Music. It’s a powerful and incredibly emotional force, and some are gifted with the ability to play instruments and create beautiful works of art. In this case, the keyboard is the instrument of topic, and there have been many moving and mesmerising compositions played upon it and it’s sibling, the piano. But if you wanted to get into playing, how would you decide what to buy for your first keyboard? Here are a couple of tips for you to help with beginning your journey into the musical world.
One of the first things you should consider is the type of keyboard you wish to purchase and become familiar with. It is suggested that you first consider a simple one, opting out of the “bells and whistles”, and instead look for a functional model that just has the basic set of keys. One example is the Yamaha YPT-240. This will allow you to fully learn the basics of playing without attempting involving sound effects and should give a more realistic introduction. Following on from that, it’s a good idea to try and get a keyboard which is the same shape and size as an acoustic piano. This is because the two are similar, and practising on the same thing allows you to eventually progress onto the piano if you should so choose.
Ensuring your keyboard comes with an adjustable stand is also an important aspect of the selection process, as a comfortable playing height is beneficial for a rewarding experience, as playing can be hindered by constantly needing to stand up or position your arms in an awkward way. Furthermore, always purchase a keyboard with weighted keys if possible. Many keyboards may not replicate the weight and feel of piano keys, and thus some learners can miss out on crucial lessons such as finger pressure and technique, things which will be extremely beneficial if you look to progress to a piano one day. Some keyboards will incorporate a touch sensitive key system, which alters the volume depending on sensitivity, so a harder push will create a higher volume, and a softer push will create a quieter sound accordingly. While this is beneficial in some situations, it is a feature that is only usually incorporated into higher end and more expensive keyboards, and is usually absent from normal pianos completely, so it’s a feature to watch out for. However, there are options to disable this on certain makes of piano, particularly digital ones.
So we’ve talked a little about our tips for purchasing the best keyboard for a beginning musician. Simplicity is always best with a beginning tool, taking into consideration that some younger players will be ecstatic to master the basic layout, so to introduce many more unfamiliar elements may have a negative impact on the learning person’s mindset. As keyboards are similar to pianos in many ways, the less differences between them means that the transition to piano will be stress free and shouldn’t be a difficulty for experienced players.
Below are some of the digital Pianos which we have reviewed to help you choose the best option for your needs and budget.
