So You Want to Buy a Keyboard – the Musical Kind

So you want to buy a keyboard – the musical kind

When you enter the music shop and step into the keyboard section you could be forgiven for thinking that you have stepped into the cockpit of a supersonic plane with all the bells, knobs, flashing lights and seductive sounds. Your eyes alight on that big gleaming monster in the corner which will do just about everything, you can sound like a orchestra, rock band, it will even make the tea if you push the right button. But then, the one next to it catches your eye, and the guitar voice sounds just like Eric Clapton, oh, but wait look at this one it has the funkiest sounds you have every heard in your life. Before you know where you are your head is spinning off your shoulders your ears feel as though they have been on an assault course and you have bought all of them! Stop – time out, let’s have a think about this.

Buying a keyboard is 100% based on what you intend to do with it, but if you’re just getting started, and not sure, here are a few things you might like to think about before buying.

1. What do you want the keyboard for – is it just for home enjoyment orare you looking to join a band, are you going to perform in public as a solo performer?

2. Are you looking for a keyboard which contains built in rhythms which means it supplies all the accompaniment played with the left hand, like having your own backing band with drums and orchestral or guitar backing, or are you looking for a synth type keyboard without rhythm accompaniment, which will play incredible sounds and can be edited and programmed to make even more new and unusual sounds or played as a straight piano keyboard?

3 Is it user friendly – by this I mean are you able to access the rhythm section and voices easily and is there a screen which shows at a glance which voices and rhythms are being used at the time, can you alter the instruments being used easily.

4. Does it have its own internal speakers or will you need external amplification. This point may be stating the obvious but it is an important factor especially if you are looking to use the keyboard at home and have limited space. If on the other hand you are going to be playing for dances or in clubs then obviously you will need substantial external amplification.

5. Importantly how much do you want to spend? Perhaps a good idea would be to do some window shopping to gain an idea of how much keyboards typically cost and then set a maximum price you are willing to spend so as to stay within budget.

The dilemma is that there is just such a massive selection available these days catering to just about every type of user, so when you walk into the shop and are met by the awe inspiring display of keyboards it really is very easy to get carried away, especially when the keyboard is demonstrated by a sales person who can play well. It is easy to fall in love with the incredible sounds (and they are many), and hear other features without realising how frustrating those other features can be to find and use yourself.

My advice as a keyboard player would be to look towards the middle range keyboard, which is not overly complicated but has enough to keep you interested. The last thing you want is to spend money and then become fed up or bored either because the keyboard does not have enough voices or rhythms to explore or because it is too complicated and you feel frustrated because you can’t fathom out all that it does. You can always trade up as you become more advanced with your keyboard skills.

Nothing can beat the pleasure of playing your own music so happy shopping and I wish you many happy hours of playing.

For more tips on shopping visit http://www.wizco.co.uk/shopping/index.html

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