sbomb Posted August 8, 2008 Share Posted August 8, 2008 I have about £150-200 to spend and basically since i started learning the drums ive become rather besotted with learning more and more instruments, its almost become an obsession, but a healthy one. Anyway ive trolled the internet and have become rather confused as to what sort of keyboard suits me best. I will be self teaching and have already started learning theory, simply put what i want from the keyboard is this "Piano sound", i would, ideally, buy a piano but i dont have a grand or the space handy to keep one, thats for a later date, i would like a keyboard that accurately sounds like a piano if thats possible (Though i presume it perhaps wont sound 100% given that its not a piano, but alls the same) The ability to link it up the pc would be good, perhaps save recordings, im not sure if this will rocket the price up so ill say this is an add on and not an necessity. Obviously truth be known i want the thing so i can start learning clocks/scientist/trouble ad infitium So if anyone knows of a decent keyboard for my needs in that price bracket please let me know what to look for (ideally uk based sellers aswell) Also a favour, my favourite "coldplay" song is "a ghost" i say coldplay song ive only heard it once before on a radio show and have since been searching for chords to learn it, if anyone has any those would be great too Cheers :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pseudonym Posted August 8, 2008 Share Posted August 8, 2008 I have this keyboard and would strongly recommend it. A little pricey but you wont find a better one for the price: http://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-YPG-225-Portable-Keyboard-Survival/dp/B000GD5CE0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=musical-instruments&qid=1218229186&sr=1-1 As for the song it's called "42" and this video can teach you it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEh0PFjaQS0 :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbomb Posted August 8, 2008 Author Share Posted August 8, 2008 I have this keyboard and would strongly recommend it. A little pricey but you wont find a better one for the price: http://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-YPG-225-Portable-Keyboard-Survival/dp/B000GD5CE0/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=musical-instruments&qid=1218229186&sr=1-1 As for the song it's called "42" and this video can teach you it: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEh0PFjaQS0 :) Nah mate the songs not 42, its older heres the youtube to it Its a medley with "have yourself a merry christmas" so far as i know its the only time its every been played publically Good keyboard btw, seems around £150-160 uk money, do you play coldplay songs on yours? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pseudonym Posted August 8, 2008 Share Posted August 8, 2008 Nah mate the songs not 42, its older heres the youtube to it Its a medley with "have yourself a merry christmas" so far as i know its the only time its every been played publically Good keyboard btw, seems around £150-160 uk money, do you play coldplay songs on yours? Ok, I thought "a ghost" was the quote from the song:laugh3: That "Have yourself a merry little christmas" is very beautiful I play many Coldplay songs on that keyboard. It has about 500 sound effects and instruments, plus you can layer several tracks. I have Politik's drums, guitar, bass, and violen saved so I can have those playing while I play the piano part, it's very cool. I highly recommend it, it's fairly cheap for its features, it can plug into the computer, and it has many cool features. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbomb Posted August 8, 2008 Author Share Posted August 8, 2008 Cheers mate, ill have a look round for prices Stupid question but worth asking being an amateur, does it have all the assets of a piano without being one? Can you generate the right sound Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pseudonym Posted August 8, 2008 Share Posted August 8, 2008 Cheers mate, ill have a look round for prices Stupid question but worth asking being an amateur, does it have all the assets of a piano without being one? Can you generate the right sound No question is stupid, especially regarding a big purchase. It obviously doesnt make the same kind of piano sound reproduction as a 1,000 dollar (or pound) keyboard would, but for anything under 500 it is pretty much the best sound. It is very much piano-sounding and if you sit down and play a real piano right after you wont hear much of a difference. Glad I could help, I went through the same shopping process a year ago.:) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbomb Posted August 8, 2008 Author Share Posted August 8, 2008 having read some reviews that does seem like a good guitar, having trouble