Need some help with buying a keyboard.

[iamjames]

Hey guys, I'm pretty new here and I have some quick questions to ask.

If I want to get a keyboard(mainly because I can't afford a piano), what range of keyboards are there available to me at a budget of 300-400 dollars?

I saw a few 2nd-hand keyboards which are really cheap, at like 100 dollars and slightly above, but are they practical to get, or should I get a keyboard which is at my budget?

I'm really in a dilemna, because my mom's friend is teaching the piano, and I'd most probably have to pay less than other places.

If I choose to get a slightly higher-priced keyboard I may have to delay the lessons for a month. I could also get that and learn from the internet, but I feel that learning from a teacher is usually better.

How? =/

 

[Cheez]

If your aim is to learn a piano, then you won't be able to get any keyboard at that range. To learn a piano, the best is to get a piano. If you can't, you'll need a keyboard with weighted keys - a digital piano. You won't find one at that range.

If you get a cheap keyboard with unweighted keys, you'll never be able to learn piano.

Perhaps the question to ask is what you would like to learn. Classical, pop, contemporary, jazz etc?

 

[pf]

What is your mom's friend teaching you? Classical or pop?

Is the teacher friendly enough for you to go practice piano at his/her place? Or any friend who lives nearby with a piano and can let you go and practice?

Its better to get something that its really suitable than to compromise. Have to think about issues like touch if use the wrong instrument.

 

[iamjames]

Well, I wanna learn pop piano I guess.

Money is really an issue for me. Hmm, so will it affect that much? Dang, I wish I was rich suddenly LOL.

 

[brinkwine]

don't we all! except those who already are rich, that is.

if pop piano, eg. chords, rhythms etc., then keyboard is enough to begin with.
for starters, you can try casio - can try out at carrefour. haha. they offer good price for their sound quality.

i traded my piano for a synth with organ keys. don't like the feel, but i want to learn midi first without investing too much. am saving up for a keyboard with weighted piano-type keys - i think they offer more control and expressiveness.

i think quality keyboards are worth investing in if you really enjoy making music/ playing. but yeah to start with, just any keyboard will do for practicing fingering. just make sure if you buy 2nd hand/ older models be sure polyphony is at least 32. bare minimum is 16.

 

[iamjames]

Okay thanks a lot for your reply, I'll go and surf around/shop around for a keyboard which has 32 polyphony! Hehe.