Purchasing the right keyboard for your worship ministry is a complicated task. With so many types available you need to analyze your needs before you visit the music store.
A keyboard performs three main roles in today’s worship:
1. Underscoring – playing softly under prayers and readings as well as connecting songs using a pad (string-type sounds) or keyboard patch. Keyboard sounds are usually acoustic piano patches or electric (Wurlitzers (Wurlys) or Rhodes.)
2. Sonic sweetening – strings, B3 organ, gurgling pads and lead synth sounds in guitar driven songs.
3. Driving – a balanced musical worship diet will include both guitar driven and keyboard driven songs. A realistic acoustic piano patch is a must for when the keyboard takes the lead.
Your worship style will dictate which keyboard you should buy. If your worship style is blended you’ll want a keyboard with a great piano sound and touch (Roland/Yamaha.) If you do modern worship you’ll want a keyboard that specializes in synthy sounds and B3 (Nord/Korg.)
Next week: I’ll tell you what to look for in a keyboard and reveal my favorite brand.
14 Responses to “Finding the Right Keyboard Part 1”
May 8, 2012
MargaretCan’t wait to read next week’s article. I have a Korg Triton ProX. It’s 11 years old, and the computer is going haywire. (Sunday it decided to play about 15 extra notes that my fingers weren’t on!) Already had it repaired. The sounds are stuck in the 80′s. Most of them I can’t use. Look forward to hearing your thoughts.
May 8, 2012
RosemaryThe right keyboard is essential. We have one Yamaha Clavinova that is +25 years old and causes a great deal of humming noise in the sound system, and its sound is a bit tinny. The other is a gem. I was able to find and buy a Yamaha p-200 for an amazing price. This keyboard had only been used 10 times at the most. God was very gracious in putting this in our path. It has brought a much improved sound to our worship team, as before our second keyboard was a 61 key yamaha. With this new keyboard the sound fills out our oddly shaped sanctuary in ways the other could never do. I have played other brands and styles of keyboards and pianos, but have found few that match the beautiful rich sound of the p-200.
May 8, 2012
ScottWhere does Kurzweil fit into your view of the worship keyboard landscape?
May 8, 2012
Don ChapmanYou’ll find out next week
May 8, 2012
GlennWell said Don. Looking forward to next week as well. As a pianist & keyboardist, I get asked this question quite often as well from transitioning churches & pastors. I would also add to the mix that based on what a person is doing with the keyboard as well as WHO (their keyboard experience) may give direction for what size keyboard as well as it’s action.
I love my Alesis QS7 (brand NEW for $250…YES, that’s right! last one collecting dust in the music store, the previous day the last boxed one sold for $950!) for organ, pads, brass, etc. BUT if I want a “good piano”, I want hammer-action with 88 notes AND I wouldn’t want to do organ slides on a hammer-action keyboard! It hurts AND it’s noisy.
May 8, 2012
Don ChapmanLOL wait until next week and you’ll hear of my disdain for Alesis keyboards! However, $250 IS a bargain!
May 16, 2012
GlennThat is funny. I’ve never had problems with Alesis like you mention in your 2nd article and I’ve used a QS6, 7.1, 8 and 8.2 over the past 14+ years for sequencing and as controllers.
My fav “live” piano replacement keyboard was the original Roland RD500 with good hammer action. It had great sounds and an easy-to-use interface during performance with smooth sound when transitioning between patches.
So I bought the RD600 and they did away with some of the performance features so I sent it back. Evidently, I wasn’t the only one that complained to Roland because they changed things up for the RD700.
May 8, 2012
Iris BurnellWe purchased a Yamaha Clavinova CGP-1000 and a Yamaha XS8 Keyboard after our church burned and we lost everything. We find that these two instruments offer up any sound needed for our praise and worship band. We are 100% satisfied with these two instruments. I was amazed at what the Clavinova can do as I had thought of it as an out-of-date instrument but was I wrong!
July 24, 2012
Daryl NormanIris,
I too was thinking of buying a Yamaha CGP-1000. It appears very hard to find and many dealers are saying it is out of date, or being replaced etc. It seems you really enjoy your instrument and are very happy with it. Where were you able to find one? Is it new, used? I realize it is about 5 years old, but it still has many of the features I am seeking, including the way it looks! If you don’t mind my asking how much are they selling for if I can find one.
Thank you very much.
May 9, 2012
SusanI just got an IK Multimedia iMidi to take when I play at other churches that might not have a good keyboard. I have sampletank and musicstudio apps on my iPhone but am not sure about how to select the midi channel on my kurzweil or any other keyboard. It seemed like such a good idea. Aargh!!!! Any suggestions?
May 12, 2012
NormI love the Kurzweil sound and action. I think its accoustic piano sound is the most natural of any other brand I’ve tried. I also like the strings for the same reason.
I have a Mark 10 and it’s beginning to show its age. The problem with Kurzweils is getting warranty work done. There are not many local dealers around. I’ve found local repairmen who do an Ok job, but there just are not any local music stores who sell them (at least in my area).
Not really asking a question, just giving my opinion on the Kurzweils – great product but repairs are a pain.
May 12, 2012
MargaretDon….after posting my comment, my keyboard went completely nuts at practice on Thursday. I’ve got to do something early next week. Any chance you could email me your suggestion earlier than your next eletter? I’m playing it on Sunday (tomorrow), but there’s a good chance I’ll have to shut it down during service. (last Sunday had to turn it off and back on 4 times.) I’m medium tech savvy, don’t need to use it for recording or tracks, just want some great sounds that are current, 88 weighted keys. Thanks. I’m desperate!
May 14, 2013
Bill BauzaAs the Keyboard and co-leader of our small (less than 10) Praise Team, I find the Casio 7700 fits the bill at around $600. Split keyboard, many rhythms built in, volume settings for voices and accompaniment customizable, and 96 Registration (Presets, complete with layered/split settings, rhtyhm patterns and tempo settings. On board drawbars and two types of percussion as well as the rotary speaker function. 76 touch response keyboard, built in speakers, USB output (no MIDI), mic/guitar input as well as a mini-plug for iPod, mp3 playback. Sequencer and editor, can run on 6 D batteries for 2 hours. I DEPEND on this machine to ‘drive’ the group. Check one out before laying out your money.
May 14, 2013
David T..I played an Alesis QS 8 for years then upgraded to a Kurzweil.
Lately, I have been playing a Yamaha motif xs8 which is fantastic. I feel like I can play any sound you might hear on the radio, but it is mostly overkill for most worship settings.
My new rig (replacing a Rhodes, the Motif, and a Roland VK-7) is just a Nord Stage 2. It’s expensive (retail $4000) but it is so intuitive. All the controls are laid out on top for instant in/out access to the piano sound, the organ sound, the synthesizer, and the effects.
Each of these sections can be played independently or simultaneously.
This is the first keyboard that I can do it all on. You can find a used Nord Stage EX for around $2000.