finding uk sites which sell it or even offer prices, ordering through the us would probably make it alot more expensive giving the shipping and tax Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbomb Posted August 8, 2008 Author Share Posted August 8, 2008 No question is stupid, especially regarding a big purchase. It obviously doesnt make the same kind of piano sound reproduction as a 1,000 dollar (or pound) keyboard would, but for anything under 500 it is pretty much the best sound. It is very much piano-sounding and if you sit down and play a real piano right after you wont hear much of a difference. Glad I could help, I went through the same shopping process a year ago.:) Im sure a question every music player loves to hear, and be assured im not a tourist in the sense that i want to learn a song and put the bugger away for a year, how long did it take you, or perhaps are you still learning theory? It seems a language unto itself, vital of course, but complicated Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fixed Posted August 8, 2008 Share Posted August 8, 2008 If you can stretch to £400-ish I'd recommend a Yamaha DGX620. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbomb Posted August 8, 2008 Author Share Posted August 8, 2008 If you can stretch to £400-ish I'd recommend a Yamaha DGX620. £200 is stretching it, especially after a new electronic drumkit Best to stick with the cheaper option just incase it doesnt take Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pseudonym Posted August 8, 2008 Share Posted August 8, 2008 Im sure a question every music player loves to hear, and be assured im not a tourist in the sense that i want to learn a song and put the bugger away for a year, how long did it take you, or perhaps are you still learning theory? It seems a language unto itself, vital of course, but complicated Well, I played guitar for a year first, so I already knew theory. I was playing whole songs the first day, but if this is your first instrument it might take you longer. Ig you get lessons you'll learn pretty quickly, but you could also teach yourself. Personally Id recommend lessons but if you're good hands-on then try teaching yourself, you might be better than you know. Most older Coldplay songs are really simple and can be learned quickly, some of the newer stuff is a lot more challenging. First song I learned was The Scientist, maybe start there.;) If you can stretch to £400-ish I'd recommend a Yamaha DGX620. Anything Yamaha is good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tnspieler1012 Posted August 8, 2008 Share Posted August 8, 2008 I love my yamaha (which is the american equivalent of the DGX 620 they're talking about) but it was a birthday present and isn't cheap. The thing you have to decide is how much you want weighted keys. If you can go with out them, then you can easily get something underneath a hundred pounds. But if you want the feel of a real piano I'm afraid you may have to save a little more. My yamaha was around $700 dollars (do the math and translate dollars into pounds if you will) and the cheapest with weighted keys are somewhere around $500-$600. I suggest trying some out at a store somewhere before looking further.... as for "a ghost"... http://vagos.wamba.com/showthread.php?t=262138 give this link a try. The sheets are accurate. I learned it earlier this year, it's a really great song. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fixed Posted August 8, 2008 Share Posted August 8, 2008 Have a look at these: http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/M-Audio-ProKeys-88sx-88-key-Stage-BRAND-NEW_W0QQitemZ140255015937QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item140255015937&_trkparms=72%3A638%7C39%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14.l1318 http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/YAMAHA-S80-S-80-88-weighted-keyboard-KEYBOARD-SYNTH_W0QQitemZ130245071200QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item130245071200&_trkparms=72%3A638%7C39%3A1%7C66%3A2%7C65%3A12&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14.l1318 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bearcat1229 Posted August 11, 2008 Share Posted August 11, 2008 Yamaha's produce the best sound. It is nice to have weighted keys, but its going to cost you more and if your just learning how to play go with something cheaper and then upgrade. I play with an MO-8, very expensive but the keyboard I started with was $200 yamaha and set a solid foundation. WIthout playing with that first I would be lost trying to play the MO-8. