Buying a keyboard can be a daunting task. The sheer number and range of electronic keyboards on the market today is astronomical. In fact the specifications, gadgets and buttons to press on even the most basic models of keyboard can be overwhelming. If you are a beginner or experienced musician it doesn’t matter, choosing the correct keyboard can be a skill in its own right.

Keyboards differ from normal pianos in quite a few ways. A keyboard tries to mimic the layout and action of a normal piano. Large numbers of people in today’s market prefer the convenience and flexibility they keyboard offers over a traditional piano. Not only can you use a keyboard to create original and varied types of music without the need for multiple instruments will also today’s electronic keyboards actually can last longer and need less maintenance than traditional pianos.

Traditional pianos regularly need maintenance to be carried out by a professional piano tuner. Using a professional piano tuner has become more difficult as this profession is dying out. This also makes using one of these piano tuners expensive.

Electronic keyboards are very user-friendly. You can learn to play a keyboard easily using online resources such as video, audio and e-book. There are many forms of the Internet dedicated to specific models of keyboard so you can always find help and advice easily.

One of the barriers to choosing a good and reliable keyboard is often technophobia. Purchasers are often confused by the array of gadgets and options on keyboard. This should not be a barrier to purchasing a good, brand-name, keyboard. Many of the largest name manufacturers produce excellent and very detailed manuals that are written in plain English.

Traditional pianos will always have an aura of Romanticism but the keyboards of today are more practical and a better choice for today’s living environments such as apartments and small homes. Having a traditional piano can be a burden when you want to move house or even to just find the room to store a piano making it usable and accessible. Electronic keyboards don’t have this problem because most of them come with fold up stands and carrier bags that make storing your keyboard easy and make transporting your electronic keyboard a simple process.

Many of today’s young musicians purchase electronic keyboards over traditional pianos because of cost but then find that they keyboard has more flexibility than a traditional piano and they stay with an electronic keyboard the rest of their musical lives.

Electronic keyboards have many advantages over traditional pianos and the technological side of them should not deter any musician from choosing the good keyboard.

Lisa Beatty is a writer and blogger on many areas including health, fitness, music and parenting. The latest writings can be found on CTK 5000 and Casio CTK 5000.

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By Duane Shinn

Brand and Price

When looking for a new keyboard, consider the name brand manufacturers of piano keyboards. Look at your budget and then go from there. Does that budget allow you to check out some of the premiere makers out there? Does your budget require you to go with a lesser-known manufacturer?

Popular Brands

Some of the names in piano are Roland, Kurzweil,  Yamaha, Kawai, Alesis, and Moog. There are a host of others as well, some with a wide model line available. Check each manufacturer’s products from low-end to high-end and compare across companies for features offered. Sometimes a lower-priced model may suit you just as well as a higher-priced one that has many extra gadgets you may never use. The main thing is to make sure any model you choose has a clear, full sound resembling as close as possible a traditional piano sound. You don’t want a tinny sound that is more annoying than pleasing.

Price Considerations

If you base your decision solely on price, investigate consumer reports and product reviews that may alert you to product flaws. You may find some high-priced models receive more bad press than lower-priced makes. Regardless, don’t let a piano keyboard purchase blow your budget. You can always upgrade down the road.

Warranty

One important consideration when purchasing a piano keyboard is the warranty. If you’re buying a new brand, make sure the warranty is suitable with no unacceptable “except for” clauses. If you’re buying used, try to buy from a dealer who offers even a six-month warranty on a used product. They’re out there; you just have to look for them.

Type of Keys

Consider the type of keys your fingers will run across when you look at piano keyboards. Do you want traditional weighted keys that have the feel of an acoustic piano? Do you want touch sensitive keys that spring into action with little downward pressure? Both are available, and checking them out will ensure that it suits your touch. I would certainly recommend that you get both of these features so your keyboard not only sounds but also feels like a normal acoustic piano.

88 Keys or Less?

Consider whether you want a full 88-key piano or one with fewer keys. It depends on what you plan to play, how much you want to spend, and the space you have in a room. You don’t want to feel cramped with a keyboard whose length barely fits into a small room. On the other hand, if you plan on getting better in a hurry, then get an 88 key keyboard from the outset so you won’t have to worry about outgrowing it.

Controls and Voices

Another thing to consider in a piano keyboard is the number of controls a model has for sound modification. Many come equipped with settings to make the piano sound like different musical instruments. Some also have voice settings, so certain keys sound like a choir singing.

Features You Will Use

Again, if you want just your typical piano sound, you may not require all these sound controls. To keep your costs down, it’s best to buy a model with only the features you will use.

Sound Control and Headphones

An important consideration, especially if you live in an apartment or condominium, is sound control. You want a keyboard that allows you to set the volume as low as possible while maintaining quality and clarity of sound. You also want a keyboard that allows for headphone plug-in, so you can play as loud as you need without disturbing anyone.

Energy Usage

With today’s “going green” concerns, you may want to investigate the energy use of keyboards. that are green friendly are sure to be the latest models and can save you dollars on energy bills. With that extra money, you can upgrade to a higher-priced keyboard later.

Extras

Additional things to consider are any special benefits or bonuses for buying. Some music studios sell and may offer lesson or music book discounts for purchasing from them. Some music stores offer music lessons on premises and may offer free introductory piano lessons with a keyboard purchase.

Attachments

The final thing to consider when purchasing a keyboard is its capacity for attachments. Aside from the headphones (and you’ll want them for sure so you can practice silently), you may want outlets for an amplifier or a Musical Instrument Digital Interface outlet. This allows you to hook a keyboard into a computer. Of course, the computer also has to have a MIDI input. If your computer doesn’t, you have to buy a USB MIDI adapter. With the proper software program in place, you can play notes on a keyboard and have them show up as written music on your monitor. The computer plays the notes back, and the program stores the played notes on the computer. If this looks like an attractive option, seek a keyboard with this outlet.

Take the time to investigate all the piano keyboard options available to you on the market. There are makes and models to suit your exact requirements. All you need is an investigative attitude to search out the one that’s right for you.

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About the Author:
Duane Shinn
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