View Full Version : I want to learn the piano !
First i need to get something to play with....i don't really know what i am doing, all i know is that a piano has 88 keys and it is weighted and a electric keyboard often has 61 keys ant not weighted.
I have looked into what i can get today
http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/7783/np30mediumjpgbt7.jpg
http://www.yamaha-europe.com/yamaha_europe/uk/10_musical_instruments/60_portable_keyboards/10_keyboards/20_portable_grand/10_no_series/01_NP-30/index.html
76 keys, no gizmos, just plain piano keys, not weighted
Or if I really save up i can get this one
http://img228.imageshack.us/img228/5153/p85mediumjpgev3.jpg
http://www.yamaha-europe.com/yamaha_europe/uk/10_musical_instruments/50_clavinova/30_ydp_series/10_ydp_series/10_no_series/035_P85/index.html
88 keys, weighted, with pedals !
How imported to get weighted keys? How much of a drawback is learning on a keyboard when transfer to a real piano?
It depends really! I started playing the keyboard when I was 6 - it was a bog standard jobby with no frills. As I got older I upped the keyboard and had a technic 2000 I think... it had sensitive keys so the harder you pressed, the louder the sound. I also bought a sustain pedal too.
Whenever I had the opportunity to play on a piano I found it quite a change... but something I could adapt to within a few minutes of playing about. But then... by this stage I had been playing for a go 6 years at least :p
I don't think weighted keys are necessary, especially if you're just starting off and not anticipating purchasing a grand piano for a few years :) I would say 100% make sure you go for something with sensitive keys (like my technic) so you can have a piano sounding effect. Otherwise it will sound a bit pants tbh! I should imagine nowedays though it comes as standard - I'm not sure! I would also suggest to get a sustain peddle! Although you probably won't use it to begin with as you'll be too busy learning fun things (like scales and all ;)), they're SUPERB when you get into it!
I miss my keyboard :( It's currently in storage as I left it at my parents house (no room as such here) and they're mid moving house. I have heard rumours they're thinking of car booting it :O If this happens, I will have to take it and find room for it! It's my baby!
You'll love the piano... it's absolutely enchanting and such a wonderful thing to play! Good luck :D
LOLOLOL!
This is my baby!
http://www.music-keyboards.co.uk/uploaded/products/large/kn2000.jpg
I think he's a bit old now ;)
Keyboard wise I have ALWAYS been told yamaha are the top ones so I would stick with that brand if you can! My technic one... although being my little gem... some of the keys broke (as in, the selection keys not the piano note keys ::)), which isn't particularly fab! Though... it was severely abused by two small children for a good 7 years (and the rest ;)) so maybe it is a fairly resilient one!
Awwwwwwwwwwwww
*misses keyboard... even though it is SUPER old and out dated* ;)
FakeSnake
17-05-2008, 17:17
I would personally say, get a weighted one
Might be worth looking at a 88 note Midi controller and a decent module.
I don't really want a keyboard as such as from my brief research so far a keyboard and a digital piano is 2 very different thing. I won't use all that technology and screen in a keyboard you see, i'd get a grand piano if i had the money and the room for it.
LeperousDust
17-05-2008, 18:12
Before even reading your thread, i would advise if you're after a keyboard for piano purposes get one with "hammer action" :) Read up on that, i saw a really decent hammer action midi keyboard/piano on ebay for about £200 i nearly bought that a few months ago. I'll see if i can find it again :) It's nothing special but its more than enough for what you'll need :)
Basically theres touch sensitive, or hammer action, hammer action is more realistically weighted, and its what you want if you're after any feel behind a keyboard.
LeperousDust
17-05-2008, 18:15
http://www.gear4music.com/PDP220_Digital_Piano_by_Gear4musicBeechsefv_3.html
That is what i was going to get, and after looking at it again, i kinda want it. I really miss playing the piano when i'm up in Edinburgh :(
Its the cheapest decent piano/keyboard i can find, and trust me i looked. I wouldn't have any less than that, but if you're willing to spend more than 290 (i'm sure it was cheaper than this though!) there are more choice obviously :)
I don't really want a keyboard as such as from my brief research so far a keyboard and a digital piano is 2 very different thing. I won't use all that technology and screen in a keyboard you see, i'd get a grand piano if i had the money and the room for it.
Heh, my brother was a keyboard nerd and used it for all sorts :) Sounds like you have a good plan and idea of what you want :D
I would LOVE to have a big, proper, white grand piano sat in the corner of an open living room with a huuuuuuuuuge drinks cabinet right next to it :D I would never leave it alone :D
By the time I'm 33 it will happen :)
Chuckles
17-05-2008, 18:49
Personally I'd look at getting an old Clavinova off ebay for a couple of hundred quid. Assuming you aren't bothered about all the extra sounds and effects, it'll be a lot nicer to play than a keyboard.
