Learner keyboard recommendations?
- Thread starter jbj
- Start date
Pine Apple Slim
Kick Henry Jackassowski
I havnt bought a "beginner" keyboard since the 80s.
But this guy(who specializes in non sponsored reviews)
Recommends this as a kinda does a bit of everything beginner keyboard that should last an 11 yr old well into the teen years:
But this guy(who specializes in non sponsored reviews)
Recommends this as a kinda does a bit of everything beginner keyboard that should last an 11 yr old well into the teen years:
TomcatMF
Vetteless
If she's just learning to play it's best to start with a digital piano. If she plays already and wants to learn to operate a synthesizer there are a lot of entry level options out there. My first keyboard was a Casio back in the 80's with only preset patches that could not be programmed, so it left some things to be desired. These days you can just get a MIDI controller and get software synths on your PC for a lot less money.
Pine Apple Slim
Kick Henry Jackassowski
Yea it really depends on what kind of music she wants to play and how serious she is about it.
If its just a passing fancy and she has no idea of anything, then some little $100-$150 home keyboard that has a bank or two of of sounds and around 3 octaves of full sized keys should satisfy. The cheapest Casio or Yamaha would do. Plenty of used ones out there too. As long as everything works, any old budget Yamaha PSR or Casio whatever from the 80s, 90s, or 00s will do just fine. Downsides are most of the sounds will be cheesy and not very practical & prob only a few sounds will be decent, drums included, the rhythm selections may be limited, the keyboard action will be basic on/off pretty much, and it prob wont have midi so you cant hook it to a computer and use it as a controller or connect it to other midi equipped gear in the future.
If she is more serious and you think she's gonna stick with it, but dosnt really have a preference for piano vs other keyboard sounds then the Yamaha I posted above should be great. I went with that guys recc because he demos all kinds of stuff at different price points and besides the features, he pays attention to stuff like key action/feel and build quality vs price point. One nice thing about the keyboard I posted above is besides it being self contained, it has some basic midi functionality and will also work as a midi controller, though with less bells and whistles (like pitch bend and modulation wheels, hands on assignable knobs & faders, drum pads, etc).
If she is comfortable with computers and already has an iPad or laptop, then he could just get her a good midi controller for $200-$300 and with the free included software the world is her oyster. She'd get pianos, synths, basses, organs, drums, etc along with the capability to record them, multitrack, and make complete songs. But be aware midi controllers dont make sounds, the computer and software does. The controller is just a triggering mechanism. So you gotta be hooked up to a computer and have a way to hear it via headphones or monitor speakers.
But also another consideration is....
If she wants to learn traditional piano, esp in the classical style & might take formal piano lessons and so on, then she really should have a keyboard designed specifically for piano with 70+ full sized keys and weighted piano action. This will cost considerably more than something with basic synth action. Donner sells a budget model but I dont know how good it is. From the maj players like Casio, Roland, or Yamaha a new one is prob over $1000 for something decent. Downside is these things are pretty much limited to piano only and are pretty bulky & heavy & not very portable. She's prob not gonna tote it to a friends house, or even move it around much at home, its gonna basically live where you put it. It wont take 4-5 burly guys to move it like a real piano, but still is a chore to shelp around.
If its just a passing fancy and she has no idea of anything, then some little $100-$150 home keyboard that has a bank or two of of sounds and around 3 octaves of full sized keys should satisfy. The cheapest Casio or Yamaha would do. Plenty of used ones out there too. As long as everything works, any old budget Yamaha PSR or Casio whatever from the 80s, 90s, or 00s will do just fine. Downsides are most of the sounds will be cheesy and not very practical & prob only a few sounds will be decent, drums included, the rhythm selections may be limited, the keyboard action will be basic on/off pretty much, and it prob wont have midi so you cant hook it to a computer and use it as a controller or connect it to other midi equipped gear in the future.
If she is more serious and you think she's gonna stick with it, but dosnt really have a preference for piano vs other keyboard sounds then the Yamaha I posted above should be great. I went with that guys recc because he demos all kinds of stuff at different price points and besides the features, he pays attention to stuff like key action/feel and build quality vs price point. One nice thing about the keyboard I posted above is besides it being self contained, it has some basic midi functionality and will also work as a midi controller, though with less bells and whistles (like pitch bend and modulation wheels, hands on assignable knobs & faders, drum pads, etc).
If she is comfortable with computers and already has an iPad or laptop, then he could just get her a good midi controller for $200-$300 and with the free included software the world is her oyster. She'd get pianos, synths, basses, organs, drums, etc along with the capability to record them, multitrack, and make complete songs. But be aware midi controllers dont make sounds, the computer and software does. The controller is just a triggering mechanism. So you gotta be hooked up to a computer and have a way to hear it via headphones or monitor speakers.
But also another consideration is....
If she wants to learn traditional piano, esp in the classical style & might take formal piano lessons and so on, then she really should have a keyboard designed specifically for piano with 70+ full sized keys and weighted piano action. This will cost considerably more than something with basic synth action. Donner sells a budget model but I dont know how good it is. From the maj players like Casio, Roland, or Yamaha a new one is prob over $1000 for something decent. Downside is these things are pretty much limited to piano only and are pretty bulky & heavy & not very portable. She's prob not gonna tote it to a friends house, or even move it around much at home, its gonna basically live where you put it. It wont take 4-5 burly guys to move it like a real piano, but still is a chore to shelp around.
shoeless
Riffin'
I'd second that. If she's going to take lessons, most piano teachers will assume a full 88 key piano. Get one with weighted keys. Like guitars, it's pretty incredible how good entry level instruments have gotten. Not sure what your friend's budget is, but $300 for a new piano seems reasonable. Can probably find used ones even cheaper.
https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/Concert--alesis-concert-88-key-digital-piano
smurfco
Meatus McPrepuce
I will respectfully disagree with the initial need for an 88 key weighted piano. Lessons are going to be a very long time between the beginning, foundational stuff and the full-range keyboard, classical piece stuff. The basics can definitely be learned on a more simple entry level 61-key board with non-weighted action.
Having said that, of course there's nothing wrong with starting on a full size weighted board, but if three months later she decides it's just not her thing you've spent a lot more to find that out.
Just my opinion!
Having said that, of course there's nothing wrong with starting on a full size weighted board, but if three months later she decides it's just not her thing you've spent a lot more to find that out.
Just my opinion!
TomcatMF
Vetteless
That's why I recommended a digital piano. They are generally much less money than a full blown synth, and if you are going to learn to play you should learn on a full range keyboard. I started playing when I was 9 years old, and I took lessons from my Grandmother. We had a piano in the house already (and these days you an even get a real piano for free on Craigslist if you want to go that route) so I practiced on that. I would also recommend getting her lessons. It's more than just learning to read music, you also learn technique. Also learning piano helps you to more easily transition to other instruments down the line since you learn the entire scale of music.
shoeless
Riffin'
Yeah, pianos show up for free on CL and FB marketplace all the time. Once my kids grew and left the house, we gave ours away. It wasn't a great piano, but it was good enough for my daughter to learn on. The family that came and got it were doing the same thing...getting if for their daughter to learn how to play. But moving an digital piano is waaaaaay easier.
sunvalleylaw
Yep.
Should be able to find a used Yamaha DGX 600 series in that price range and it has weighted keys and 88 of them. I just picked one up for a couple hundred bucks. I did that to hold myself off from buying a Roland stage piano because I have the urge to get back into piano. And I figured it’s better to spend a couple hundred bucks on the experiment.
This is the one I was able to find pretty cheap used.
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