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Stupid noob question: how many keys??


JanVanHove

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Hi Guys, I usually hang out at the bass forum, but I have a keyboard question so I tought I'd peek my head in and say hi!...

 

I'm looking for a keyboard midi controler, mainly to mess around with GarageBand, but also as a learning tool, and to have something more in terms of musical intruments in order to get my 4-year old son interested in music...

 

Now, there are are 49 keys stuff, and 61, 67, 76, and 88...

I don't want to become a concert pianist, and if my son ever wants to, I'll get a proper piano, but I was wondering if the 49 keys keyboard might be a little limiting...

 

What do you think? is 49 keys enough?

 

Sorry for the stupid question, but i'd like to hear your toughts on that...

 

Cheers

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I someone plays keyboards by themselves, they are playing the bass, the mid range chords and occassionally the high end. Think of a piano accompaniment like the one to the song "Imagine". You will need a minimum of 61 keys to be able to do that.

 

But .. if you want to record some bass lines (and separately) and some leads and chords into garage band, 49 keys is more than adequate. Bet your son has a blast.

 

Jerry

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Diametro, the funniest thing on that pinball display is the text "Ball in play"...

 

Anyway:

 

61 keys (5 octaves) is the standard for synths. 88 keys (over 7 octaves) is the standard for acoustic pianos.

 

Anything with less than 61 keys has a special purpose, usually one of these:

-- Playing lead (e.g. Nord Lead)

-- Portability (e.g. XioSynth)

-- Pitch input for music software (e.g. Remote SL 25)

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217_main_1.jpg

What's next?


Wacky slapstick family comedy ensues involving trips to the opthamologist!


Cheers!

 

That 8-string Uke is actually pretty nice!

 

And recorders are actually pretty cool as startup instruments, their range is enough to play interesting tunes, and the fingering concept is a good introduction to other woodwinds... I personally play the tenor recorder, which is leaps and bounds less bloody annoying than those awful plastic recorder kids get to play (and hate...) at school...

 

And that third thing is, well... :freak:

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I've got an Xboard 49 as a controller and it feels a wee bit cramped - but when I'm just playing single parts it's enough.

 

1976_pinballback.jpg

My father-in-law has this pinball machine :). Good old vintage stuff from the time you couldn't score a million points even if you stayed up and played for a week or so.

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I'm a piano player and I'm struggling with a 49-key x-station for playing with other players. It's too few--61 would be way way better and 72 would be quite sufficient.

 

But then, I'm playing piano on it--part of being a piano is the range. Not so for most other applications.

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Whoa! Better than a piano or organ or synth! Fits in your stinkin pocket! Sounds more like a sax than a Triton! Comes with fries! Plays Shostakovitch right out of the box!


Oh! Ow! GAS attack!

 

 

 

yeah they are pretty sweet, cheap too. gonna get me one soon.

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