However, these are not the only reasons why this pedal has made it into this list. In addition to superior durability, this expression pedal is incredibly functional and straightforward to use.
By offering the flexibility to set the minimum volume according to personal preferences and determining the pedal’s maximum effect, this pedal is perfect for delivering the most dynamic performances. Additionally, it offers four different pre-programmed expression curves, enhancing the range of expression effects.
Overall, if you’re looking for a durable, robust, and functional keyboard expression pedal, you can’t go wrong with the Roland EV-5.
Moog EP-3 Expression Pedal
Moog EP-3 is a superb quality expression pedal that surely won’t disappoint. Overall, it’s an incredibly robust and durable pedal that boasts excellent build quality. It is made of a high-quality plastic that makes it incredibly lightweight while providing sturdiness and durability.
It includes an adjustable output knob that allows players to define their desired musical range, providing increased authority over the pedal’s parameter range. In addition, thanks to its polarity switch, it can work with any kind of keyboard and overall offers great compatibility.
The action is incredibly smooth and its newly designed cam system delivers excellent performance and functionality. Add to these the Moog’s reputation and quality, and you have the perfectly solid and functional keyboard expression pedal at a great price.
Nektar Expression Pedal
Another fantastic budget option, this expression pedal by Nektar is a popular budget option among keyboardists and piano players. Thanks to its polarity switch located at the bottom, it smoothly works with any kind of keyboard.
It also features a sensitivity control that allows the player to fine-tune the pedal’s responsiveness according to their preferences. Overall, this pedal boasts excellent action and has a solid feel.
Despite being very lightweight, it is equipped with rubber feet and an upper contact surface that makes this pedal very stable and comfortable to use.
What makes this pedal such a great deal is that it features excellent build quality for the price that will hold up for many years. Highly recommended.
Wrapping Up
This brings us to the end of our list of the best expression pedals for keyboard. I hope you like these recommendations and please let me know if you have any questions.
