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
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So, are there really ways around the difficulty of playing the piano due to short fingers and small hands? Yes, it can be done. This post will help musicians, music students, and music teachers alike. Read more to learn how it works. Estimated reading time 4 minutes.
Ways Around the Difficulty of Playing the Piano Due to Short Fingers and Small Hands Read More »
How does your brain learn to play the piano with two hands? Daniel Coyle, in “The Talent Code,” tells us generally how the brain acquires skill, and I’ll give you specific tips for two-handed playing. Read more to find out how it works. Estimated reading time 4 minutes
How Does Your Brain Learn to Play the Piano with Two Hands? Read More »
Frustrated with your out of tune synth chords? Do you want your brass, woodwind, and string programs to sound better? It’s not only the program you select which controls how your synth sounds, the tuning has an impact as well. I created Supplemented Equal Temperament (SET) to produce chords that sound better in tune than equal temperament (the piano’s tuning). Read more to learn how SET minor keys work.
Estimated reading time 5 minutes.
How Supplemented Equal Temperament Minor Keys Work Read More »
Have you tried retuning your synth, but gotten frustrated by the limited number of keys? Do you want your keyboard’s chords to sound stronger when playing brass, string, and organ sounds? Supplemented Equal Temperament (SET) is a new and powerful tuning system that allows your chords to sound stronger and more in tune. Kurzweil’s PC3K synth also makes it a breeze to switch keys while using SET. Read more to learn how to change keys in Supplemented Equal Temperament. Estimated reading time 7 minutes.
How to Change Keys in Supplemented Equal Temperament Read More »
What are sharps and flats, where did they come from, and how can we make it easier to read them? Read more to learn how to color code key signatures. Estimated reading time 3 minutes.
Color Code Key Signatures for LD Students Read More »
Are you passionate about singing? Do you have a hard time singing or playing in tune? Learn the 10 Elements that Impact Singing in Tune. Estimated reading time 14 minutes.
10 Elements that Impact Singing in Tune Read More »
Does your student confuse the notes on the instrument? Learn how color coding musical instruments leads to LD and special needs success. Estimated reading time 4 minutes.
Color Coding Musical Instruments for LD & Special Needs Student Success Read More »
Does your student use the wrong fingers? Color coding the fingers for music learning enables LD students to accurately finger the music for smoother playing and faster response time. Estimated reading time 3 minutes.
Tired of having your guitar or synth sound out of tune? “Intonation and Supplemented Equal Temperament” shows how to make them sound amazing! Estimated reading time 12 minutes.
Intonation and Supplemented Equal Temperament Read More »
Do you want your band to sound better? Have you ever been frustrated that your guitar or keyboard sounds out of tune when you play chords? Learn how to get a killer sound for your band by retuning your keyboards and guitars using Supplemented Equal Temperament. Supplemented Equal Temperament works with equal tempered instruments. It also works with variable pitch instruments such as voices, violins, and winds. Estimated reading time 5 minutes.
Learn How to Get a Killer Sound for Your Band Read More »