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Keyboards - The musical journey

Discussion in 'Fred's House of Pancakes' started by Comrad_Durandal, May 8, 2012.

  1. Comrad_Durandal

    Comrad_Durandal New Member

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    I am not sure how many people out here in Prius land are versed in musical instruments, but I figured since I was already a member of this community - I'd pose the question here for some opinions. I recently made the decision to learn how to play keyboard (piano), and purchased a Yamaha PSR-E423 61-key keyboard. While very nice for a beginner, I find there are songs I cannot play because I lack the octave range(s) to play them properly. I am also finding the action of the keys to be a hindrance, since there is no feedback at all like there is on a piano. The keys are also slimmer, which makes hitting them accidentally much more likely.

    A piece of advice that was I was given is that if I move up to another keyboard, that I should seriously consider overbuying for my needs - since it's better to grow into an instrument versus outgrow it. With this mantra in mind, I was pondering moving to a full 88 key keyboard workstation like the Yamaha Motif series - though I am open to other suggestions as well. A big part of my slow moving is the fact that I need to save up the money to purchase it - and I am banking on the fact that my PSR-E423 will be almost worthless as a trade.

    So, any musical instrument advice out there? :confused:
     
  2. ny_rob

    ny_rob Senior Member

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    If you have the room for it- buy a used upright piano...

    My daughter was very interested in learning to play piano, but just was not happy with our large digital keyboard. So, before Christmas 2010 I began perusing the local Craigslist ad's and found a beautiful 1960's era upright for $350. It was in such nice condition that I didn't even try to get a better price.
    We had it moved to our house by pro piano movers and we got her weekly in home piano lessons on her own piano. Well, it's a year and a half later and she still looks forward to her weekly lessons- she's gone through three books so far- and can now compose and play her own original score. I strongly believe that she would have lost interest if she was still using the digital keyboard, but the real piano has such a nice feel to the keys that it's just a pleasure to play.

    Once an a while she goes back to play the digital keyboard- but quickly shifts back to the real piano because of the feel of the real keys and the gorgeous sounds it produces.

    Take a look at your local Craigslist- you'll be amazed at the low prices of uprights.
     
  3. macmaster05

    macmaster05 Senor Member

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    Please tell me, what's your budget?

    Generally, I don't recommend purchasing a "toy" keyboard (those that typically sell new in the $500 range) even for beginners. A frustrating experience will make it difficult to learn. If you are unmotivated by your equipment, it's going to hinder your learning. If the sound and feel isn't right, forget about it. If the keyboard isn't even 88 keys, forget about it. Ok I know this sounds snobby, but it's not - piano sellers will tell you the same thing. I've had some experience over the years.

    Like all things, you get what you pay for. Yamaha makes good keyboards and great keyboards, and then - no offense (!) - but keyboards like the one you have. I would recommend for you the Yamaha Arius line. They sell for around $1200-$1800 new. Prices are always negotiable at the store, keep that in mind.

    The reason I recommend the Arius is because it is Yamaha's "entry" level digital piano. The Arius pianos look like real pianos with a full 88-note keyboard and fully weighted keys. The technology in these have many of the same features seen in the more expensive Yamaha Clavinovas, which sell for $2500+. (Just to give you an idea, I'd say an Arius is sort of like a Toyota, but the Clavinovas are like the Lexus or BMW. Most of the time, it's the same engine and parts - just adjusted/tuned differently and maybe nicer materials, newer technology in the Clavs. Also, Clavinovas are the standard in teaching institutions/universities. Arius' are more for elementary schools, etc.)

    [​IMG]

    To buy an Arius, you can go to Guitar Center or find it online with the prices shown. For the Clavinovas, however, you'll have to go to an authorized Yamaha dealer (usually most piano stores) as they don't show the price unless you walk into the store and talk with them. Ok so you don't want to pay for an Arius. That's fine. There are other options, like Kawai. I'm suggesting that you should get something like this.

