Keyboard is cheapest. Mine only cost RM100. I waited for a sale

It is no toy. It has 5 octaves and piano size keys.

It is just a once in a long while deal. You may think of it as a toy if you like because it is not something you get from a music shop. What is important is it can do the job and is of the right size. From that prespective, it is certainly not a toy for me. I got it at a hypermart for RM99 actually. I did not pay attention to brand and model as it was not important. Eletronic gadgets are all the same. It does not matter if it is a Yamaha, Casio or some chinese brand. They all generate a certain frequency measure in hertz to create a note (eg 440hertz for the note middle A).

I will give you more details on brand and model tomorrow but I dont think deal like these will come by often. For you info, the item was sold out on the first day the hypermart advertise it on the papers.

That may be a long time before I can pick up the difference. If you use electronic tuners, do you think the branded ones can be accurate to the 0.001 hertz? (By the way, middle C is 261.626Hertz while C# is 277.183Hertz). I doubt my ear can pick up the difference given decades of trainning. Again to me, all the eletronics are more less the same.

Actually Dkk I never thought of the instrument feeling like it is only RM100 when played. It would matter if it is out of tune. For eletronics I dont think you need to bother. Once the frequency is preset at the factory, it will stay fixed. Tunning acoustics is a different deal.

I think you learnt instrument as a child. You did not realise that passion is the main factor adults take up music instrument. It is this passion that continually burn in them that drive them through bumps and even mountains. I started picking up music instruments (self learn) in my mid twenties. Today I play 4 instruments. I still have intention to take two more instruments.

Here is a picture of my actual size toy keyboard. The brand is Fujicom. I guess it does not really matter. It is still an unknown brand anyway.

TS, it is nice you finally made up your mind on what instrument to start with. Good luck and have fun practising.

This post has been edited by faceless: Sep 28 2010, 08:50 AM


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Karenalvin,
I was playing the guzheng and suddenly I remembered to get details of the keyboard. I decided to take a picture of it. Wow, I didnt know people will pay attention to these details. The battery in may camera was too weak to take another picture so I did not bother to remove the nail for another picture. I thought people would be more interested in the size of the keyboard.

TS,
Hah, cost! That rememinded me that I was interested in the paino when I was a child. I choose the keyboard instead I waited till it was RM99 to make a purchase I am not brand conscous.

Karenalvin,
I thought you were more observant than that, actually. Since the left hand was in the picture, it indicates that the right hand held the camera and took the picture. So I am not left handed as he may be inclined to think.

The guzheng is played with both hands. It uses the same concept of melody with right hand and bass accompaniment with left hand. Unlike the piano you can actually filp it arround.

Let's take playing the chord c with piano for an example. (Thumb is no 1 and little finger is 5 as per standard piano fingering notation) You will use this fingering on the notes 1c, 3e, 5g for right hand. For left hand you will use 5c, 3e, 1g. With the guzheng you use the same fingers for the same note regardless of right or left hand.

This post has been edited by faceless: Sep 28 2010, 11:32 AM

You do not use plasters to pluck. The plasters are are used to hold/stick the plucturms into position. Pleasuresaurus as a guitar player, you already know the answer to the question you asked. 1) Can you play without pluctrums even though it hurts after several hours of playing? 2) If you use pluctrums, do you use them because they sound better than using finger nails?

Maybe you confused it with the quqin. They look similar but the guqin is a fretted instrument (like a guitar). I am not too familair with that instrument. I imagine it plays like a guitar with one hand plucking and the other hand stopping the strings at the frets.

TS,
I think what Karenalvin means is string players are very particular with how you touch the strings. The pressure you apply in plucking can sound differently each time you pluck it with different pressure. Not many people are bother to learn this skill. They are more concern about the ability to play out the song. We can talk more about acquiring this skills when you choose acoustics.

As it is a keyboard can have sounds of many instrument. Even my cheap keyboard has the sound of 118 different instruments. I have not heard of pressure pads (thanks to Karenalvin for bringign it up). Now I know, when I get good at the keyboard, I would not mind paying the extra for pressure pads. Even then it is not good enough. Let me take voilin as an example. The pressure I apply is one factor. The speed I pull the bow is another factor. I think you can imagine the many possible final products when I just change these two factors. The same goes for drums. I am sure you played badminton. I am sure you have realised that hitting the shuttle with a swing is different than hitting it with a swing and a bit of wrist work. Drums are struck the same way too.

Pleasuresaurus,
I am too lazy put on pluctrum most of the time. There is too much hassle involve. I use it because it sound nicer. So when my mood is right, I wear the pluctrum. Perhaps you should try ivory plectrums. They sound best on metal string. Although I seldom seen ivory guitar plectrums. You may end up getting guzheng plectruns instead. You may not get it so easily at any music shops unless the shop sells guzheng. Furthermore the size is not condusive for guitar playing. If you are that curious you can borrow mine

This post has been edited by faceless: Sep 29 2010, 10:54 AM

Yes, elephant "tooth". Hey some snooker white ball are still made out of ivory.

Turttle shell is the second best. That is according to guzheng players. Although I would say my guitar plectrum (look like nylon to me) sound as good.