Subject: RE: Very cheap keyboard - suggestions? From: WalkaboutsVerse Date: 28 Dec 09 - 01:37 PM ...but do they have sufficient volume, Penny..? |
Subject: RE: Very cheap keyboard - suggestions? From: Penny S. Date: 28 Dec 09 - 12:42 PM What about a roll-up keyboard? Try Maplin or similar. Or ebay. Penny |
Subject: RE: Very cheap keyboard - suggestions? From: Phil Edwards Date: 28 Dec 09 - 06:48 AM Those are all cricketers, Bruce! Alice - good thinking; I'd forgotten Freecycle. But for now, that Bontempi B1 is mine, mine I tell you - I put down the virtual money last night. I'll let you know how I get on. Many thanks to Suibhne for the tip! |
Subject: RE: Very cheap keyboard - suggestions? From: Alice Date: 27 Dec 09 - 07:39 PM I have a piano, Yamaha electronic keyboard, a battery small keyboard ($7 from thrift shop) and a harmonium from India that I bought online. I like how compact the harmonium is. for FREE Do you have freecycle.com where you live? Someone in my area just gave away a keyboard free yesterday on freecycle. |
Subject: RE: Very cheap keyboard - suggestions? From: Jack Blandiver Date: 27 Dec 09 - 03:41 PM Better quality on the above: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLSDWzz3Lws |
Subject: RE: Very cheap keyboard - suggestions? From: GUEST,S O'P Date: 27 Dec 09 - 02:45 PM One-note-at-a-time music = monophony, although most harmoniums come with drone stops & many with couplers, the music remains essentially monophonic in a highly evolved melismatic tradition. On the floor? I've seen them played in all positions - even on shoulder staps by children busking on trains: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MnZ9GbWqMrg Note the use of chords too. |
Subject: RE: Very cheap keyboard - suggestions? From: WalkaboutsVerse Date: 27 Dec 09 - 02:01 PM The hand pump harmonium caught on in India as they could play their usual one-note-at-a-time music with one hand, and pump the bellows with the other, with the harmonium on a the floor. |
Subject: RE: Very cheap keyboard - suggestions? From: GUEST,S O'P (Ashamed) Date: 27 Dec 09 - 01:21 PM Please note that the misplaced they're in the above post was residual from the sentence as I orginally wrote it in which it was perfectly correct. Rehashing the sentence it resonated phonetically in my egg-nog addled brain & so slipped through the net. |
Subject: RE: Very cheap keyboard - suggestions? From: GUEST,S O'P (Astray) Date: 27 Dec 09 - 01:18 PM There's absolutely no point in a basic one-row melodeon for song accompaniment, as it will only play one octave in one key, and only a few chords. Just been messing with my toy melodeon & accordion on a couple of E. Trads (Lovely Joan & Miller of Dee) & I would prefer them to sing with to any electronic keyboard no matter what they're limitations might be! This doesn't make any sort of luddite as 50% of my musical output I do using computer, sequencers, soft synths, controllers & (my favourite instrument of all) Ableton Live - but when it comes to traditional song I feel as if I need to be singing against something a lot more corporeal than a vibrating cardboard / plastic cone. My Electronic Shruti box would seem to be the exception to this rule for reasons I can't quite figure out, maybe because the cone only gives a drone. Me thinks an Indian Harmonium would suit you just fine, Pip - there's some nice portable ones around, foldaways & travellers which sound very nice indeed. |
Subject: RE: Very cheap keyboard - suggestions? From: WalkaboutsVerse Date: 27 Dec 09 - 12:12 PM As Tootler and Marje suggest, many musicians over the centuries have used some kind of keyboard as a first or second instrument with which to work things out and, nowadays, it's mostly the electronic keyboard. |
Subject: RE: Very cheap keyboard - suggestions? From: Mr Happy Date: 27 Dec 09 - 11:55 AM Here's mine http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3123/3252565182_66a95f6a70.jpg its a Farfisa Pianorgan [Chord Organ, 1960's] Great sound! Used it for carols etc recently. Cost £30 from a local pub about ten years back |
Subject: RE: Very cheap keyboard - suggestions? From: Tootler Date: 27 Dec 09 - 11:09 AM I would have thought something from the Yamaha or Casio range of electronic keyboards would suit very well. I have a Yamaha keyboard which I got some 15 years ago and which has a five octave full size keyboard, velocity sensitive keys and a MIDI interface. It was not the cheapest in the range but reasonably priced and in general something with a similar specification is now very much cheaper. The quality of the sounds is reasonable and most electronic keyboards at least have a decent piano sound if many of the others are a bit naff. The musical director of our recorder society has borrowed mine on a couple of occasions and found it quite satisfactory until she eventually bought her own. |