    My point is, you want something that you are happy to play on - which is going to be something that's nice. If that means saving up some money, do it. It's worth it. You'll probably have to spend at least $1000 for something that looks, feels, and sounds like a real grand piano - or close to it. The Arius does a good job at that. The Clavinova is even better. There are other options too, like Kawai's CE series. The point is though, I would definitely look for something with:

    - Fully weighted keys
    - Full 88-key
    - AT LEAST 128-note polyphony ("polyphony" means how many keys are you can have sounding off at once - probably nothing for you to worry about, but it makes a difference)

    The advice you received that you want to "grow into" a piano, is spot on. Consider it an investment. My final advice is to try out the keyboards in the store (whether it is like a store like guitar center, or a fancier piano dealer). This is critical. Descriptions of technology are nice but without getting the feel of the piano, it's impossible to make a judgement. Everybody is different, everybody will like something different.
     
  4. Comrad_Durandal

    Comrad_Durandal New Member

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    I should have mentioned that I already have access to an upright piano. Sadly, it's in rather poor interior condition that repairs will be quite expensive (haven't priced it yet, but I'm told by preliminary descriptions that it could be close to a grand to fix and tune) and in it's current location, the environment is doing the most damage to it (basement which floods and is basically uncontrolled humidity). Mix this with the fact that most of the music I want to perform is modern contemporary rock - a lot of the material is written with a synth or digital keyboard in mind - and a standard acoustic piano just doesn't match the modern keyboard for my needs.

    In the piano's defense, I -do- love the presence of sound it gives - and if I can get it repaired and moved cheaply, I will definitely try to keep it around, if only for the times that I want to play just a piano without the speakers, sequencers, sound modulation equipment and gear involved with a professional workstation. Sometimes, a piano is the only thing that will do - I can accept that. Where I have run into trouble is people insisting a keyboard -is NOT- an instrument - it's a statement I powerfully disagree with.

    I am a techie person so keyboards don't scare me - I'd say my primary barrier to motivation right now is the fact that the keys have no feel to them, something I've noticed isn't a problem on more professional grade performance instruments. To answer Macmaster05's budget question, I figure a budget of $5000.00 would cover the keyboard, stand, monitors (or speakers), and other accessories to get me going.

    Preliminarily, I found I like Yamaha's Motif XF8 keyboard (though the on-board menus and programming is tedious), as well as Roland's Fantom G8 (a bit long in the tooth and the sound isn't all that great for the price), or the Korg Kronos 88 in the 'keyboard workstation' family. All have capabilities that are seriously impressive, and the Korg's key feel is just about right for me. In terms of 'professional stage pianos', I really like the feel of the Roland RD-700NX though I've heard Nord makes a good stage piano as well if I don't mind the complexity.
     
  5. macmaster05

    macmaster05 Senor Member

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    Hahaha wow. $5000? Ok I think I need to get your story straight again.

    You said "a big part of my slow moving is the fact that I need to save up the money to purchase it" so I thought we weren't working with a lot of money here, my bad. $5000 is a lot and you have a lot of options with that. I forgot what you really wanted was a "workstation", which isn't really what Yamaha classical pianos (Arius, Clavinovas) are used for or can do. $5000 would have gotten you a pretty nice Clavinova...DARN! Hahaha.

    Speakers? Sorry I'm not an expert in speakers or electronics for that matter. I am much more into the classical-style pianos (not necessarily classical MUSIC, however!) which have great speakers built into them, already meant to amplify a room and simulate grand piano sound.

    For the type of keyboard you want you definitely need to go to a music store like Guitar Center to demo the models, if you haven't already.
     
  6. macmaster05

    macmaster05 Senor Member

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    Ok I'll add something else I forgot to say:

    Given that you're "still learning" piano, I still think I'd recommend a full size real piano or something like it. You don't have to go all out and buy a nice piano, but I don't think a Workstation is as good of a learning tool for basic piano. Maybe it is, I never learned on one. I would learn the traditional way, then take your talents to a workstation.

    If your goal is just to hammer a few notes or sounds to accompany your songs, a workstation serves that purpose. If your goal is to really learn piano though, you gotta go with a full sized keyboard. It seems to me like you're "jumping" steps. I might be wrong though. Maybe you could elaborate on your situation more...
     