I'd also say that it isn't really something you can learn yourself, like guitar. You definately would want to get some lessons with a good tutor :)
My sister's boyfriend is grade 8 at piano and he used to teach so i'm going try get a few lessons out of him :) that bit is not a problem, the problem is getting something i won't regret buying or something i end up upgrading later.
Chuckles
17-05-2008, 20:21
You could always get a real one ;) :D
I could actually get a real one for free, someone at work's mum doesn't want it anymore and i already thought about it but i honestly do not have the room for it. Else i would have taken it in a heartbeat.
http://www.gear4music.com/PDP220_Digital_Piano_by_Gear4musicBeechsefv_3.html
That is what i was going to get, and after looking at it again, i kinda want it. I really miss playing the piano when i'm up in Edinburgh :(
Its the cheapest decent piano/keyboard i can find, and trust me i looked. I wouldn't have any less than that, but if you're willing to spend more than 290 (i'm sure it was cheaper than this though!) there are more choice obviously :)
Is that one any good? I mean it might have the hammer action but everyone keep saying get a Yamaha. I mean like starscream said a Clavinova might be a good alternative.
And you are right, i do want a digital piano more than a keyboard as I will have zero used of all those gizmos that you get from a electronic keyboard. It would be money spent on technology wasted for me, it would be best use that money on a full size digital piano really.
I am really tempted by that Yamaha NP30 thou, you can get a stand for it that holds up and space is an issue for me, hence i didn't take up on the free piano offer.
HollyThirtyFive
19-05-2008, 13:42
I played the piano from about 7 - 12. Although my piano teacher and me talked about her divorce more lol (I think she was having a mid life crisis)
I then started playing guitar more and it wasnt untill I started doing my electronic music and I bought a midi keyboard I got more interest.
I took away being able to slowly read music from my lessons so taught my self the Amelie & Donnie Darko soundtrack. I think piano reading is the hardest bit for me but I'd say learn a simple piano piece that you really like and know.
I now make up most of my piano playing now but learnt to play "I Didnt Understand" by Elliott Smith last week which made me chuffed as I read the music :-)
LeperousDust
20-05-2008, 18:07
Its probably not great Mondo but i'm sure it will be fine, a steal for the money :) I wouldn't mind having it, see if you can try it in a shop somewhere (finding somewhere that sells it may be difficult though). Yamaha do probably make better keyboards but i wouldn't say its necessary to own one, other manufacturers can also make half decent keyboards too! ;) The one i linked to probably won't "sound" all that great, but i'm used to playing a real piano really so i'm probably biased...
MY local Yamaha deal is going to call me when they get stock, i will try get to play it before putting down the cash for it but for the money i think i can't go wrong. After watching the video demo on the yamaha i am even more convinced. It doesn't sound that bad, may be you can be the judge :)
http://www.yamaha-europe.com/yamaha_europe/uk/10_musical_instruments/60_portable_keyboards/10_keyboards/20_portable_grand/10_no_series/01_NP-30/index.html
Ok....went into a showroom today near work and they have a Yamaha NP-30 on display and I had a go, it feels very plasticy........compared to the Yamaha YDP-131 and a YDP-S30 which i also tried, both are £300 more but both have 3 pedals, and both have weighted keys and full size 88 piano keys.
What can i say, i am in love with the YDP-131 :o, it is so beautiful but it is that little bit more than i wanted to spent plus if i get that i will have to make room from somewhere in the house for it.
http://img339.imageshack.us/img339/8005/ydp131mediumjpgvh6.jpg
LeperousDust
21-05-2008, 22:08
F*** of mondo you're making me want to buy a bloody piano again now, and i've got S*** loads of room for it too, so i can't use that to put me off. Just my complete lack of money (although if i wasn't fined (http://www.boat-drinks.co.uk/showthread.php?p=204702) so often i'd be better off :P)
This is the other one i want to get, it is smaller (30cm deep), and when close it is like a little shelf/table. It has the same key action as the one above and same sound too, only difference is the enclosure and its pedals. :) and the fact that its about £100 cheaper.
YDP-S30
http://img168.imageshack.us/img168/7170/ydps30mediumjpglx5.jpg http://img141.imageshack.us/img141/5571/ydps30cmediumjpgbd3.jpg
Right, i have my first piano lesson tomorrow !
So excited !!!!!
http://img41.imageshack.us/img41/3610/img26222.jpg
http://img196.imageshack.us/img196/8071/img26282.jpg (http://img196.imageshack.us/i/img26282.jpg/)
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