If you're a fan of a certain artist and want to be able to play their music yourself, a keyboard is arguably the easiest option. Most models come loaded with lots of sounds and automatic backing styles, and keyboards are easy to play by musicians of all ages.
The Keyboard: An Introduction
Simply put, keyboards offer a collection of sounds and accompaniment styles and a number of keys (notes) and controls. In most cases, there'll also be a display and a headphone jack. With a keyboard, you can play the melody on the right side of the keys while triggering the automatic accompaniment on the left side, with a ‘split-point’ dividing the keyboard in the middle, between the accompaniment and the melody. Want to play 'Yesterday' by The Beatles? Simply select the ‘8-beat’ accompaniment (for example) on the right, select a flute for the melody on the left and off you go! Want to play a different tune? Simply select a different rhythm and a different instrument. By the way, there are lots of purpose-written keyboard books to help you learn to play your most-loved songs.
The Sounds of a Keyboard
Most keyboards feature a sound library full of orchestral, folk and band instruments, including bow string instruments, brass instruments, woodwind instruments, guitars, basses, drum kits and keyboard instruments like the piano, electric piano, vibraphone and organ. In general, you’ll be able to play any song on a keyboard.
Keyboards for Beginners
So, do you need the most expensive keyboard you can get if you're just starting out? Definitely not: a solid entry-level keyboard can cost much less than £100! And luckily, there's a lot of choice. Anyone who doesn't pack any keyboard-playing experience can make a great start on a budget keyboard, even if it's just to find out if playing the keyboard is for them. That said, if you're serious, there's nothing stopping you from picking up a keyboard that costs a couple of hundred quid. More experienced players are best off browsing the £500+ range, where the audio quality goes up and there are more options in terms of sounds and backing styles.
Learning to Play the Keyboard
Lesson books and songbooks are a great starting point and include tips and explanations of chords and notes. Some keyboards feature light-up keys and a built-in lesson mode which activates the lights to show you which keys you need to press to play a given song. Traditional piano lessons are, of course, the more classic way of learning here. Compared to pianos, keyboards have lighter keys but the distance between the notes (intervals) is the same. If you already know you're only going to play pieces written for the piano and you're thinking about taking piano lessons, we recommend going for a digital piano.
Doubles as a MIDI Keyboard
Computers play an important role in music production these days since they're not only used to record sound but MIDI data. MIDI data is basically a set of instructions that can trigger any sound in the virtual library of a computer. The data doesn’t make any sound on its own, instead, you can write a tune or chord progression and then assign a sound afterwards. This way, the MIDI data is like a map. A MIDI keyboard is enough to do this, and doesn't come with any built-in sounds or styles since it's only used to trigger the external sounds on your computer. So, if you want to be able to play without a computer, get a standard keyboard. Almost all keyboards feature MIDI ports and can be connected to a computer using a USB-A to USB-B cable.
Keyboard Accessories
Generally speaking, keyboards come as complete instruments and can be played straight out of the box. Nevertheless, there are a number of more or less essential accessories, like stands and headphones. The great thing about a stand is that it supports a healthy playing position, while headphones are great if you have house-mates you'd rather not annoy. In addition, plugging in a pair of headphones (if possible) can sometimes improve the audio quality in case the built-in speakers of the keyboard are a bit small, and if your keyboard features a rear panel sustain pedal input, picking up a sound-enriching pedal is strongly recommended if you also want to play your keyboard like a real piano.
Buying a Keyboard Online
Finding the keyboard of your dreams isn't always easy. Luckily, there are countless videos on YouTube that provide an honest impression of almost every keyboard in existence. You'll find one or two linked on almost every one of our keyboard product pages. Unsatisfied with the model you've bought? Not to worry, we offer you ample time to return it.
Buying a Second-Hand Keyboard
A used keyboard can be a great option, so why not have a browse through our range of B-stock keyboards? Most of these keyboards have been returned by customers who tried them out, but the model didn’t quite work for them. They're basically brand-new bits of kit that come at a discount. Every B-stock product page clearly states the condition the keyboard is in as well as photos of the actual keyboard.
The Latest Keyboards
At Bax Music, we're always making sure we've got the freshest keyboards from the hottest brands like Roland, Yamaha and Korg, as well as budget-and-beginner-friendly brands like Casio, Medeli and Fazley. Don't be fooled though - even entry-level keyboard can offer a lot of bang for your buck.
Frequently Asked Questions about Keyboards
What's a good keyboard?
In a way, you could say it's the sounds that define how good any keyboard is. While you can plug a microphone into some keyboards to sing along, some keyboards come with unique features such as accordion keys for your left hand. But the collection of built-in sounds is the deal-maker or deal-breaker in most cases. More experienced players also tend to look for adjustable key sensitivity which allows them to dial in a customised playing feel.
How much does a keyboard cost?
Beginner keyboards can cost anywhere between £25 and £250, and even the models that cost closer to £50 are often still fairly feature-packed and offer a great way to get to know the instrument. The £250 to £1000 range is home to the mid-tier keyboards, all of which are perfect for ambitious beginners and intermediate musicians, and last a long time. Above the £1k mark, you'll find an extensive selection of keyboards made for professional musicians and other more seasoned, discerning players.
What kind of keys do keyboards have?
We'll kick off this list with the smallest possible keys. Mini-keys are suitable for smaller hands and usually come fitted to toy keyboards or compact MIDI keyboards. The keys of 'normal' keyboards are more like piano keys, but feel lighter and are easier to play (this is also referred to as the 'action' of a keyboard). Most keyboards are touch-sensitive, meaning more force results in more volume. The very cheapest of keyboards often lack touch-sensitive keys, which are actually recommended for learning proper playing techniques. More expensive keyboards will have semi-weighted keys. These have a heavier feel that's closer to a piano and are preferred by some keyboard players.
What keyboard do I need for piano lessons?
Technically, keyboards are a bad idea for piano lessons. Sure, the keys are similar, but pianos usually have 88 keys while most keyboards only have 61. In addition, real piano keys have a heavier action and require more strength and training. So, if you're going to sign up for piano lessons, always go for a digital piano. For more information, see our blog: What’s the difference between a keyboard and a digital piano?
How many types of keyboards are there?
Perfect for the living and bedroom, the average keyboard features various instruments and automatic backing styles. The most expensive models - like the Yamaha Genos - are mainly used by performers. Synthesizers look a lot like keyboards but usually come with sounds that can be tweaked and reshaped and don't include any backing styles. A workstation is a synthesizer equipped with a built-in sequencer to support the production of complete tracks. Some workstations also come loaded with automatic backing styles. Then there's the digital piano - which is known for superb piano sounds but rarely features backing styles - and the stage piano, which is basically a digital piano built for on-stage use. Lastly, there are drawbar keyboards: digital tone-wheel organs built for gigging organists.
Hire a Keyboard!
At Bax Music, you can buy or hire instruments and, if you like the keyboard you hire, you always can decide to buy it at a later time. Check out the Hire-a-Keyboard page for more information.
