Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

At The Back => Time Out => Topic started by: Jonny on November 11, 2008, 08:46:07 PM

Title: Keyboard for Classical!
Post by: Jonny on November 11, 2008, 08:46:07 PM
I was thinking about me loving Classical music. And me liking the keyboard. And me liking - OK, enough about me.

Simple question, would I need a full scale keyboard to play Classical music?
Title: Re: Keyboard for Classical!
Post by: TwilightOdyssey on November 11, 2008, 08:50:10 PM
Yes. What you don't need, depending on what era of Classical, is polyphony.
Title: Re: Keyboard for Classical!
Post by: Jonny on November 11, 2008, 09:01:51 PM
Yes. What you don't need, depending on what era of Classical, is polyphony.
So I have to fish out the monies then, damn. Won't even get far with a 3/4 scale one?
Title: Re: Keyboard for Classical!
Post by: gwEm on November 11, 2008, 11:25:30 PM
interesting question. i prefer minikeys... then again, i make techno music. fullsize would definitely be the way to go for classical.
Title: Re: Keyboard for Classical!
Post by: Oli on November 12, 2008, 11:08:16 AM
I've currently got a 61 key keyboard, and i find it too restricting for a lot of piano/organ pieces, i'd love to get a nice 88 key model.
Title: Re: Keyboard for Classical!
Post by: Jonny on November 12, 2008, 01:21:15 PM
I've currently got a 61 key keyboard, and i find it too restricting for a lot of piano/organ pieces, i'd love to get a nice 88 key model.
They're digital pianos. I've found a nice 76 key piano for £199.99 though :D Dunno about buying it however.
Title: Re: Keyboard for Classical!
Post by: Muzzzz on November 13, 2008, 06:35:49 AM
Keyboard? For classical music? I'd be going for an acoustic piano, although it looks like you have a smaller budget.

You'll also have to tell us what you mean by "classical". Music from the Baroque period, Classical Period etc are not going to use the extremities of the range of the instrument as much as more modern classical music (eg, Bartok) or even the Romantic Period (eg Liszt - but I'm not sure you'd be playing too much Liszt:))

If you're going to play classical music on a keyboard, I think the bigger concern is about getting a weighted instrument so you can give the music the dynamic quality it deserves.

Hope this helps.
Title: Re: Keyboard for Classical!
Post by: Jonny on November 13, 2008, 12:59:16 PM
Keyboard? For classical music? I'd be going for an acoustic piano, although it looks like you have a smaller budget.

You'll also have to tell us what you mean by "classical". Music from the Baroque period, Classical Period etc are not going to use the extremities of the range of the instrument as much as more modern classical music (eg, Bartok) or even the Romantic Period (eg Liszt - but I'm not sure you'd be playing too much Liszt:))

If you're going to play classical music on a keyboard, I think the bigger concern is about getting a weighted instrument so you can give the music the dynamic quality it deserves.

Hope this helps.
The well known stuff really, and anything I come across with a piano in it. I don't want to be spot on AWESOME PIANO SOUND, just want to have the keys to play them. Like Mozart, Bach and stuff like that.
Title: Re: Keyboard for Classical!
Post by: Twinfan on November 13, 2008, 01:37:23 PM
My wife has a Yamaha electric piano.  Full size keys, full keyboard size, weighted keys etc.  SOPunds excellent, and was about £250?  Can't remember the exact model number though...
Title: Re: Keyboard for Classical!
Post by: Jonny on November 13, 2008, 05:31:22 PM
Could be the one I saw in the Argos catalogue :D
Title: Re: Keyboard for Classical!
Post by: Twinfan on November 13, 2008, 08:11:35 PM
Just checked for you Jonny - it's a Yamaha P70.  Highly recommended.
Title: Re: Keyboard for Classical!
Post by: indysmith on November 14, 2008, 12:53:51 AM
+1 on Yamaha - their keyboards are generally fantastic. We have a Clavinova at home which is very nice.
Title: Re: Keyboard for Classical!
Post by: FELINEGUITARS on November 14, 2008, 10:57:27 PM
If money allows - look at Kawai as well.
Properly weighted keys are a must in my book

I know Yamaha and Roland also make nice ones too
Title: Re: Keyboard for Classical!
Post by: broken cord on November 15, 2008, 01:47:31 AM
If you can find a General Music Pro One (GEM Pro One) used, it's a fantastic weighted keyboard that is touch sensitive. I have one and it will give a decent organ and strings  sound too, but the different piano sounds it offers is what make this a serious consideration.
Title: Re: Keyboard for Classical!
Post by: noodleplugerine on November 15, 2008, 01:55:02 AM
Just checked for you Jonny - it's a Yamaha P70.  Highly recommended.

+1, my sister has a P85. Great piece of kit, and affordable.
Title: Re: Keyboard for Classical!
Post by: Sifu Ben on November 16, 2008, 10:54:54 AM
My wife's got one of the last generation of Yamaha "portable grand" range, and it's very nice (but was £350ish)