|
Setting up your keyboard.
|
|
|
||
|
Your keyboard should be given its own permanent place in your home if you have the space. If you need a stand, it makes sense to purchase a good quality one which will keep the keyboard stable when you play it. If your keyboard wobbles or bounces around when you play it, you need a stronger stand.
A lighter, single "Cross stand" will be fine for a lightweight keyboard, however, if you have a larger or heavier keyboard, you will need a double "Cross stand". |
|
|
|
While you are buying your keyboard stand, why not complete your setup by buying a seat as well? Most people make do with whatever seat is handy but this is not a good idea.
|
Dining room chairs are not ideal, if you have to use one, perch on the edge of it. Dining chairs with arms are useless as the arms will impede your movement.
|
Office chairs are hopeless when sitting at your keyboard. A swivelling office chair will make you slouch and also help you to play all the wrong notes with ease as you swing round on it.
|
|
Selecting the playing mode.
|
||
To get the most from your keyboard, you should press the "ACCOMP" (accompaniment) button or set your keyboard to "FINGERED CHORDS" mode before playing. This will allow you to play three notes or more with your left hand (a chord) and also use the rhythm accompaniments to full advantage. |
Other modes. Normal (Accomp button off): This mode allows you to play one sound over the entire keyboard (like a piano). You can can still use the rhythm, but not the accompaniment. |
|||||||||||||
|
Mode select buttons.
Many keyboards normally offer three or more playing modes. On some keyboards the buttons may not have obvious names, you may find a button marked "ARRANGER", "CHORD INTELIGENCE" or similar. Try them and see if they work, if all else fails - read the manual. |
Single Finger: This mode allows you to play a whole chord with only one finger. If you have an ACCOMP button on your keyboard, you may find that the SINGLE FINGER option automatically engages when you only press one key. If this is so, just try to ignore it and play your chords normally.
|
||||||||||||
|
The SPLIT POINT button if you have one, is usually for setting the point at which the chord and melody areas meet. The ideal point for most keyboard music is indicated on the diagram. |
|||||||||||||