  7. Comrad_Durandal

    Comrad_Durandal New Member

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    I originally started out with the model I have now because I wasn't sure I wanted to learn all that was involved with playing the keyboard and I figured $200 was not terribly outlandish if I just couldn't keep with it and garage-sale'ed the item later. However, through self-instruction - I found that I really like the possibilities a keyboard allows me - but my keyboard wasn't designed for real heavy use, so I hit the limits of its capabilities pretty quickly. I still use it, and am still in the process of learning - so it hasn't stopped me dead in my tracks yet.

    The budget upper end was set when I went exploring what kind of keyboards were used professionally - what was used by artists I listen to, what the gamut was in the industry in terms of price, what was commonly available, etc. I realized that professional keyboards of any kind didn't possess internal speakers, leaving that up to the musician to use what they needed for sound.

    My basic issue is that once you get into the professional side of keyboards - the road splits, with keyboard workstations, studio recording, and small performance down one fork and professional stage performance keyboards have a handful of professional-grade voices on-board for live concert use. Since I don't know what way I lean, I looked to my gadget-loving roots. I didn't see myself giving concerts or performance - so that kind of narrowed it down to the workstation crowd. Workstations are, of course, the more expensive route - so I had to set a final budget that reflected this reality.

    I'd had a chance to sit down with a bunch of these units - demoing where I could, and there are features I liked about them all. Sadly, it seems rental of workstations or performance keyboards isn't done (but they will gladly rent me a Steinway - go figure) so I couldn't rent one at a time, playing them and seeing what I liked given my constraints of my home environment.

    Realistically, $5000 is a lot of money - and I know I will have to save up over some time to afford it without endangering myself financially. But it doesn't mean I endeavor to spend $5k no matter what. Obviously, if I love something that isn't near that cost - the rest will go toward other things. I just figure if costs exceed that amount, then I need a limit where I can say 'no more'
     
  8. caffeinekid

    caffeinekid Duct Tape Extraordinaire

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    I would certainly recommend the Motif. I use a combination of Nords, Korgs, software synths and a Motif. The Motif is probably my favorite for stand alone applications with the Nord coming in at a close second. Go to any music store that sells the line and try the different options- some are better weighted than others. You can get an XF8 for around $3K, which IMO is a nice round price for a workstation that will last for years. There are also less expensive options with decent keys, but stand one side by side with a Motif and you will see where your money goes.
     
  9. ny_rob

    ny_rob Senior Member

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    Guess they've never heard of Keith Emerson, Tony Banks, Herbie Hancock, Rick Wakeman, etc... then :rockon:
     
  10. Comrad_Durandal

    Comrad_Durandal New Member

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    Usually the people who go into the whole keyboard vs. piano war also argue that there has not been any music written since the middle of the 1800s either and they take an equally dim view of electric guitars, bass guitars, drum kits, and the saxophone - to name a few.

    Basically, they've heard of them - and hate them with a passion.
     
  11. ny_rob

    ny_rob Senior Member

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    Well, I feel sorry for them then... cause they're missing out on some fantastic music!

    Sometimes I pose the rhetorical question to my kids "imagine a world without music?" to me- it would be unbearable....
     
  12. macmaster05

    macmaster05 Senor Member

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    Well myself being classically trained, I don't mind the electronic keyboard voice at all. It's a perfectly good style of music. I just don't want to play it on my piano - I think it sounds gimmicky when I try it.

    Even the higher end Yamaha Clavinova CVP series with instrumental accompanies and drum beats are just too much for me. To me, they are outsanding pianos simply because the key response is improved and grand piano voice sounds better over the lower models, but I personally don't care for all the buttons, switches, and dials that allow you to play techno-style music.
     
  13. Comrad_Durandal

    Comrad_Durandal New Member

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    I love a lot of styles of music, and the reason I figured I was better shooting for a higher end keyboard is because I could shift from playing classical to modern to jazz to any other style I wished without running into a genre of music for which the instrument was not designed. I've heard some wonderful classical music played on some of the most complex professional workstations out there (Roland G8, Yamaha Motif XF, Kurtzweil, etc). Just because you HAVE the arpeggiator doesn't mean you should USE the arpeggiator - control the power. ;)