Essential Keyboard Accessories

Essential keyboard accessories.

Playing the piano is a hobby and, like most hobbies, it involves the need to get hold of certain accessories. These are tools that will facilitate the practice of the instrument and that will allow you to advance quickly, or simply feel more comfortable with the objectives you are seeking.

Some are essential and others are optional. Of course, they all have their uses when it comes to getting the most out of the instrument and sharing music with the public. These are some.

Base or Support

It is the essential accessory for the vast majority of digital keyboards, especially when we talk about small 5 or 6 octave keyboards that are intended to be portable. Provides stability and protection to the instrument from possible falls or involuntary slips. Most bases are just as portable as the keyboard they are intended to accompany, and allow you to adjust their height to play in the most comfortable way.

It is important to choose the base that best suits both the needs of the performer and the instrument. A base for a small, lightweight 5-octave keyboard is not the same as a base for a large 7-octave synthesizer; Nor is a base that a child will use in their room the same as one that an adult will use on stage.

In general we will find 3 types of bases on the market, with their respective variations:

Bases in X. They are the most common, as they allow you to adjust the height to play standing or sitting, and they fold up to carry very easily. They come with a single frame, for lightweight keyboards, as well as a double frame that supports heavier keyboards and offers greater stability. A good X base must have a good safety system when adjusting the height, and non-slip pads for both the floor and the top to prevent the keyboard from sliding. Ideal for lightweight keyboards and stages.

Z bases: They are not as common as they are usually expensive, but they are much more stable than X bases. Their design allows them to support very heavy keyboards, and gives space to the knees to play sitting down, which is one of the problems with the X bases. Of course, they are much heavier and less portable than the X bases. Ideal for very heavy keyboards or if you want it to move very little when playing.

Wooden Bases. It is normal to find them only for 7-octave keyboards. They usually come graduated to a standard height for playing seated, and the idea is to resemble a digital piano with furniture. They are very portable, but they provide a lot of stability, and aesthetically they are much more pleasing to the eye. Unlike metal bases, these bases are not usually generic. They are designed to adapt to a particular model and brand, so not just any one fits every keyboard. Very useful if yours is a keyboard that you rarely take out on stage but you want to show it off and have it match the furniture in the room.

Case or Cover

It fulfills two main functions: to facilitate transportation and to protect the instrument against shocks, dust, dirt and humidity in the environment. Even in cases where the keyboard is not transported much, it can be an accessory that helps maintain order around the instrument and protects it if it is not going to be used for long periods of time. Some models also incorporate compartments to store other accessories.

There are three types of cases:

Soft case or case: They are cheap and light, but they do not protect much from bumps. It is normal to find it for lightweight 5-octave keyboards, as they facilitate transportation without increasing the weight of the instrument.

Semi Hard Case: Unlike the case, it has an internal structure that maintains its shape, which protects the instrument from minor bumps when transporting it. It works very well for transfers within the city or short trips. Although it weighs more than the case, it doesn't add much weight to the keyboard.

Hard Case: Unlike case and semi-hard cases, hard cases rarely come in standard sizes. The normal thing is to have them custom-made for each keyboard, since their function is to provide the best protection, ensuring that it does not move inside the case. It is ideal for high-end keyboards where you want to protect your investment, or very heavy keyboards, as it can be equipped with wheels that make it easier to transport. It is also recommended for plane trips, as it withstands strong conditions such as a long trip in the hold.

Pedals.

Most pedals for electronic pianos are inherited from the acoustic piano and fulfill the same functions. However, some synthesizers use other types of pedals to generate completely unique digital effects. Although there are more options, we are going to focus on the most common ones.

Sustain Pedal : It is the most used in both acoustic and electronic pianos, since the effect it produces is part of the sound of the known piano. It is so common that many small learning keyboards have space to connect this accessory. Its function is to lengthen the sound of each note. In the acoustic piano it consists of a mechanical process that raises the dampers of the strings, causing them to vibrate so that the hand is lifted from the key. In the case of keyboards, the effect is imitated on an electronic level. It is usually found with switch-type styles, which are small and portable, and also reed-type, imitating the shape of acoustic piano pedals.

Set of 3 pedals: Another heritage of the acoustic piano, the 3 traditional pedals can be found on the market to adapt them to electronic keyboards. Along with sustain, it also includes mute (reduces the intensity of the sound) and sostenutto (maintains only the first note that is played, while the others are turned off). Unlike the sustain pedal, not all keyboards have an input for this accessory, and just like the wooden bases, they are designed to adapt to a particular model and brand, so not just any keyboard will fit any keyboard. It is recommended to review the specifications of each keyboard before getting it. It is almost an exclusive accessory for large 7-octave keyboards, since those who generally use them are acoustic piano players looking for a similar feeling on their digital piano. However, they are usually expensive and difficult to obtain. By adding this accessory plus the wooden base, it may be more economical to purchase a digital piano with a cabinet that includes the three pedals at once.

Expression pedal: This pedal is exclusive to electronic keyboards, more specifically synthesizers. Unlike the previous ones, whose effect can be reduced to a switch (on/off), the expression pedal allows you to adjust the desired effect and leave it at intermediate levels. It is typically used to modulate specific effects such as volume, pitch, or vibration speed of certain sounds. Again, they are not usually universal, they are designed to fit a particular model and brand.

Earphones.

Although they may already seem common to us, the possibility of studying without disturbing others is one of the great revolutions in electronics that both piano students and their families and neighbors appreciate. Hearing aids also allow you to listen to each musical note in detail by isolating it from other sounds or external disturbances, as well as studying practically at any time without disturbing others. What you have to take into account when purchasing keyboard headphones is the frequency range. Most headphones for listening to music or radio are focused on a specific range of frequencies, which means that very low or very high notes cannot be heard well. The ideal is to purchase headphones with a wide frequency range to avoid distortions in the keyboard sound, and a headband or helmet to isolate outside sound. Keep in mind that the keyboards come adapted with the large ¼-inch headphone jack.

Chair or Bench.

Although on stage it is common to see many keyboard players play standing up, studying the piano is always done sitting down, and sometimes for many hours, so choosing the right chair is not a minor issue. Although it can often be replaced with a chair from home, or whatever is on hand, there are chairs designed specifically for studying piano, and it is worth exploring them to study in a much more comfortable way.

The first thing to take into account is the position in which you study. The ideal is a chair that allows you to have your legs at a 90° angle, your back is straight, and your elbows are on the keyboard in a relaxed position. That is why it is recommended that the chair does not have a backrest. As well as the bases, most piano chairs also have a system to adjust the height. This allows it to be adjusted as the student grows, or for several people to use it.

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