The archive contains posts with teaching tips for playing and notating keyboard music. Plus, there are posts that deal with traditional music theory and also the theory of micro tuning keyboards.
Do you want to know how to choose an electronic keyboard instrument?
A keyboard is a device that contains keys, such as the one I am typing on now. However, in music the term keyboard gets used from keyboard instruments. The name comes from the black and white keys that control the sound making part of the instrument.
Instruments such as the piano, organ, and harpsichord get termed keyboards instruments. Nevertheless, these days when someone talks about a keyboard, they mean an electronic keyboard.
The forerunner of the electronic keyboard is the electric organ (such as the Hammond organs) at least in its function within popular music, if not in its structure.
A few classes of keyboard exist:
The first group I called budget instruments, because I thought that sounded nicer than cheap instruments. In fact, budget keyboards come in a wide range of quality and price. They serve an important niche as low cost, beginner level instruments suitable for lessons and practicing.
Instruments adequate for lessons will have 40 to 60 keys, touch sensitivity (plays soft and loud), built-in speakers, and a plug-in pedal. Avoid instruments that have the mini keys as students will develop the wrong feel for the keyboard with the smaller keys.
The next level up in sound, playability, and price, digital pianos as a rule have a full 88 keys. They also feature touch sensitivity, weighted keys (feels more like a piano), and built-in speakers. Often, they include a frame that may, or may not, mimic the piano’s outline, as well as having built-in pedal(s).
However, more often than not digital pianos have a limited number of internal sounds. Also, the cost for these instruments vary considerably. Some are high quality with the higher price tag that goes with it. While other digital pianos clearly cater to the budget market.
The workhorses of professional players, stage pianos usually have more sounds, higher quality sounds, and higher quality playability. Designed to be plugged into an amp or PA, they do not come with built in speakers.
Basically, synths are like stage pianos, but they have the means for making new sounds. Synths create sounds programs in a number of ways, such as sampling, FM synthesis, and subtractive synthesis, to name a few. This means that a player can make one-of-a-kind sounds for either recording or live concerts.
What you plan to use the keyboard for will decide what type of instrument you get.
© 2021 Geoffrey Keith
Back to the Successful Music Student Blogs page
“Why is EADGBE the unquestioned standard guitar tuning?” How you tune affects both the sound and playability of the guitar. There are many tunings, but EADGBE is the indisputable standard. What makes it so popular among guitarists? Keep reading to find out. Estimated reading time 3 minutes.
Power chords are an integral part of rock music’s electric guitar sound. However, you only get that exact sound when you use power chords with distortion. Why? Because a distorted electric guitar doesn’t sound quite as good with full major and minor harmonies. Why? Keep reading “Can Somebody Explain Why Power Chords Sound Powerful?” to learn why these powerful little two and three note harmonies work. Estimated reading time 2 minutes.
“What’s the basic difference between Drop D vs Open D tuning?” Both are popular alternate guitar tunings. However, which string notes you alter, and how you play them once you’re done, will give them very different sounds. As a bonus, I’ve also added sections on Double Drop D and DADFAD tuning. Keep reading to learn what they are, and how you play them. Estimated reading time 3 minutes.
“Which notes are authentic blue notes?” The following post clears up the confusion around blue notes and has an example of a popular song that uses them. Keep reading to learn how it works. Estimated reading time 3 minutes.
Have you ever wondered what the word intonation means? In music, it’s an important part of performance for many instruments, and it impacts all instruments to one degree of another. Keep reading “What Does Intonation Mean and Why Is It Essential in Music?” to learn more. Estimated reading time 4 minutes.
Do you want a clear understanding of what the word resonate means in music? Music has an amazing capacity to affect our emotions. However, the word resonate can have both objective and subjective meanings when it comes to music. Keep reading “What’s the Meaning of Resonate in the Context of Music?” to learn both definitions. Estimated reading time 3 minutes.
Do you want a better understanding of musical pitch? In the field of music, there exists a relationship between acoustics, music pitch, and sound vibration frequencies. From the moving passages of a string quartet to the driving pulse of a rhythm section, life is filled with an enormous array of musical sounds that you can enjoy. Keep reading to learn how music pitch works. Estimated reading time 3 minutes.
Have you ever wondered why a chord works with one instrument’s tone color (or a particular timbre of voice) but not another? Do you want to know what to listen for when tuning up your chords? Timbre and harmony are intimately related and understanding that relationship will deepen a composer’s knowledge of music. Also, it’ll help vocals, woodwinds, brass, and violins to know what to listen for when tuning up chords. Keep reading to learn the secret relationship of timbre and harmony. Estimated reading time 3 minutes.
“What should I look for in a ‘piano teacher near me’?” Most parents start by doing a web search for a “piano teacher near me” or for “piano lessons near me.” But how do you choose a teacher? Piano lessons cost a lot of money, so finding the right teacher is important. Getting it right can mean the difference between getting a good lesson experience and wasting your money. Read more to learn what you should look for in a “piano teacher near me.” Estimated reading time 4 minutes.
“How do I make any sense of the treble and bass clefs? Why are they so different?” To answer this question, you need to understand the grand staff, the pattern of the clefs, and middle C. Keep reading “Making Sense of Why Treble and Bass Clef Are So Different” to learn how the clefs work. Estimated reading time 3 minutes.