A Guide to Buying Your First Electronic Keyboards

Casio Electronic Keyboard

Anyone learning to play electronic keyboards will need an instrument to practice on at home soon after starting tuition. This guide aims to help beginning keyboard players decide on an appropriate first instrument, as there is an overwhelming range of keyboards on the market today.

The keyboard is certainly the instrument for those who enjoy variety!

Keys: Your electronic keyboards should have at least 61, full-size keys. A piano has 88 keys and if you aspire to play piano as well, look for weighted keys which replicate the feel of the piano. However, keyboards and pianos are two different instruments, and non-weighted keys are fine for those beginners who aim to be purely electronic keyboards players.

Sounds/Voices: The more sounds your electronic keyboards has, the better, but look for high quality realistic sounds. Also, choose a keyboard with a realistic and sympathetic piano sound, especially if you aspire to study classical piano as well.

Rhythms: Having more pre-programmed rhythms on your electronic keyboards allows you to be more creative, and play in more styles of music. See if the electronic keyboards has rhythms in the styles of music you enjoy listening to and playing.

Floppy Disk Drive: The newest electronic keyboards now have USB ports and flash drives which are even better if you want to link your keyboard with a computer.

MIDI: This stands for musical instrument digital interface and is basically an electronic language which electronic musical instruments use to communicate your electronic keyboards with each other. If your keyboard is MIDI compatible, you can link it up to other instruments and computers.

Recording: Look out for electronic keyboards that allow you too record what you play in ‘real time’, and record or ’step in’ the accompaniment section.

Accompaniment Section: Look for a keyboard with a good accompaniment section. Put the electronic keyboards in ‘fingered mode’, start a rhythm and play a chord to see if the accompaniment section is realistic and musical.

Choosing the right, good quality electronic will inspire you to work hard at your lessons. Finding an instrument you love should mean you never want to stop practicing!***