A Handy Guide To Choosing Your New Keyboard

Want to buy a new keyboard but not sure where to start? Are you confused about the differences between the various types of keyboard instrument? This handy guide outlines the main characteristics of each and lets you know their best uses. There is a lot of crossover these days but this guide will point you in the right direction so that you can make an informed decision when it comes to choosing your new instrument.

Keyboard

Although this is a general name give to all types of keyboard instrument, in the business it also refers to home or beginners keyboards. Most have fairly lightweight plastic bodies and lower quality sounds than pro instruments, although still very good. Some home keyboards have mini keys rather than standard, full-size piano keys. A few in the range have ‘key lighting’ tuition, so that you can follow the illuminated keys for faster learning.

Who is this for:

• Beginners
• Amateur musicians
• Anyone wanting a fun keyboard at home with lots of sounds and beats to keep their interest
• Mostly just for fun, casual use and learning for enjoyment rather than with a view to pursuing a serious career in music, although some Pro’s started out learning the basics on a home keyboard

Digital Piano

Here, the emphasis is more on quality and emulating the experience of playing a real piano. There are far fewer sounds and beats but the quality of sounds are usually much higher than a keyboard. The keyboard itself is much nicer to play, often being the full 88 note width and with some weight and resistance in the keys that brings it closer to a piano feel. There is the option to choose from upright or baby grand designs. Stage pianos are also available for pro musicians who are looking for a high-quality piano with more portability.

Who is this for:

• Classically trained musicians
• Jazz pianists
• Pro players
• Piano teachers
• Those looking to do formal training with a teacher
• Those wanting a beautiful looking instrument for their home

Electric Piano

Electric pianos were first developed in the 1970s as a more portable alternative to traditional acoustic pianos, especially for touring musicians. But over time they became iconic in their own right, thanks to their distinctive tone and expressive feel. Unlike digital keyboards, electric pianos like the Rhodes and Wurlitzer produce sound mechanically – when you press a key, it strikes a metal tine or reed which is then amplified through pickups, similar in design to a guitar. The result is a warm, slightly gritty sound that’s been a staple of funk, soul, jazz and pop ever since.

Who is this for:

• Jazz-Funk musicians
• Touring musicians
• Studios

Hybrid Piano

First introduced by Yamaha and now manufactured by Kawaii too, Hybrid Pianos incorporate both traditional strings and digital elements. There are various models with slightly different characteristics but generally you can play like a normal acoustic piano but should you wish to continue playing when noise could cause a disturbance, the damper pedal can be used to disengage the strings allowing the user to switch to digital mode, therefore enjoying the best of both worlds. Most of Yamaha’s acoustic pianos now contain digital technology.

Who is this for:

• Classically trained musicians
• Jazz pianists
• Piano teachers
• Students
• Educational Institutions
• Studios

Synthesizer

‘Synths’ are aimed at the pro user as they offer a lot of editing capabilities, with the option to tweak sounds in real time using sliders and knobs. There is often a strong emphasis on retro, analogue sounds and some modern synths have ‘patchboards’ to recreate the feel of early analogue models. They are more sturdily built with many having wood or metal elements in their casing.

Who is this for:

• Pro touring musicians
• Pro studios
• Producers
• Retro synth lovers

Controller Keyboard

Controllers started to become popular in the 80s with the introduction of MIDI and more recently with USB and Bluetooth. This type of keyboard instrument is favoured by DJs / Producers who just need a way of triggering sounds within their software programs (DAWs). They are widely used by Pro players too, who can now operate with a much lighter setup by using controllers along with ‘softsynths’ on their laptop. Controllers are likely to grow in popularity as they now also allow beginners to purchase a small, cheap keyboard and connect to their computers, phones or tablets for learning.

Who is this for:

• DJs and Producers
• Pro touring musicians looking for a lightweight setup
• Studios with limited space or no need for external synths
• Beginners / home users who are comfortable connecting to computers, phones and tablets for their sounds
• Teachers needing a portable setup
• Songwriters for composing while on the road

Stage Pianos

Stage pianos have been around for years, but their popularity really surged with the arrival of the Nord range. Designed as the central hub of a professional live setup, they offer a solid yet portable playing experience, usually with 76 or 88 weighted or semi-weighted keys. These instruments are built for performance, combining essential gigging sounds, like acoustic and electric pianos, organs, strings, brass and synths, with real-time controls, split/layer functionality and multiple assignable pedal inputs. For many players, a good stage piano can handle an entire live set with ease.

Who is this for:

• Pro touring musicians looking for an all-in-one setup or main keyboard
• Studios who want a fairly compact weighted keyboard

Keytar

These quirky little instruments have been around since the late 60s in various formats and every few years they come back into fashion. Keytar’s come with strap connectors that allow the instrument to be worn like a guitar. There’s usually one available at any time and some smaller synths come with kits that allow a strap to be added.

Who is this for:

• Gigging musicians who want to be more mobile and active during their performance

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