It looks like you're new here. If you want to get involved, click one of these buttons!
Subscribe to our Patreon, and get image uploads with no ads on the site!
Base theme by DesignModo & ported to Powered by Vanilla by Chris Ireland, modified by the "theFB" team.
Comments
Got to get rid of a load of guitar gigging gear first though.
My music:- https://soundcloud.com/hubobulous
Eqd Speaker Cranker clone
Monte Allums TR-2 Plus mod kit
Trading feedback: http://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/60602/
Piano and organ/synth keyboards feel different (weighted and non-weighted). Trying to play piano stuff on a non-weighted keyboard feels wrong, and vice-versa. If you want to play piano and organ/synth sounds, but do it with only one keyboard, pick the type of board that you're going to use the most and accept the compromise for the other stuff.
For messing around at home (the only keyboard playing I've ever done), I like piano the most, even though I'm not especially into piano music, and certainly don't see my self as a pianist (even an aspiring one). I think it's the dynamic feel that makes the difference - the weighting of the keys works with how you apply the force to vary the volume and attack. Velocity sensitive synth type keys don't feel the same - you have to think more about applying more force and it all seems a bit artificial. At the other end of the scale (ho-ho) is non-velocity sensitive, which essentially means organ. Getting a keyboard that does 'proper' organ stuff with drawbars or stops can be pricey - the cheaper ones tend to have a few examples of organ sounds and thus miss the main thing about organs, which is being able to dial/slide/switch in a huge variety.
You kinda need to decide on what sort of real keyboard sound/type you're primarily interested in and then see what your options are, not only in selecting something to cover that, but in terms of what it can offer regarding other sounds that don't normally go with the feel of the keyboard.
Nomad
Nobody loves me but my mother... and she could be jivin' too...
Seek out an A-100. Same as a B3 internally, but usually much cheaper (merely a kidney, rather than an arm and a leg). Rather than spindly legs, it has an enclosed base/stand (fixed - looks more like a C3 with its modesty panels) which is basically a built-in Hammond Tone Cabinet (a power amp driving two 12" speakers, and a second amp driving a third speaker with reverb). There are hookup kits of various sorts for connecting it to a Leslie - you can switch out the main power amp and run through the Leslie, but still have the reverb amp running.
Be advised - they're big fuckers and weigh about the same as an upright acoustic piano (200 kilos or so). And do plenty of research before committing to anything - there were lots of varieties of Leslie over the years, and not all were good, or compatible with the A-100.
Nomad
Nobody loves me but my mother... and she could be jivin' too...
Kids love playing on Garageband with it and the wife now sees "a keyboard" which may evolve into something more substantial if I wring any sounds out of it. *cough*microbrute *cough *
The Microbrute is rather good. Proper old-school mono analogue synth sounds with the addition of MIDI. The two octave range on the keyboard is a bit limiting, but the board itself is decent enough (certainly not the worst mini keyboard I've used), Comes into its own with full size keys and more octaves.
The sequencer is handy - like a DIY arpeggiator, so educational for the kids (hint, hint). It's good fun getting a sequence running (either built in, or from an external MIDI source), and playing around with the sounds, morphing them as you go. Also does some really nice lead/melody sounds.
Nomad
Nobody loves me but my mother... and she could be jivin' too...
Second, get a digital piano as its a better thing to learn on (than a controller) full stop.
Get a weighted keyboard too. I got my daughters a Casio Previa, and its very good to play. But there are equally good options from Korg and Yamaha. Do the obvious, find your budget and read up, buy one. FOr a new player, there won't be much in terms of feel between whatever you buy at a given pricepoint. Buying blind wouldnt phase me.
Learning keys is great for your overall skill in music IMO. ANd I'd get lessons for sure.
You will probably find that you will spend a lot of time practising technique and dexterity. It's a very difficult discipline to playing guitar, especially if you've played geet for a long time. However, IMO again, it's easier to see the relationship between notes on a keyboard. That could be because I learnt piano from an early age and only started on the guitar at 14, after maybe 8 years on the piano.
Lastly, if you go the digial piano route, you can always hook it up to your computer as a controller.
DO it!