could use some beginner keyboard help...

[a3m0n]

hey everyone.  i'm looking to start learning soon, but don't really have the cash to buy and outlandish keyboard. is there a decent keyboard out there (new or used) that i should be keeping a look out for?  any you would recommend?

thanks!

later

[barganax]

a3m0n,
How much do you want to spend?

[Daevren]

Its so hard for young people without parents that love music/have a piano to learn this instrument. I know, it took me a while to get something with 88 keys and hammer-like action(weighted keys).

I am not sure what your interest is, but if its classical repetoire I would avoid spending money on any instrument without 88 keys and weighted keys. Certainly don't buy a new one, that would be a complete waste.


But it also depends on how serious you are. I shouldn't be too hard to find a cheap keyboard someone has gathering dust on the attic or something.

[a3m0n]

i'm not sure barganax.  hopefullly used, under $100, just to learn on.  i dont care about extra voices, just want a good keyboard.

and Daevren, just like when you replyed to my other post asking for help - you give none.  dont post about what you do not know.  i'm 24, and both of my parents love music.  my dad is also a song leader, and my mom grew up in chorus.  did you not read my post at all?  i play three instruments.  i want to learn piano to grow my knowledge.  the reason i want a keyboard, is that i cant quite afford a piano, and you try fitting one in an apartment.  you can take your condecending, snobbish attitude somewhere else.  or actually help.

thank you again barganax, i was going to a music store down the street, then hit the pawn shops.

later

[Daevren]

Snobbish attitude? I suffered for quite a while because I know how hard it is to learn piano if your parents don't have one.

I am just saying that buying a 400 euro/$ keyboard would be a waste. If you get a keyboard get a cheap one. Don't get angry at me because you can't afford a digital or upright. I suffered from the same problem for about two years.


I am not saying you should buy a piano. Maybe you should read my posts instead of complaining. I said that you can't learn piano on an instrument that hasn't got 88 keys and weighted keys.

I am not sure if Barganax send you a PM or not. But he said totally nothing to help you yet. What is your problem? Did you read my critique on Chopin or something? I guess so. I am sorry I tried to help.

[a3m0n]

i'm sorry you suffered not being able to learn to play, but that doesn't mean that everyone learns the same way you do.  i'm sure plenty of people have learned the basics on a cheap, 61 key instrument, and then moved up in the world as their skills improved. 

i don't know much about keyboards, hence why i posted in this forum and asked for advice. i read hammer like, i think of a hammer hitting strings.  i didn't know there was such a monster that mimicked the feel of a piano with weighted keys.  thank you for opening my eyes to this. 

no, barganax didn't send me a pm, but he asked why i was wanting to spend. so i can only assume he was going to take what i told him and hopefully make a recommendation.

sorry for getting riled up, but you posted under an assumption that i was a kid with no experience and no respect for music.  i would appreciate any help you have.  not telling me i will never learn on  a budget keyboard.

later

edit:and also, in reply to your post about intrest and seriousness.  i'm not really sure what type of music i'm intrested in playing.  i guess i'll figure that out after i get the basic stuff knocked out.  and seriousness, i've been wanting to learn piano for a couple of years now.  and yes, i am serious about learning it.  not like a career choice or anything, just for my own personal enjoyment. 

[xvimbi]

sorry for getting riled up, but you posted under an assumption that i was a kid with no experience and no respect for music.  i would appreciate any help you have.  not telling me i will never learn on  a budget keyboard.

later

edit:and also, in reply to your post about intrest and seriousness.  i'm not really sure what type of music i'm intrested in playing.  i guess i'll figure that out after i get the basic stuff knocked out.  and seriousness, i've been wanting to learn piano for a couple of years now.  and yes, i am serious about learning it.  not like a career choice or anything, just for my own personal enjoyment. 

Well, what is it that you want to learn? From what I can tell, you know music from other instruments, so I assume you are mostly interested in the piano as an instrument, not as a tool to learn music. If that's indeed the case, the cheapest, decent keyboards start at around $600. That gives you decent action, but it will be lacking in other aspects that are important in piano playing, such as pedalling.

