Buying Tips for Key MIDI Controllers

The purchase of a keyboard can be quite tricky if you've never touched a keyboard key and you're not sure where you should look. We therefore help you on your way with these 5 keyboard buying tips.

Tip 1. Do you want to play keyboard or piano

We are regularly told that someone is looking for a keyboard because his / her child is going to take piano lessons. Learning to play the piano on a keyboard is possible but is not recommended by many music schools. This is because a keyboard has no weighted keys and has fewer keys than a piano.

 

If you want to learn to play the piano, you need an acoustic or digital piano . Of course it is true that it is better to have a keyboard at your disposal than nothing at all. Make a good decision in advance whether you want to learn to play the piano or keyboard. If you do not yet know what you would like to play, purchasing a keyboard is more accessible.

Tip 2. How many tests do you need

Since you will enjoy your new keyboard for many years, it is important that you immediately have the right number of keys at your disposal. If you know how many keys you need, you can start looking for your new keyboard in a more targeted way.

 

A keyboard usually has 49, 61 or 76 keys. Many beginners start with a mixer. At 49 keys you can quickly experience annoyance because you have too few keys as you get better with keyboard playing, so you have to buy another keyboard. It is therefore wise to choose a minimum of 61 keys. Velocity sensitive keys and a minimum of 61 keys (5 octaves) is also the minimum requirement at music schools.

Tip 3. Buy a keyboard with velocity-sensitive keys

If you are just starting to play the keyboard, you may think that it does not matter if a keyboard does not have velocity-sensitive keys. But velocity-sensitive keys are of great importance. It determines how much fun and satisfaction you will get from your keyboard.

 

Velocity-sensitive keys ensure that you can put feeling and dynamics in your keyboard playing.

Tip 4. Choose a well-known keyboard brand

Well-known brands of keyboards have proven their quality and reliability over the years since the arrival of keyboards. This way you can be sure that you get a full keyboard for the long term.

Tip 5. Take keyboard lessons 

Once you have bought your keyboard, take keyboard lessons as soon as possible. This can be done, for example, at a music school, at home or online.

 

Exercise on a daily basis for at least 15 to 30 minutes. So that you become familiar with the functions and possibilities of your keyboard. As a result, you will make faster progress and you will get more pleasure from your keyboard.