Subject: RE: Very cheap keyboard - suggestions? From: Marje Date: 27 Dec 09 - 11:08 AM There's absolutely no point in a basic one-row melodeon for song accompaniment, as it will only play one octave in one key, and only a few chords. A simple electronic keyboard sounds as if it would tick most of the boxes for you. Now that Xmas is past, people may have upgraded and you could possibly pick up something suitable at a charity shop or a car boot sale (weather permitting). But beware of the very cheap ones that run on batteries, as they could cost a lot to run. Either find something that interfaces with your computer or a simple Yamaha or Casio keyboard wthat plugs into the mains. I'm quite excited because I got a Yamaha keyboard for Christmas. I just love messing about with the chord accompaniments and the different voices. I have no intention of using it to perform in front of others (my daughter has told me sternly that my "Soul" version of Baa Baa Black Sheep is not going to win the X-factor) but I'm having huge fun with it. I also think it will be useful for working out harmonies and chords, and generally getting to understand a bit more about how music works. Marje |
Subject: RE: Very cheap keyboard - suggestions? From: Genie Date: 27 Dec 09 - 10:54 AM I strongly suggest thrift shops and craigs list. I've found excellent bargains that way, including a full 88-key Yamaha keyboard with all sorts of bells and whistles and that works perfectly, for $49. I've also found much smaller ones that are quite functional, for $10 to $20. |
Subject: RE: Very cheap keyboard - suggestions? From: beeliner Date: 27 Dec 09 - 10:50 AM You shouldn't have any trouble finding a really nice used one on eBay for a reasonable price. Be sure it has a MIDI interface, and be sure you can return it if it is defective upon arrival, even if you have to pay the return shipping. |
Subject: RE: Very cheap keyboard - suggestions? From: WalkaboutsVerse Date: 27 Dec 09 - 05:55 AM I'd like to try a Shoenhut toy piano (really a mini celesta) but, whilst they are easy to purchase in America, they are hard to find here in England..? |
Subject: RE: Very cheap keyboard - suggestions? From: Jack Blandiver Date: 27 Dec 09 - 05:00 AM For even less: he Child's Mini Melodeon which are very nice too, though seasoned box players will invariably look down their snouts at anyone who dares field such a beast in public... |
Subject: RE: Very cheap keyboard - suggestions? From: Jack Blandiver Date: 27 Dec 09 - 04:22 AM For a few quid more you could get yourself one of THESE. You can get cheaper ones which are very workable little bellows pumped melodicas with the added benefit of drone buttons. £35 or so, I have one myself though seldom field it in public but it's great fun nonetheless - HERE. I use it to accompany my Fox Jumps Over the Parsons Gate & other hunting songs and sounds just braw. Yo Ross - there's our great minds thinking alike again! There's mains driven Bontempi on ebay right now for £22 HERE which has the chord buttons Ross describes above. As for battery life, I bought my B1 from Chester-le-Street flee market more than ten years ago and it's still got the same batteries in it, and it's still going strong. The motor does interfere with the TV though... |
Subject: RE: Very cheap keyboard - suggestions? From: Ross Campbell Date: 26 Dec 09 - 10:46 PM Some relatives of mine started off their keyboard careers with a really cheap plastic organ with electric (Mains-driven) blower, proper reeds and a bank of chord buttons that gave the basic major and corresponding minor chords. There's a similar toy version on eBay at the moment under the Bontempi name here. Probably similar vintage ('70s?), these basic instruments were probably ousted from the marketplace (and my relatives' home) by the arrival of cheap electronic instruments from Casio, Yamaha, etc. While these were marvels of ingenuity (later models were dumbed down considerably), they never achieved the natural sound of the old reed organ. The cheaper versions available today tend to have miniature keyboards. You might find it worthwhile looking for one with full-size keys, though this obviously extends the overall size (and cost) of the instrument and reduces portability. I have a Yamaha PSR-195 (this sort of thing) surplus to requirements which might suit, but can't find the power supply at the moment. PM if interested (I'm in Fleetwood, Lancs). Ross |
Subject: RE: Very cheap keyboard - suggestions? From: GUEST,.gargoyle Date: 26 Dec 09 - 09:59 PM A child's toy...
