6 octaves keyboards, what's happening?? - The Poll

[kirsty]

I will second this.

Where compromise of a full 88 is needed the music i play tends not to use the upper octaves of a full 88, so i would prefer to have a full octave at the bottom rather than it starting at E.

All the 61 key boards start on C but 61 keys is a bit limiting.
Roland RD64 starts on A and goes to C - Something different but getting on a bit now.
The ONLY 73 key board I ever saw when I was hunting is the Korg KROME 73 - which starts on a C. Perfect keyboard for my jamming sessions... BUT it isnt weighted :'(

I would snap up a shortened weighted board that started on the A or C

[Gambold]

It depends on whether you play solo or in a combo. If you are in a band with a bass player, they are not going to be happy with you mucking around down in the low registers - that's their land, partner, get yerself back to the mids and fight the guitars there.

As a solo player, you are likely playing jazz or lounge on a shortened keyboard so ideals would something that aligns with the tonic of the more popular piano key signatures. E is not one of those, and neither is A, unless you are a profound lover of Bb (which I am) and want that black key to be your lowest. You are probably better off with C or even F.

Actually the "characteristics" of musical keys is an interesting area. Musical keys resonate at different frequences and some would argue that different emotions are more readily stirred by a particular key. The classical composers were aware of this and used them accordingly. A lot of this can fast descend into astrology-like hooey but it's still worth a bar argument or two:

https://www.wmich.edu/mus-theo/courses/keys.html

[danrv]

For me, 73 or 76 note keyboards starting at E has always been the ideal size for my jazz piano influenced style of playing. 61 notes is too limited and 88 is simply too heavy to carry.

Same here. Ideal gigging size for bottom tier keys, solo piano, jazz playing.

[CountFosco]

Is a 61 key keyboard good enough

I think it's good enough for someone who would like to have a keyboard that covers 5 octaves, but they run into some limitations when trying to cover more than that.