Buying New Keyboard

[Vivi]

Hi,

Following points i need your valuable reviews and advise:
1. I am planning to buy a new keyboard which is suitable to performing live in stage with Indian and Western Tones & Rhythms.
2. I need to know which keyboards are best Roland, Korg or Yamaha.

Thanks,
Vivi

 

[happyrat1]

What's your budget?

What sorts of songs do you want to perform?

They're all the top brands in the industry. Be more specific. Mention some model numbers.

Gary

 

[cpcohen1945]

You'll have to find out which keyboards support Indian scales, or "user-specified" scales. I know that Yamaha has some specific "Arabic models", but I don't know about Indian scales.

I don't know any keyboard that gives a good selection of Indian rhythms. As an example, take a look at the rhythm list for the Casio PX-350 -- see if it has what you need. It is in the PX-350M "User Manual", appendix A-5. You can get it from the Casio.com website -- follow the "Support" link.


Gary's questions are good ones -- How much do you want to spend, and what do you want to do?

. . . Do you need built-in loudspeakers, or will you have an amplifier and PA speakers?

. . . How many keys do you need? I think the minimum for 2-handed playing should be 61 (5 octaves).

. . . What kind of music will you be playing? Traditional harmonium, or Indo-pop, or Western pop / jazz / classical?

. . . Do you play a keyboard now? What kind?


Thanks -

. Charles

. . .

 

[Vivi]

Hey Gary and Charles, thanks for the reply.

Elaborating on my queries,

I wanted to play it in Church and on live stage.
My budget is $649 or 40K INR.
builtin speakers
Need to know amongs these Models Roland XPS10 or BK3 or Korg PA300. Or if you can suggest that can help.
I am looking for 61 keys 5 Octave keyboard.
Mostly, i would like to play Indian Style and songs.
Yahama PSR 395.

 

[Vivi]

I have Yahama PSR 395 currently.

 

[Rayblewit]

This the one for you . . PSR i455
Since you are familiar with Yamaha

ray

 

[cpcohen1945]

Aha -- what you are looking for is called an "arranger keyboard". Korg, Yamaha, Roland are all good brands.

I think the PSR 395 is _really_ old -- 20 years? There has been a lot of progress in electronics, since then.

I've been reading the Roland BK-3 manual. It has two features I would really want, if I were in your place:

a) You can modify the pitches of _every note_ in the 12-note scale -- C, C#, D, etc. So playing "Indian tunings" (that is, raga scales) is possible.

b) You can create your own "rhythms" (both drum rhythms, and chord-accompaniment patterns), if you need them.

And it seems that Roland "customizes" it for different markets, so there might be enough Indian rhythms built-in to satisfy you.

The built-in amps and loudspeakers are weak; you might want a PA system. That depends on how large your audience is, and what other musicians you are playing with. (Any light-weight keyboard has this problem; it is not special to Roland.)

I'll look at the Korg PA300 tonight.

. Charles

 

[cpcohen1945]

Google of "indian arranger keyboard" gives several hits, including this 2012 thread on this forum:

https://www.keyboardforums.com/threads/yamaha-psr-i455.24350/

There are also many YouTube videos.

. Charles

PS -- edit -- the Roland E09-IN (the India-only version of the Roland E09) might be worth looking at. Several reviews say that it has more "Indian content" than the PSR i455.

PPS - I usually don't comment on keyboards that I haven't played myself. I've been talking too much, here.