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbomb Posted September 21, 2008 Author Share Posted September 21, 2008 Does anyone have any more information? Looking to get it some time next week if possible, 150-£200 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tnspieler1012 Posted September 21, 2008 Share Posted September 21, 2008 http://www.guitarcenter.com/Yamaha-NP-30-Digital-Keyboard-104636402-i1320984.gc I have this one with me at college. If directly translated into pounds it should be about 164 pounds. Keys aren't as heavy and weighted as more expensive models but it has nice sensitivity to dynamics and a good sound. I've haven't had any complaints about it so far. However, if you want all 500 voices and effects from even the most expensive yamaha's, take a look at the yamaha 235 linked below... http://www.guitarcenter.com/Yamaha-YPG-235-76-Key-Portable-Grand-Piano-Keyboard-104840905-i1388211.gc ...and for a little more, the casio's have some nice weighted models. only passed this next one up because it couldn't fit in the car :grin: . http://www.guitarcenter.com/Casio-PX-120-88-Key-Digital-Keyboard-104786017-i1390791.gc or... http://www.guitarcenter.com/Casio-CDP-100-88-Note-Weighted-Hammer-Action-Digital-Piano-103871034-i1168551.gc The think I remember playing this last one and disliking the tone and feel of the keys, best thing to do is to try them out yourself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbomb Posted September 21, 2008 Author Share Posted September 21, 2008 Cheers mate, a question or two if i may I have very very little knowledge of pianos/keyboards, but im confident i can learn it, how different is the sound on a keyboard to a piano in general terms? Secondly, transitioning between the two, is it hard to play the keyboard and transfer your skills over to a piano? I like the look of the yamaha btw Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tnspieler1012 Posted September 21, 2008 Share Posted September 21, 2008 Honestly, you'll find that the good quality keyboard sounds a whole lot better than your average piano. Not only are acoustic pianos really expensive and large, but they are constantly going out of tune and often have a mind of their own...that is, there are tremendous differences to be found between like pianos in terms of feel, tone, dynamics, sensitivity, sustain pedal etc. Don't get me wrong, I would love to own a full piano some day, there are things about them that a keyboard just can't imitate, but from a practical standpoint they're also very, very loud. Anyway, again a good keyboard nowadays can imitate the vibration and hammers of an actual piano while providing the exact tone you require...You do run into problems sometimes when your keyboard has very light keys and the piano you practice on has pretty heavy keys. To avoid this you can opt for a keyboard with weighted keys (weighted keyboards are rarely as heavy as piano keys, but they're close enough, and more comfortable) or just practice pressing down hard on the keys while going through your exercises and scales. Hope I've been of help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbomb Posted September 21, 2008 Author Share Posted September 21, 2008 Great help, i suppose the biggest question is do you play coldplay on your keyboard and how does it resonate in comparison to what you hear? See i think i have a slight OCD, there are a few coldplay songs, rifts in songs and solos that i cant get out of my head, this forced me to buy an acoustic to recreate them and thats how i learned, by repetition which led to exploration. With the piano, songs such as clocks and a ghost are in my head and i really want to recreate them myself, so i suppose all i need to know is will they sound the same on the NP-30? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tnspieler1012 Posted September 21, 2008 Share Posted September 21, 2008 Well I'm almost positive clocks was done a keyboard. The greater majority of piano-based songs are since they're much easier to record...and when playing live Chris's almost always uses very expensive upright digital pianos. Now if you're OCD about a perfect coldplay piano sound I won't be making many promises about the NP-30 as it doesn't have a perfectly clean album quality sound. A better recommendation for the long-term is probably one of the casio's. The better sound and weight is worth it for the extra money I think. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbomb Posted September 22, 2008 Author Share Posted September 22, 2008 thanks alot for the info mate, im up for the NP30 but im not sure about whether i can plump up the extra for weighted keys or if soft will be fine Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheBigC Posted September 22, 2008 Share Posted September 22, 2008 If you can stretch to £400-ish I'd recommend a Yamaha DGX620. I agree Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sbomb Posted September 22, 2008 Author Share Posted September 22, 2008 Honestly couldnt, i wish i could, perhaps next year but this year £200 is the limit Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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