Melodious Thunk Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 I am just a beginner at this whole keyboard thing, but I've been a guitar player for years. I'd often sit on my couch and practice guitar while watching a documentary or a baseball game. My question is... Does anyone do this with a keyboard? If so, what keyboard do you use as I'd like to pick something up? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brettymike Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 Hi Melodious , I swear a lot of people here never get off the couch , and probably do the same . Get hold of the latest and greatest feather weight Casio PX5 - only 24 lbs , and an awesome little beast for learner or Pro. Get your teeth into some piano on that , while you watch the goggle box , listen to tunes , and play along with them . Brett Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobadohshe Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 My question is... Does anyone do this with a keyboard? Not a good idea. You just don't 'hold' a keyboard like you do a guitar or bass. Quote Kawai C-60 Grand Piano : Hammond A-100 : Hammond SK2 : Yamaha CP4 : Yamaha Montage 7 : Moog Sub 37 My latest album: Funky organ, huge horn section https://bobbycressey.bandcamp.com/album/cali-native Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
16251 Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 Something with minikeys such as microStation or even iRigKeys would be cool. Not for technique, but you could work on how voicings look like and sound. Sometimes going five feet from couch to piano after long day at work is difficult. Once I start playing I'm fine. You guitar players can lounge as you practice. Quote AvantGrand N2 | ES520 | Gallien-Krueger MK & MP | https://soundcloud.com/pete36251 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clavjav Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 Keytar? Quote RD700NX, Krome 61, Acuna 73 + Mainstage 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DulceLabs.com Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 I do this with a 25 key (Alesis QX 25) or 49 key (M Audio Keyrig) and an iPad/iPhone. As pointed out, not good for actual "playing" but for experimenting with sounds/progressions it is fun. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
I-missRichardTee Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 NOT a good idea. I have been addicted to TV in the past. Playing music requires what any skill requires, concentration. To in effect, train your mind to be half focussed - I don't know, I say no, don't. Quote You don't have ideas, ideas have you We see the world, not as it is, but as we are. "One mans food is another mans poison". I defend your right to speak hate. Tolerance to a point, not agreement Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DulceLabs.com Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 NOT a good idea. I have been addicted to TV in the past. Playing music requires what any skill requires, concentration. To in effect, train your mind to be half focussed - I don't know, I say no, don't. Two ways to look at it: Q: Is it OK to watch TV while you are practicing piano? A: NO! You need to be 100% focused on the music. OR Q: Is it OK to practice piano while you are watching TV? A: Sure. TV is a waste of time.You should at least be doing something productive while you watch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WesG Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 I don't know about you guys, but I can't play worth a shit if my keyboard is in my lap. If you're going to watch TV...set your keys up in front of it. Quote Hammond: L111, M100, M3, BC, CV, Franken CV, A100, D152, C3, B3 Leslie: 710, 760, 51C, 147, 145, 122, 22H, 31H Yamaha: CP4, DGX-620, DX7II-FD-E!, PF85, DX9 Roland: VR-09, RD-800 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tusker Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 Two ways to look at it: Q: Is it OK to watch TV while you are practicing piano? A: NO! You need to be 100% focused on the music. OR Q: Is it OK to practice piano while you are watching TV? A: Sure. TV is a waste of time.You should at least be doing something productive while you watch. Yep, except that one of these arguments is not remotely as accurate as the other when it comes to skill-building. If you are playing anything close to the limits of your ability, or you hoping to improve that ability, you should know that muscle memory is trained from the frontal cortex first and then back to the brain stem as the autonomous processes take over. 1) Train your muscles to make mistakes and they will continue doing so. 2) Train your muscles to play well and they will continue doing so. These two are like each other. You choose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
16251 Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 NOT a good idea. I have been addicted to TV in the past. Playing music requires what any skill requires, concentration. To in effect, train your mind to be half focussed - I don't know, I say no, don't. That could be the 1/2 empty answer. The 1/2 full answer could be that having TV on could help learn how to keep outside distractions from affecting your concentration, like on a gig. I think any extra time working out your brain is a good thing. Now if I could practice what I preach. Quote AvantGrand N2 | ES520 | Gallien-Krueger MK & MP | https://soundcloud.com/pete36251 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnotherScott Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 If it's at least in part for practicing fingerwork, I wouldn't suggest the Microstation, only because for that purpose, I think it would be better to have full size keys. I think Yamaha MX49 would be a good choice. Or as mentioned, possibly a keytar (one with full size keys), which can also sit flat in your lap. I'd still lean toward the MX for having more keys than the current keytars. Quote Maybe this is the best place for a shameless plug! Our now not-so-new new video at https://youtu.be/3ZRC3b4p4EI is a 40 minute adaptation of T. S. Eliot's "Prufrock" - check it out! And hopefully I'll have something new here this year. ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Joe Muscara Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 I love the way the OP says he has been doing this with guitar for years, and some of you say you can't do that with keyboard. Sometimes I wonder if comments like this are why so many people think keyboard is hard to do. Besides the Casio PX-5S, I think something like the PX-150, PX-350, or any of their models with built-in speakers would work. Throw it on an X-stand (it's light enough! ) and you can noodle while the TV drones on. Quote "I'm so crazy, I don't know this is impossible! Hoo hoo!" - Daffy Duck "The good news is that once you start piano you never have to worry about getting laid again. More time to practice!" - MOI Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mate stubb Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 Wimps! I can sit in my favorite arm chair, with my full sized Casio PX-5S sitting across the arms, battery powered with headphones and play, practice or program while the idiot box is going in the background. Quote Moe --- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zukskywalker Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 To the OP: It makes no sound but IMHO grab yourself an Alesis Vortex and something for it to talk to. Sounds really interesting to have a guitar player on a keytar, perhaps correlating guitar technique to keyboard. (Perhaps you could load up a guitar patch and tell us what you think.) Yeah, yeah, blasphemy I know, but he did say on the couch. