Looking for some help finding an entry level electric piano. I play guitar, not keyboards, so I don't need anything real sophisticated.

I've been trying to learn more about music theory, intervals, chords, scales, modes, etc. One thing I'd like to do is improve my ability to identify a particular interval when I hear it. That just seems like it would be easier on a keyboard than a guitar. Ditto for learning scales/modes and playing around with different chords, especially extended chords.

I would also like to be able to play a simple chord progression and loop it to use as a backing track to improvise over on guitar.

Another feature that I'd like is an output that I can plug into an amp. This is more of a "nice to have" than a hard requirement. A headphone jack would be good too but I think this is a pretty standard feature on most keyboards.

I don't need a professional keyboard but I don't want a toy either. You never know, I might find that I'm good at it.

I'm not wedded to any particular brand but I've been looking at some Yamaha keyboards on craigslist. They seem to be pretty full-featured at a reasonable price. Speaking of which, I'm hoping to find something used in the neighborhood of $100 but I'll go up to about $200 if I need to. If that's unrealistic, please say so.

I appreciate any advice.

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Posted by TheSlizzardKing

70115

Member since Oct 2010

470 posts

Posted on 5/24/19 at 11:46 am to MountainTiger

I’m like you, guitar player first and piano second. I have a Yamaha P-45 which is a great keyboard for the price, and it has weighted keys so it feels like a real piano. I’ve never plugged it into an amplifier, but it’s got a good tone overall and has a few different settings.

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Posted by randybobandy

NOLA

Member since Mar 2015

1908 posts

Posted on 5/24/19 at 11:57 am to MountainTiger

Randybobandy Jr has a Yamaha from guitar center that does everything you noted. It was about $200. If you want to improvise over chord changes, just get a looper for your pedalboard. TC electronics makes a great one, base line....chords.... improv over both and it sounds great.

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Posted by Ace Midnight

Between sanity and madness

Member since Dec 2006

89542 posts

Posted on 5/24/19 at 12:25 pm to MountainTiger

quote:
Speaking of which, I'm hoping to find something used in the neighborhood of $100 but I'll go up to about $200 if I need to. If that's unrealistic, please say so.

I'm going to say that $100 seems unrealistic. ~$300 (new) would be my absolute starting budget, but I am rather particular. I don't think digital pianos/keyboards age in the used market very well, either, but again that's my experience, YMMV as always.

Check out these options for under $300

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Posted by Backinthe615

Member since Nov 2011

6871 posts

Posted on 5/24/19 at 1:31 pm to MountainTiger

I’d honestly check out a few pawn shops.

Yamaha and Casio both have pretty robustly featured lower-priced models with on-board speakers as well as 1/4 outs. It seems like every time I’m hunting for something else I’ll see two or three of them in new condition there that are right in your range.

You may find a weighted 88 key in that range too, but it’s less likely to be in good shape or even something you necessarily need.

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Posted by MountainTiger

The foot of Mt. Belzoni

Member since Dec 2008

14663 posts

Posted on 5/24/19 at 2:59 pm to Ace Midnight

quote:
I'm going to say that $100 seems unrealistic. ~$300 (new) would be my absolute starting budget

I've seen quite a few on craigslist for $100 and under, I'm just not sure if they have the looping feature.

Pawn shop is a good idea. I'll check some of those out.

I thought of getting a looping pedal and that's one reason I want a 1/4" output.

Weighted keys would be nice but I actually think a 61 key model would be better for my application since it takes up less space.

Thanks all for the suggestions so far.

This post was edited on 5/24/19 at 3:01 pm

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