lost intruction booklet,need info about other books concerning keyboards

gchord · 04-01-2004, 03:26 PM

I bought my wife a Yamaha Prs-172 keyboard,and somehow misplaced the instuction booklet. I'd like to know if there are any other books out there that help me ,or my wife,how to play keyboards,using chords and other things.I can't read music at all and my wife does'nt either,so the book may have to show a lot of pictures of chords and things,I was the about getting The Idiot's guide to Keyboards,some say that it is a pretty good book to learn basics on,any sugestions? I'm a guitarist,but would like to play the keyboard and the piano,but I don't have a clue on how to go about it. Thanks.

snizzle · 04-01-2004, 07:50 PM

Hey man, here's my two cents.

First, losing the instruction book to the keyboard probably wont hurt you much as it's more likely information on technical information on how to use the keyboard instead of practical music theory.

If you play guitar you have a HUGE head start. I don't know if you know any theory at all, but there's quite a few threads in here with really good theory, especially about keyboards. But if you want I can go into detail here as well. Lemme know.

If you have NO clue what you're doing at all here's a little bit to get you started:

Find middle C. Hold that down, go up two white keys and hold that down (E) go up two more white keys and hold that down (G). This is a C major chord. There's a thread here titled something like 'anyone who knows about chords'. In that thread i discuss the basic different types of chords (major, minor, etc...) This'll get ya started.

Play along with guitar. You know what a C major chord sounds like on guitar. Get the keyboard to sound like that. Use what knowledge you have to help you out.

I'll get more to ya later depending on what you need after you look at all the other recent threads on here. Apparently a lot of people have had the same questions about learning keyboard w/ chords and stuff.
-shane

PianoMan · 04-01-2004, 08:10 PM

If you really want the instruction manual back, check Yamaha's website to see if they have it in PDF form and if not, e-mail them and see if you can get another copy. However, as stated, it won't have any info on how to actually play - only info on how to use the different features of the keyboard. I would recommend finding a teacher in the local area that isn't expensive and trying some lessons to see if you want to keep playing. Remember - there is no substitute for an actual teacher.

gchord · 04-01-2004, 09:10 PM

Thanks guys for your insight.I might find the booklet this weekend while cleaning up the music room.As far as teachers,I'm blessed with six or seven pianists at our church,I might learn a little here ,a little there,just enough to get me on my way,thanks again,you been a big help.
God bless,
Mike

Nate · 04-02-2004, 02:06 PM

Since you're already a musician, it shouldn't be that hard for you to pick up on piano-playing... what you really need to learn to get you started is the basic mechanics of how to actually play the piano. Do you know how to identify notes on the keyboard (i.e. can you find middle C like Shane instructed?)? Do you have a basic idea of how things should be fingered on the keyboard? Etc, etc.

These are the types of things that a beginner piano method book (I recommend Alfred Pub.'s "Adult Beginner" series) or a decent teacher would be able to teach you much more easily than we could in this online format.

In His love,
Nate

snizzle · 04-02-2004, 02:43 PM

question: are you interested in learning piano or keyboard. The difference being this (at least for this discussion)

piano - classical stuff, etc. Takes years of lessons to master.
keyboard - chords and stuff for worship songs. Given that you play guitar you could probably work something out in a few months.

So are you talking about learning how to play the piano like the master's for like solo type stuff, or are you talking about learning to play keyboard to lead worship/play with a band? HUGE difference.
-shane

snizzle · 04-02-2004, 02:44 PM

of course you can play classical stuff on a keyboard. and worship stuff on a piano. I'm trying to distinguish the two different styles of playing more than the two different instruments.

-shane

gchord · 04-02-2004, 04:29 PM

I'm interested playing both the keyboard and piano,well on the keyboard.Nothing really hardcore,like classical,just able to play hymns and simple songs,that's about it.

snizzle · 04-02-2004, 04:38 PM

If you're going for hymn's and stuff like that...take lessons. It'll do ya a lot of good. I skipped the lessons and just used chords to play songs and now that i'm taking lessons i'm regretting it. My playing ability is above my ability to sightread. So it's really frustrating.

But, if you're doing worship songs, it's really hard to 'teach' how to do it cuz everyone really has their own style. If you have anyone in your church that can at least show you some chords and stuff to get you started that should be all you need.
-shane