An auto-chord ukalae
75% off after the holidays.....about $8.00 US
Sincerely,
|
Subject: RE: Very cheap keyboard - suggestions? From: Bernard Date: 26 Dec 09 - 09:16 PM There are plenty of 'dumb' MIDI keyboards around, but you'll usually need a USB MIDI controller for them to work. PM for my phone number, Pip, if you want a chat - or maybe I'll see you at the Sarries session on New Year's Day (lunchtime onwards)? You're probably going to find what you want in 'Cash Converters' or suchlike - I've found all sorts of bargains in my local one - such as a Burns Double Six electric 12-string, a Tascam 788 digital recorder and a few PCs. Off topic for a moment - the reason why PCs seem to end up in there cheaply is because they're riddled with malware! Forewarned is forearmed! |
Subject: RE: Very cheap keyboard - suggestions? From: Phil Edwards Date: 26 Dec 09 - 07:26 PM O brave new world! I really like the idea of a "toy" harmonium - running a fan must chew up batteries, though. |
Subject: RE: Very cheap keyboard - suggestions? From: Jack Blandiver Date: 26 Dec 09 - 07:07 PM Anyone aware of anything like that? I think you want a basic controller keyboard which can be had quite cheaply. I use an M-Audio Oxygen 8 midi controller which hooks up with midi & sequencing software on my DAW. There's one on ebay right now going cheap - HERE. |
Subject: RE: Very cheap keyboard - suggestions? From: Jack Blandiver Date: 26 Dec 09 - 07:01 PM The thing to look out for is an old Bontemti reed organ with a battery operated blower. Basically an harmonium / melodica, in various sizes, long superseded by the microchip; entirely acoustic. There's a Bontempi B1 going on Ebay right now (HERE) for £11.99 (+ £3.99 P&P) - I used to use one of these for drones before I got my shruti box. The powering-up of the motor when you switch it on is one of the finest sounds in folk music. |
Subject: RE: Very cheap keyboard - suggestions? From: Phil Edwards Date: 26 Dec 09 - 06:58 PM WAV - I want chords. Gurney - I need to be able to sing. Apart from that, thanks for the suggestions! Quite a few years ago now, I remember a friend talking about some bargain-basement electronic keyboard which didn't have its own MIDI processing - it plugged into a PC (or Mac) & used the computer's MIDI. Anyone aware of anything like that? |
Subject: RE: Very cheap keyboard - suggestions? From: Bobert Date: 26 Dec 09 - 06:55 PM Pawn shops sell keyboards cheap... |
Subject: RE: Very cheap keyboard - suggestions? From: olddude Date: 26 Dec 09 - 06:35 PM Something to think about, a cheap keyboard and some software called "Ivory" will give you everything. I know several pro studio's that are using it ... I don't play piano but people I trust said it is amazing for recording ... if you want to do recording http://synthogy.com/ |
Subject: RE: Very cheap keyboard - suggestions? From: Gurney Date: 26 Dec 09 - 06:13 PM Keyboard if you are inclined toward English System concertina, perhaps mouthorgan if you like the Anglo German System. |
Subject: RE: Very cheap keyboard - suggestions? From: GUEST,Joe G Date: 26 Dec 09 - 05:18 PM Casio & Yamaha make very good cheap keyboards - I've had a few Casios over the years and they are incredibly reliable (or were - I bought the last one about 20 years ago!). Less than £100 should see you with a good model I would think |
Subject: RE: Very cheap keyboard - suggestions? From: WalkaboutsVerse Date: 26 Dec 09 - 05:11 PM I also really like the timbre of concertinas, Pip, but make do with "bargain-basement" electric keyboards, set on "piano" for folk or "organ" for hymns (as here). I, however, avoid chords and simply double the melody. |
Subject: Very cheap keyboard - suggestions? From: Phil Edwards Date: 26 Dec 09 - 12:55 PM I sing, but I've never accompanied myself on anything. I'm starting to get interested in chords, with a view to ultimately taking up the English concertina ('ultimately' as in 'when the Radish finances permit'). In the mean time I could really use something to pick out chords (and melody lines) on. I'm thinking a keyboard rather than a guitar - I want to see the notes in front of me rather than having to learn chord shapes. On the other hand, I do need to be able to sing over it, which rules out melodicas. Any suggestions for where/how I could find a bargain-basement keyboard instrument, melodicas excluded? |
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