The electronic keyboard originated from the pipe organ. The electronic keyboard has a wide sound range and rich harmonies. It can play the effect of an orchestra and has extremely rich expressive power. It can also imitate a variety of timbres, and can even produce sounds that cannot be produced by conventional instruments (such as chorus, wind and rain, cosmic sounds, etc.). When playing solo, the electronic keyboard can be freely accompanied by a rhythm accompaniment similar to a percussion sound, which is suitable for playing modern music with strong rhythm. The electronic keyboard is also equipped with multiple functional devices such as reverb, echo, sustain, tremolo wheel and modulation wheel, which can be used freely when expressing various emotions.

The electronic keyboard is the backbone of the electroacoustic band and is often used to solo the main melody accompanied by rich harmonies. It also often appears as a solo instrument, with distinctive characteristics of the times. However, the limitations of the electronic keyboard are also very obvious: the melody and harmony lack volume changes, and are too consonant and single; when imitating various wind and string instruments, the technique is slightly monotonous.

The piano is a keyboard instrument with keys that pull hammers to strike the strings. Piano, violin, and classical guitar are known as the three major musical instruments in the world. What people call the king of musical instruments is the piano, followed by the violin, and the prince of musical instruments is the classical guitar.

The piano has a wide sound range, a loud, crisp tone, full of variety and strong expressiveness. When playing solo, it can play a variety of majestic, broad, and lyrical music, as well as cheerful, dexterous, and highly technical cadenzas; the piano can play a huge role in the band. It is also often used as an accompaniment instrument. It is widely used for solo, ensemble, accompaniment and other performances, and is very convenient for composing and rehearsing music. Among thousands of ancient and modern musical instruments in various countries around the world, the modern piano is hailed as the "King of Musical Instruments" by many musicians. This is not only because of its largest size and the most complex internal structure, but also because of its excellent quality. Its comprehensive performance and wide range of uses are unmatched by any other instrument (except for a few pipe organs in churches and concert halls).

The difference between them is that the electronic keyboard has automatic accompaniment, but the piano does not. Therefore, the electronic keyboard can play the effect of a band, but the piano can only play the effect of a solo. The automatic chord accompaniment of the electronic keyboard is relatively easy to play, but the left-hand accompaniment of the piano is difficult. An electronic keyboard can also play piano music, but a piano cannot play electronic keyboard music.

In terms of dynamic response, the two are comparable.

In terms of expressive power, the electronic keyboard is better than the piano. The piano is used for lyrical and classical music, while the electronic keyboard has rich performance in lyrical, cheerful, classical, pop, rock and special styles of music.

In terms of knowledge, electronic keyboard students are good at electronic keyboard and piano, while piano students can only play piano unless they have learned electronic keyboard.