The easy way to get keyed up on the keyboard Where Piano For Dummies helps budding musicians to master the black-and-white musical keyboard, Keyboard For Dummies helps them understand the possibilities that unfold when those black-and-whites are connected to state-of-the-art music technology.Keyboard For Dummies explains the ins-and-outs of modern keyboards and helps you get the most out of their capabilities. Key content coverage includes: an overview of the types of keyboards available today and how they differ from acoustic pianos; expert advice on choosing the right keyboard for your wants/needs and how to shop and compare the various models; a close look at the types of sounds an electronic keyboard offers and how to achieve them; step-by-step instruction on how to use keyboards anywhere using external speakers, amps, home stereos, computers, and tablets; guidance on how to use keyboard software and applications to get the most out of keyboard technology; and much more. A multimedia component for this title will be hosted at Dummies.com and includes companion audio tracks that demonstrate techniques and sounds found in the bookStep-by-step instructions make learning keyboard easy and funIntroduces you to the musical possibilities of the keyboardIf you're new to the keyboard or looking to take your skills to the next level, Keyboard For Dummies is a thorough guide to the ins and outs of this popular instrument.
Jerry Kovarsky is a regular columnist for Keyboard magazine and longtime product management guru with Casio, Korg, and other companies who have been instrumental in bringing keyboard technology into people's homes and onto stages and studios around the world.
Introduction 1Part I: Getting Started with Keyboards 5Chapter 1: Living in a Keyboard World 7Chapter 2: So Many Keyboards, So Little Time 15Chapter 3: Choosing the Right Keyboard for You 41Chapter 4: Setting Up and Caring For Your Keyboard 61Part II: Dipping Your Toes Fingers into Music Basics 81Chapter 5: Musical Notation: Decoding the Musical Language 83Chapter 6: Developing Your Fingering and Basic Technique 105Chapter 7: Going Chord Crazy 121Part III: Using Common Keyboard Features 133Chapter 8: Selecting and Playing Sounds 135Chapter 9: Using Effects to Enhance Your Sound 153Chapter 10: Jamming with the Drummer: Playing Along to Rhythm Patterns 167Chapter 11: Join The Band! Adding Accompaniment 181Chapter 12: Exploring Arpeggiation 203Part IV: Moving into More-Advanced Keyboard Features 213Chapter 13: Laying Down Tracks: Recording Your Playing 215Chapter 14: Editing Sounds 237Chapter 15: Teacher Included: Using Onboard Learning Systems 257Chapter 16: Sitting In with the Stars: Playing Along with Recordings 275Chapter 17: The Computer Connection: Using Software to Enhance Your Music Making 287Part V: The Part of Tens 305Chapter 18: Ten Tips for Keyboard Shopping 307Chapter 19: Ten Ways to Enhance Your Playing Experience 313Appendix: Discovering What’s on the Audio Tracks 319Index 325