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ken Beaumont Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 Alesis Vortex into an iPad here, its a lot of fun! Quote Boards: Kurzweil SP-6, Roland FA-08, VR-09, DeepMind 12 Modules: Korg Radias, Roland D-05, Bk7-m & Sonic Cell Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moon Zero Two Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 Plus 1 for keytar! I have a roland connected to a jd990. I think it is fun to try to play along with commercials or theme music. I don't know when it would come in handy but I can play the theme to The Daily Show and IT Crowd. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RABid Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 There are not many perfect situations on stage that allow you to play while totally focused only on what you are doing. Rowdy crowd, stupid singers, drunk bass players. I consider it an advantage to be able to play while distracted. Anyway, I sometimes use a Novation UltraNova while sitting on the porch. No built in speakers so I use headphones or a mini-amp. For playing in front of the TV I have a keyboard stand and stool in the corner of the living room. Various keyboards come and go in that spot. It is handy for going through sounds, practicing a lick, patch programming, etc... Quote This post edited for speling. My Sweetwater Gear Exchange Page Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bucktunes Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 Melodica. You hold it the same way whether you're standing, sitting on a bench, or sitting in a recliner. So there's no need to be concerned with playing posture. And it doesn't require power or speakers. Of course it won't help you with piano technique, but at least it gives you something worthwhile to do while you're watching TV! Quote ><> Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stillplaying Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 Melodica. Aye. Melodica Thunk. Quote I'm the piano player "off of" Borrowed Books. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobadohshe Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 I'm blown away by the many 'yes' answers in this thread. At least put the damn thing on a stand. Quote Kawai C-60 Grand Piano : Hammond A-100 : Hammond SK2 : Yamaha CP4 : Yamaha Montage 7 : Moog Sub 37 My latest album: Funky organ, huge horn section https://bobbycressey.bandcamp.com/album/cali-native Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unclebyron Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 I've got a Roland Juno Gi for couching. It's light in your lap (12 pounds), not too short (61 keys) and great for doodling. Of course I wear head phones so I'm not concerned about hearing what I'm watching on TV. As mentioned, this will not build your chops but it does keep the keyboard "fun factor" alive. Especially for a beginner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GovernorSilver Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 If you're going to watch TV...set your keys up in front of it. I'm usually tempted to do this during the NFL season and postseason. There tends to be so many commercials and other breaks in the action (timeouts, replay reviews, etc.) that I can switch my concentration to the instrument during those breaks. Yes, I've played guitar while watching TV too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Adan Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 Any 61-note, 12 pound-ish keyboard will work for this. I have a Yamaha NP 11 that I'll take on some of our family car trips, for instance Tahoe weekends. The built in speakers are handy, as is the battery power, and it was cheap to buy. The keyboard kinda sucks, but it's better than nothing, when nothing is the only alternative. Quote Gigging: Crumar Mojo 61, Hammond SKPro Home: Vintage Vibe 64 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam Mullins Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 I think playing in front of the TV is not a replacement for focused practice, but can be useful. I often refresh my memory on cover songs while I'm watching golf or basketball on TV. Sometimes I will bring the ipad in and learn new songs from youtube during commercial breaks. Many years ago, I went to the local Guitar Center and got a cheap 61-note keyboard with speakers for just this purpose. In my case, it was a Casio CTK-900, but I'm sure that model doesn't exist now. I would never play this keyboard for pleasure away from the TV, but it's light enough (with speakers) to sit comfortably in my lab and serves this purpose nicely. As you can imagine, it annoys my wife if she is also watching. Quote Yamaha CK88, Arturia Keylab 61 MkII, Moog Sub 37, Yamaha U1 Upright, Casio CT-S500, Mac Logic/Mainstage, iPad Camelot, Spacestation V.3, QSC K10.2, JBL EON One Compact www.stickmanor.com There's a thin white line between fear and fury - Stickman Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AnotherScott Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 Yeah, something with speakers and batteries is nice, so you can just grab it and play without having to think about it, the way you could a guitar. Alternately, I like Scott Hamlin and Toana's suggestion, a USB keyboard that plugs into an iPad, which functions as the sound source, the power, and (at least to some extent) the speaker. Quote Maybe this is the best place for a shameless plug! Our now not-so-new new video at https://youtu.be/3ZRC3b4p4EI is a 40 minute adaptation of T. S. Eliot's "Prufrock" - check it out! And hopefully I'll have something new here this year. ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dana. Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 I'd often sit on my couch and practice guitar while watching a documentary or a baseball game. Is it just me or is this a sad commentary on how documentaries are viewed? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brettymike Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 Wimps! I can sit in my favorite arm chair, with my full sized Casio PX-5S sitting across the arms, battery powered with headphones and play, practice or program while the idiot box is going in the background. Awesome , a real musician here in my book Mate stubb . I think it's great at times to practice picking up tunes by ear off the telly (how I've done a ton of learning) , and getting used to "distractions" in a playing environment sometimes as well. Brett Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
16251 Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 Maybe the perfect setup is a keyboard also for bedroom and bathroom. Quote AvantGrand N2 | ES520 | Gallien-Krueger MK & MP | https://soundcloud.com/pete36251 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Synthoid Posted February 18, 2014 Share Posted February 18, 2014 I'm blown away by the many 'yes' answers in this thread. At least put the damn thing on a stand. Indeed! Perhaps the thread title should be changed to "Keyboard for couch potatoes." Quote When an eel hits your eye like a big pizza pie, that's a Moray. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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