Musical Instruments Thread

#1
MAD

MAD

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#1
My dad wants to get a piano keyboard to add music to songs that he writes and sings. Maybe something that is compatible with a computer. I’m clueless with this type of thing, any suggestions? Thanks.
 
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#2
#2
mad4vols said:
My dad wants to get a piano keyboard to add music to songs that he writes and sings. Maybe something that is compatible with a computer. I’m clueless with this type of thing, any suggestions? Thanks.
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If he is willing to invest in an interface with MIDI capability, a simple, weighted keys MIDI controller will work well. I have a Roland and love it. He would need a software program, and the sky is the limit here. If he is already recording, he probably has a compatible DAW. If he is even a mediocre pianist, I would focus on key feel/response.

Otherwise, you are looking for an electric keyboard with built-in effects. A good one is much more expensive.

A little more info will help me.
 
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#3
#3
kiddiedoc said:
If he is willing to invest in an interface with MIDI capability, a simple, weighted keys MIDI controller will work well. I have a Roland and love it. He would need a software program, and the sky is the limit here. If he is already recording, he probably has a compatible DAW. If he is even a mediocre pianist, I would focus on key feel/response.

Otherwise, you are looking for an electric keyboard with built-in effects. A good one is much more expensive.

A little more info will help me.
Click to expand...
Thanks for your help. My dad ended up getting an accordion and a really good harmonica. By the way, a lot of people working in these shops have no clue.
 
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#6
#6
So my mom started taking piano lessons a few months ago. There is a piano in her building on the first floor where she can practice but it’s inconvenient. She wants her to get something for her place like an electric keyboard because they aren’t as big and heavy but her piano teacher is totally against them and thinks she needs to stick with getting a piano. Any advice would be appreciated.
 
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#7
#7
mad4vols said:
So my mom started taking piano lessons a few months ago. There is a piano in her building on the first floor where she can practice but it’s inconvenient. She wants her to get something for her place like an electric keyboard because they aren’t as big and heavy but her piano teacher is totally against them and thinks she needs to stick with getting a piano. Any advice would be appreciated.
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My mom ended up getting a used piano.

4ED6ED80-E8BE-4466-92D4-890F1D8145AB.jpeg
 
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#10
#10
kiddiedoc said:
There really isn't any way to beat hammers on strings.
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Which Roland you have KD? I have an FP-30 that I'm selling. I picked up a Yamaha p-515. I switched because the app for the Yamaha is much better and it's easy to add sound modules (like the Korg) that greatly expand the styles (lots of great synths). That said, I still prefer the feel of the Roland over the Yamaha.
 
#11
#11
mad4vols said:
She wants her to get something for her place like an electric keyboard because they aren’t as big and heavy but her piano teacher is totally against them and thinks she needs to stick with getting a piano.
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I wonder how serious of a pianist one has to be before reaching the keyboard/piano divide?

A teacher at our church used to give lessons on a keyboard, even though there were pianos available. But this was for mostly young kids.
 
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#12
#12
mad4vols said:
My mom ended up getting a used piano.

View attachment 522169
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Make sure she looks into some sort of humidity control for the piano.. I’d never heard of them, but our two grand pianos at church have them. When the wood gets too dry (think endlessly running a/c), they add moisture. When it gets too moist (think your mom opening a slider), they dry things out again.

I guess a piano tuner could give her more coherent info?
 
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#13
#13
VolNExile said:
Make sure she looks into some sort of humidity control for the piano.. I’d never heard of them, but our two grand pianos at church have them. When the wood gets too dry (think endlessly running a/c), they add moisture. When it gets too moist (think your mom opening a slider), they dry things out again.

I guess a piano tuner could give her more coherent info?
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Thanks for the suggestion, a tuner(her teacher) is coming out to her place next week, I’ll make sure she asks.
 
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#14
#14
VolNExile said:
Make sure she looks into some sort of humidity control for the piano.. I’d never heard of them, but our two grand pianos at church have them. When the wood gets too dry (think endlessly running a/c), they add moisture. When it gets too moist (think your mom opening a slider), they dry things out again.

I guess a piano tuner could give her more coherent info?
Click to expand...
Just told my mom, she said it’s already built in and plugged in. Thank you.
 
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#15
#15
mad4vols said:
Just told my mom, she said it’s already built in and plugged in. Thank you.
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Great! These must officially be a Thing now.

I only learned about them at choir practice once when I was studying a puddle under the piano, thinking “oh great, an incompletely-housebroken piano…”

Turns out (at least with ours) that if you move the piano without unplugging the gadget first, water spills from the reservoir. Old age catches up with us all, it seems!
 
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#16
#16
volinbham said:
Which Roland you have KD? I have an FP-30 that I'm selling. I picked up a Yamaha p-515. I switched because the app for the Yamaha is much better and it's easy to add sound modules (like the Korg) that greatly expand the styles (lots of great synths). That said, I still prefer the feel of the Roland over the Yamaha.
Click to expand...
RD-800. I really only use it as a MIDI controller, as I have Reason in my studio, and it has a much better sound engine.
 
#17
#17
I have a Yamaha FG580 guitar, a King Super 20 Silversonic alto sax, and a 1938 Beuscher Aristocrat tenor sax. Throughout my twenties and into my thirties, I played all three. When I retire, I’ll pick them up, again.
 
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#18
#18
I just bought a piano and a music book to learn. I have 15 years of guitar playing experience so I’m hoping some of those musical skills translate over to piano.
 
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#19
#19
Matt2496 said:
I just bought a piano and a music book to learn. I have 15 years of guitar playing experience so I’m hoping some of those musical skills translate over to piano.
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You'd not played the piano (much) before? You just went out and bought one?
 
#20
#20
Matt2496 said:
I just bought a piano and a music book to learn. I have 15 years of guitar playing experience so I’m hoping some of those musical skills translate over to piano.
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The piano is much simpler -- it's all laid out in a line, so you can actually see the chord shapes and scales. I have played since I was 6. The guitar neck is complicated with six different sets of notes.

Happy learning!
 
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#21
#21
kiddiedoc said:
The piano is much simpler -- it's all laid out in a line, so you can actually see the chord shapes and scales. I have played since I was 6. The guitar neck is complicated with six different sets of notes.

Happy learning!
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Why is a standard tuning for guitar as such? 5 tones or semitones per string, but that pesky B sting only has 4.
Just guessing, but because it has 2 semitones?
 
#25
#25
kiddiedoc said:
That's a helluva undertaking
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He dabbles in his shop. It's a decent shop set up, but not a true woodworking set up, but he has always had construction skills of different types. I've only seen pics, but he has the back done and part of the internal frame. Couldn't tell if he has the neck coming along yet. I think the back and face are that Acadia wood. Dark African wood. Should produce a good sound.
 
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