You won't be able to learn the piano (I mean the very basics of it) on a keyboard that does not have weighted keys. The only alternative is a keyboard with so-called "touch response", i.e. something that will put some resistance up to pressing the keys down. However, I do consider this a non-option for someone who is serious about learning piano.

The best is really to check out pianos in a store for yourself. Play on acoustics, just to see how they feel. make sure you play on different brands, because the action on different brand pianos can be different like day and night. Then check out the Yamaha P series electronic pianos (if you are in the US, go to the nearest GuitarCenter). Then compare to lower-level keyboards, which you can find in any decent electronis store. Then make a decision.

Final thought: in my opinion, something like the Yamaha P-60 is the absolute minimum, and I would consider this inadequate for serious people, but it would get you started.

Hope that helps.

[Daevren]

I don't know why you assumed I thought you were a kid. I just wanted to get out the blunt truth. You can't really learn piano on a normal keyboard. Sure, you can try. But if you are serious, and I assumed you were, you need a cheap digital piano. So all the money spend on a keyboard is wasted money.

But since your instrestest doesn't seem to be the piano repetoire, or you aren't sure yet, maybe a keyboard will work out fine.

[Vanillawafer]

I don't know why you assumed I thought you were a kid. I just wanted to get out the blunt truth. You can't really learn piano on a normal keyboard. Sure, you can try. But if you are serious, and I assumed you were, you need a cheap digital piano. So all the money spend on a keyboard is wasted money.

But since your instrestest doesn't seem to be the piano repetoire, or you aren't sure yet, maybe a keyboard will work out fine.

Wow daevren, you seem to make lots of friends around here... what is with your attitude, and thinking no one but you has a love for music... I remember you saying the same type of thing to me... Get over yourself!

a3m0n,
I grew up learning to play on a grand piano, and not that I'm out on my own I can afford one, so I play on a Yamaha p-60 Digital Stage Piano, and it is excellent... I got mine for $500.00 USD and it has the best feel you can get in a digital piano IMHO.  I tried out a lot of keyboard/digital pianos, and the P-Series Yamaha had the best action.  Good luck to ya

[barganax]

a3m0n,
I have been away from this site for a while, hence the slow response.

Unfortunately I have no idea what to suggest with a budget of around $100. If you can increase your budget, then I would look into an entry level stage piano as the other people suggested. Yamaha and Roland stage pianos are both very popular.

[a3m0n]

hmm, the P-60 seems to come rather highly recommended here.  its $746 over at musiciansfriend.com - https://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=home/search/detail/base_pid/707423/

i'll have to look around town, see if somone has it cheaper - or used.  still don't think i can get $500 out of the the checkbook (my wife is the finance department around here). 

thanks for the help everyone. 

later

[Vanillawafer]

hmm, the P-60 seems to come rather highly recommended here.  its $746 over at musiciansfriend.com - https://www.musiciansfriend.com/srs7/g=home/search/detail/base_pid/707423/

i'll have to look around town, see if somone has it cheaper - or used.  still don't think i can get $500 out of the the checkbook (my wife is the finance department around here). 

thanks for the help everyone. 

later

Not sure if it helps, but I got mine at GuitarCenter by just asking for that price, they are known for negotiating with you... good luck

[Daevren]

Wow daevren, you seem to make lots of friends around here... what is with your attitude, and thinking no one but you has a love for music... I remember you saying the same type of thing to me... Get over yourself!

My taste in and love for music is irrelevant. It is just that most people underestimate this. Maybe I hate music. I just think I know that for a musician love and knowledge of music is essential.

I don't see why someone assumes that I think I am somehow better than someone else. I never said anything to suggest that.

I don't see any topics with people asking for hugs and sweet talk. So I don't give any. I do see people asking for information. So I reply with the information I think is important and true. I don't understand why I would offend people.

I really hope that A3m0n can find something cheap so he can really learn to play.