DIFFERENT TYPES OF KEYBOARD INSTRUMENTS

An overview of

THE PIANO

The most versatile of musical instruments

Crucial instrument in Western classical music, jazz, film & television

Favourite instrument of composers

Has 88 keys.

THE HARPSICHORD

Used from the late middle agesUntil the early 19th century whenPiano took over.

Many have two ‘manuals’.

There was no way to controlDynamics of the sound

Used in Baroque music

DIGITAL PIANO

Has 88 weighted keys to make it feelLike a piano

A focus on a small number of highQuality sounds

Used in television/film as well as Pop and jazz music.

THE ELECTRONIC KEYBOARD

Caple of producing hundreds of voices, styles and beats to a questionableSound quality

Portable

Often has around 60 un weighted keys that make it feel unnatural

THE CHURCH ORGANThe largest in the family. It belongs to the wind family

Often has multiple manuals

Can be played with the feet

Creates a huge sound and the timbreCan be changed by pulling out variousStops

The sound is created by air pumpedThrough long pipes

Infinite sustain

THE HAMMOND ORGAN

Used in soul, pop, jazz, rockAnd television music.

Often played with a rotatingspeaker

THE ACCORDIANSound is produced by the Musician squeezing it Between his arms.

It belongs to the wind family

Very short keyboard onlyUsed for playing the melody

Used for traditional folkMusic from around Europeand South American danceMusic.