They are one of the most popular instruments played and heard worldwide: The Keyboard . Whether for festive occasions or for yourself, people of all ages enjoy learning to play this musical instrument or enjoy themselves and others with their skills. It can be used flexibly for solo entertainment or with several other instruments. In the following everything worth knowing about the keyboard is explained.

Definition of Keyboard

A keyboard is an electrophonic keyboard instrument. Compared to wind instruments such as trumpets, trombones and string instruments, the sound of this wired piano is only produced electronically. So this keyboard instrument needs an audio amplifier equipped with loudspeakers. Numerous suppliers integrate loudspeakers directly into their keyboards. Many versions also have a headphone jack. On a keyboard, which can also be found on electric pianos and pianos, it is possible to strike different notes and chords. A keyboard contains a large selection of different sounds, so that pressing the keys not only sounds the piano, but also imitated percussion instruments, wind instruments, guitars or flutes. In addition, many versions contain special functions that provide assistance when learning to play the keyboard or automatically accompany these played piano pieces with other instruments. Keyboards have many different sounds. One plays the corresponding instrument like the piano. You select the desired sound, play a melody on the keys and hear the sound through the integrated speakers. By pressing all keys of the corresponding keyboard, electronic sounds are triggered, whereby these individual sounds differ in their pitches as with the piano.

superstructure

Many keyboards are used in the keyboard areas, The loudspeaker and control panel are structured in the following sections.

keyboard

Almost the entire width of a keyboard is occupied by its keyboard. Here the keys are arranged like on a piano. The keys on the keyboard are basically made of plastic, whereby the depth and width of the keys vary from model to model. Some variants contain velocity-sensitive keys so that a soft tone is also produced when a key is struck lightly. Normally pianos have 88 keys. There are, however, keyboards that contain 49, 61, 76 or 88 keys. Many MIDI keyboard instruments contain only 25 keys. The number of keys indicates how many octaves there are on the corresponding keyboard. Because all octaves consist of twelve keys, a keyboard instrument with 61 keys, for example, has five octaves. The mechanical piano contains 88 keys and thus comprises 7.5 octaves. In addition to these keyboard models with ordinary keys, manufacturers also offer particularly simple variants with a keyboard that can be rolled out. It consists of washable silicone with printed black and white buttons. The sensors register the key touches. Only particularly high-quality keyboard instruments feature aftertouch. This function makes it possible to influence the sound even after the keys have been pressed.

loudspeakers

Nearly every keyboard has two speakers to create a stereo sound image. They are placed by the manufacturers on the top of the corresponding keyboard instrument at the two ends. These musical instruments also include a headphone output, often located on the back of the keyboard. The speakers automatically turn off when using headphones.

ports

Keyboards have a power connector that supplies power to this musical instrument. Some Versions can also be operated with batteries. In addition, keyboard instruments in the mid and upper price ranges include additional connectors, such as audio, MIDI and USB ports.

control panel

The control panel of a keyboard is located directly above the keypad and between the two speakers. In addition to the display, the control panel contains many buttons that allow you to select various functions and sounds. Many suppliers even integrate the volume control in this control panel.

Various functions

Keyboards have many functions that are now displayed individually.

rhythm pattern

Almost every keyboard contains rhythm patterns whose tempo is adjustable. So you hear from the drums the rhythm to which you play the respective piece of music. In addition to rock and pop, tango, samba, swing, waltz and other rhythms can also be chosen.

timbres

The different sounds are referred to as timbres. These are available for selection on the keyboard. In addition to piano, organ and piano, the keyboard instruments offer sounds that realistically imitate strings, wind instruments, guitars, choirs and various percussion instruments.

metronome

If you use the metronome function, you will hear a steady click that sets the bar. Just beginners the metronome helps to play at regular speed.

accompanying function

When the accompaniment function is used, the keyboard automatically plays a rhythm and other voices such as bass. The automatic of the keyboard depends on the chords played by the user. You define the type of rhythm, such as pop, waltz and salsa. The accompaniment function of a keyboard instrument in the middle price range often repeats only one bar and only changes it when another bar is played. is played with chords. Higher quality versions offer more variation in the accompanying game. The accompanying function ultimately creates a music group that accompanies one’s own playing. Especially on weddings and other festivities you can hear solo entertainers with this function. The advantage of this function is that it is performed in real time. For example, you can repeat a refrain as often as you want.

arpeggio function

Press and hold a button. The keyboard automatically plays an arpeggio, often with a choice of many types. In arpeggio, the sound of different harmonic tones occurs rapidly one after the other. This makes an arpeggio comparable to playing a harp.

pitch bend

This function is operated via a wheel located to the left of the keyboard’s keyboard. If a key is struck and held, the pitch is changed by turning the wheel either downwards or upwards. This gives more vitality to the game.

recording function

The recording function is used to record the piece of music played and to listen to it again later. This function of the keyboard is closely related to the available memory. With some variants it is possible to expand the storage capacity at a later date.

effects

Effects can be used to change the sounds and melodies played. Well-known effects include echo (delay) and reverb (reverb). When using reverb, the keyboard instrument creates a spatial impression. The music sounds as if you are playing in a huge room, like in a church. The echo effect of the keyboard repeats the played sounds.

glide

When using the Glide function, the keyboard instrument connects two notes that are played one after the other. This creates a floating Transition between the two individual sounds.

purchase criteria

The following explains what to consider when buying a keyboard.

