Newbie: forte piano sound on Nord keyboards

[nyc_paramedic_RN]

Hello,

Please excuse my ignorance; I'm a long time classical music lover but never learned to play an instrument. Could not find any decent square forte pianos for sale and was hoping to learn Mozart works on a forte keyboard.

I accidentally came across this video: Beethoven PATHETIQUE: Walter Fortepiano / Hammerflügel (1795) VS. nord stage 3, digital Fortepiano

Link:

I'm looking for a digital keyboard with weighted keys that will let me learn forte piano but know nothing about MIDI or digital keyboards. Is it a matter of just loading a forte piano library onto these keyboards? Or is the forte sound unique to Nords??

I also assume I need hammer weighted keys to learn forte style properly?

I tried to searches for digital forte piano but keeps getting results for a Forte brand or digital piano.

May thanks in advance,

Nick

[catosim]

You can load different samples on the instrument, using a software called Nord Sound Manager.
The instrument is connected to the laptop with an USB cable. The actual sample (Fortepiano) is only compatible with Nord instruments, such as Nord Piano, Nord Stage or Nord Electro. The two first variants have weighted keys.
I don't see the playing of a forte piano as a style of it's own, rather classical playing-technique.

You don't need weighted keys in order to learn to play the notes, but developing piano-technique is difficult (impossible) without weighted keys.
The Nord series are quite expensive, and is a quite serious investment. I'd recommend that you start up with something not so expensive at first, maybe a second-hand Nord-piano, or even a different cheaper brand. The Nord Piano-series is now developed to Nord Piano 6, but the forte piano sample is compatible with the earlier models. I'd say a Nord Piano 2 or 3 is a reasonable entry. These models have enough memory so that you can load multiple pianos on to the board. Best of luck.

[FZiegler]

Mmh, interesting attempt. Why is that? Why not just learn to play piano (and specialize later)?

If you are absolutely serious about that, the Chris Maene sound collection (Nord) is the only fortepiano sound on digital pianos I know of. A Nord Piano (2..6) or a Nord Grand (2) would be the best instrument to get.

The other option I know of is playing on a MIDI controller keyboard and connecting it to a computer or tablet to create the sound. The software Pianoteq has the Kremsegg collection of historical instruments as well as the KIViR project.

[ggoebel]

[...] never learned to play an instrument. [...] and was hoping to learn Mozart works [...]

Mozart is really wonderful! But are you aware, that playing Mozart needs several years of learning and practising, accompanied by a good piano teacher?

Or do you only want to play MIDI files from a computer/sequencer?

[nyc_paramedic_RN]

Thank you for the info. All the reading I've done on the Viennese action fortepiano says that the music style is very much different than how it's played on a modern grand, particularly the "articulation slurs" on sheet music during that period.

One source of info, in case anyone is interested: Fortepiano VS Modern Piano (Explained by Malcolm Bilson)


Also, I've just read that the action is a very light touch, owing to the Viennese escapement. So maybe I should look into a semi-weighted keyboard? But I've never felt the action of an actual forte.

The Nord 6 Electro 61 might be a good option to slowly learn with clavichord and fortepiano software loaded.

You can load different samples on the instrument, using a software called Nord Sound Manager.
The instrument is connected to the laptop with an USB cable. The actual sample (Fortepiano) is only compatible with Nord instruments, such as Nord Piano, Nord Stage or Nord Electro. The two first variants have weighted keys.
I don't see the playing of a forte piano as a style of it's own, rather classical playing-technique.

You don't need weighted keys in order to learn to play the notes, but developing piano-technique is difficult (impossible) without weighted keys.
The Nord series are quite expensive, and is a quite serious investment. I'd recommend that you start up with something not so expensive at first, maybe a second-hand Nord-piano, or even a different cheaper brand. The Nord Piano-series is now developed to Nord Piano 6, but the forte piano sample is compatible with the earlier models. I'd say a Nord Piano 2 or 3 is a reasonable entry. These models have enough memory so that you can load multiple pianos on to the board. Best of luck.

[ESFlash]

Hello Paramedic,

I would 100% advise you against any Nord; they are complicated beasts requiring a somewhat steep learning curve which might be especially difficult for you considering your lack of experience with any keyboard. Plus they are extreme overkill at this stage of your musical journey.

One suggestion, leave Forte out of your search queary -- that like looking for tires that have rubber in their composition -- they all do; Forte becomes redundant and cornfusing.

Instead, search digital keyboard and see what comes up -- even "slab digital piano" will get you some good results

And

Consider going to a large music store and actually trying out some of the Casio, Korg, Yamaha piano keyboards.

Most have terrific, velocity sensitive hammer style action, built in speakers and are simple simple simple to operate.

Turn it on and there's your grand piano sound, along with a ton of other easy to access other voices (sounds).

Try to find something that has an action that feels reasonably comfortable to you and a user interface that's understandable.

You should be able to find something quite suitable between $500 - $1000. Slab piano, with built in spkrs and an inexpensive stand for it.

You can then determine, without spending a ton of dough, if learning piano and Mozart are rocking your world (and yes I own a Nord HA Stg 4 along with a ton of other "slab" style boards -- with a favorite being an older Casio Privia PX-330 . . . . a workhorse of a killer killer sounding stage piano BTW that refuses to give up the ghost, and can often be found used for not too much)

It's not about the equipment

Good luck

[Rusty Mike]

Voting against a Nord would be normal for a usual beginner in playing piano.

... One suggestion, leave Forte out of your search queary -- that like looking for tires that have rubber in their composition -- they all do; Forte becomes redundant and cornfusing...

As far as I understood, we are not talking about playing a modern piano, but a digital replica of a historic fortepiano instrument. That's where, under special conditions, a Nord may be an option: If money is not an issue, if playing fortepiano is that much of a consideration that it's worth going into a niche product etc.

Leaving away the term forte from a fortepiano will automatically lead you to the modern type of a grand piano sound with long sustain. A fortepiano may have a warmer sound and much less sustain - so it's more percussive to play, even with sustain pedal.

My attempt would be: First get basic instructions for piano playing, then specialize.

[Rusty Mike]

Voting against a Nord would be normal for a usual beginner in playing piano.

... One suggestion, leave Forte out of your search queary -- that like looking for tires that have rubber in their composition -- they all do; Forte becomes redundant and cornfusing...

My attempt would be: First get basic instructions for piano playing, then specialize.

Agreed. If you want a lighter action as a beginner, I would recommend you look at instruments such as the Kawai ES120 or Casio lines. They Nord SW action will not get you want you need to develop a decent piano touch.

Getting something with a MIDI connection will allow you to load a fortepiano virtual instrument on your computer to play that sound.