Need Help

[newwave]

Hi,

 

I play electric guitar and I'm interested in composing (is a synth what I'm looking for?) as a hobby. I've never touched a piano/keyboard before so what do I do? I also cant read sheet music but i can tell "notes" (play by ear) and would like to LEARN TO READ music. I'd say I'm a pretty good guitarist. (I can play "complicated" solos like november rain learning by ear)

 

What's a good keyboard with good sounds, touch sensitivity, 88 weighted keys (is this necessary?), also it has to be affordable <650usd NEW ? Actually are weighted keys necessary ? If I just want to be a "composer" not a pianist or a concert pianist.

 

Composers I like are : Ravel, Chopin, Tchaikovsky, Jeremy Soule, and lastly Tony Banks he "made the jump" for me. (btw, are there any other composers like this? I really like how they layer sounds instead of just playing scales, really fast.)

 

I actually found a Roland VA-3 in my house, really dusty but working is this a good starter keyboard or should I get a new one?

[MoodyBluesKeys]

Welcome to the forum. The Roland might be a good starting point, it is an "Arranger" keyboard (means that it can automate rhythm and accompaniment, it may be also possible to just play voices individually). The manual for the Roland is available as a PDF file on the net. Manual copyright in the year 2000, and it originally sold for about $1300 retail. The VA5 and VA7 were higher end models.

 

Since it does work, you should be able to at least use it long enough to learn a bit more about your preferences so that when you do choose to buy something new (or newer) you are more likely to be satisfied with your purchase. $650 doesn't buy a lot in new keyboards. Add a bit more, and Casio makes some good models that would satisfy. Used boards in good shape like a Kurzweil PC2 might be in the price range. After all, you can get going with no extra expenditure except headphones to hear your playing (guitar amps don't work great for keys, but in some sounds like Wurlitzer or Rhodes electric piano, they were often used).

 

88 weighted keys are not necessary unless you are going to focus on producing music similar to Ravel, Chopin, and so forth; where very subtle expression in tonality and volume is highly important. Most 61 key boards have an unweighted "synth" action. Usually 73 or 76 key boards are what is called "lightly weighted - makes a good compromise between the rapid action obtainable with synth action and the expressivity of fully weighted actions.

 

Don't know your location, but if you want to progress fairly rapidly (especially in learning to read notation as well as play keys), a good instructor is well worth the money. Check local music stores, music studios, colleges with music departments to help in locating a teacher, and be sure to talk over your goals to see if the teacher is in the same ballpark.