Processing and

The keys and the case of a keyboard are made of plastic. Metal housings are only used for particularly high-quality variants. It is important that the keys do not show any lateral play. A good keyboard also distinguishes the immediate feeling to these generated sounds. The sensitivity of the touch-sensitive keys is decisive. Here you have to check whether soft notes and very soft notes can be played without problems. The knobs and buttons must react immediately and must not wobble under any circumstances.

sound

The sound plays an important role not only in an acoustic but also in an electronic musical instrument. In addition to the quality of the sound generation, the loudspeakers of the keyboard instrument also influence the sound quality. With these loudspeakers, the clarity of the entire sound image on the one hand and the balance of the corresponding frequency ranges on the other are decisive. It should be checked whether the heights, mids and basses are in a balanced relationship to each other. The strengths and weaknesses of the keyboard’s loudspeakers can thus be identified. In addition, the headphones give a better impression of the performance of the sound generation.

handling

The handling of the menu structure and the control panel for the different settings are important for a keyboard. It is therefore important for suppliers to arrange the controls of a keyboard instrument in a clear and understandable manner. Especially when playing in front of an audience, finding switches and keys is annoying. The clearly arranged menu navigation also contributes to the fact that this musical instrument is well manageable. In addition, manufacturers should describe the individual rhythms and timbres clearly and comprehensibly. For the terms merengue, rumba and salsa convey more clarity in contrast to Latin American rhythms one to three.

functional scope

The keyboards have many different functions. Here it is useful to see which different functions, rhythms, timbres and much more are available for selection and whether the corresponding version contains an automatic accompaniment.

Accessories

With the keyboard instrument accessories you should ask yourself how many accessories are included. All versions are included in the delivery, while exercise books are not standard. Some models include a special pocket for the keyboard.

Types of Keyboards

There are different keyboard instruments for beginners, advanced and professionals, as discussed below.

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newbie

A keyboard for beginners has headphones and speakers. It contains a usually large keyboard with at least five octaves. So it is possible to play melodies on the right and chords on the left. The variants in the lower price range are ideal for adolescents who find a playful approach to music with the help of these keyboard instruments. These musical instruments for children often have keys suitable for children. The colours are also geared to the tastes of adolescents.

Advanced

For the advanced, the keyboard contains larger keys and speakers with excellent sound quality. For more variety it contains numerous rhythms and sounds. Clearly arranged controls and numerous connection options are also offered with this keyboard instrument.

professionals

The keyboards on which professionals play have keys with With its editing options for the sound, numerous additional effects and live intervention options, they are ideal for studio or live use.

Leading manufacturers

In the following overview you can find young brands and manufacturers with tradition among the different suppliers of keyboards.

M-Audio

Towards the end of the 70s Tim Ryan and two fellow students developed one of the first digital synthesizers. After founding his company Midiman in 1998, Ryan focused on developments that connected MIDI and audio signals to the PC. Today this American company produces audio interfaces, sound cards, headphones, microphones, speakers and MIDI keyboards. The company has been called M-Audio since 2000.

Yamaha

Already in 1889 this company from Japan was founded by Torakusu Yamaha. Two years earlier he had received a commission to repair a harmonium. Because he was fascinated by the construction of this musical instrument, he decided to build it himself. As early as 1899, the company also manufactured grand pianos and upright pianos. 36 years later, this first Yamaha electromechanical organ was introduced to the market. In the 70s this company developed electric pianos and synthesizers. At the beginning of the 1980s, Yahama presented a keyboard that successfully used FM synthesis for the first time and shaped the sound of this decade. Today, Yahama is a publicly traded corporation.

FunKey

In 1987 Klaus Kirstein started a small shop for various instruments in Schongau. Musikhaus Kirstein opened a web shop and introduced various private labels. FunKey is a brand of this music business. It sells keyboards for beginners.

Casio

Tadao Kashio founded the Japanese company, the electronic-mechanical calculator, in 1946, digital wristwatches and calculators. In 1981, the company presented the first keyboard called Casiotone 201. Today, Casio offers a wide range of keyboard instruments in all price ranges. Casio offers keyboards with illuminated keys for beginners. The pupils who play these musical instruments are thus given excellent help.

Other brands

The following manufacturers offer keyboards in different variants via specialist retailers and webshops:
– ION
– eagletones
– Roland
– LogiLink
– fame
– bontempi
– Magic Sing
– ketron
– Schubert
– keywood
– streetlife music
– MrCrypt
– Ibiza
– Delson
– medeli
– Korg

When is it possible to learn to play the keyboard?

Young or old, everyone can start playing a keyboard. When it comes to professional music lessons, it is important to pay attention to a few things. Adolescents should only learn keyboard when they go to school. In principle, children cannot yet read music before school because this abstract thinking is by no means as mature for them as it is for adults. If adolescents have already made music before starting school, they can often learn to play the keyboard more easily later. It should also be noted that each child learns differently and at different speeds. Therefore it is important not to compare it with other classmates who also play keyboard. It is important that you enjoy playing this instrument. If you want to learn the keyboard instrument as an adult, you can dare to contact a music teacher near your home or on the Internet. For music lessons to work well, it is important to take a trial lesson beforehand to see if you can get along with the teacher.

Further useful comparisons can be found in our href=”https://www.keyboard-ratgeber.de/”target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>Keyboard Advisor.

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