How to choose a synthesizer

The first passion for music often begins with listening to the compositions of your favorite band, where we like the sound of a certain musical instrument. For many, it is the guitar, which becomes the first purchase of the novice musician. This can be some Chinese copy of Gibson or mediocre six-string instrument. But that's not the case for everyone, because some people like electronic music and the opportunity to experiment. And someone just got sent to the nearest music school to study piano.

In that case, the best musical instrument to start your introduction to music is a synthesizer. Originally, they played sounds that were synthesized by sound generators and only remotely resembled the sound of real musical instruments.

Sampler synthesizers, which could already replace a musical instrument, did not appear until the 1970s. In those days they were quite expensive, so they were used in professional studios. But now they are available to everyone and many beginner musicians are wondering - how to choose a synthesizer for themselves? There are several nuances in this case, which should be considered in more detail.

What are its features?

Synthesizer allows you to music at home, in the studio, to perform in cafes or at weddings. Depending on the specific model, it can be used just for entertainment, or for performances in professional musical groups.

The compact size of the instrument makes it easy to take with you on the road, which makes it different from the conventional accordion. With the audio output you can connect it to a sound amplifier, making the volume level high enough for a large audience.

The synthesizer is characterized by a variety of sounds. With the touch of a button, you can switch from flute to drums, from guitar to organ, or synthesize sounds that are not produced by any real musical instrument.

Accordingly, there are several basic uses for a synthesizer:

The simplest amateur models can be used simply as an interesting toy for the child, which would simultaneously train musical hearing and fine motor skills of the fingers while having fun.

Use as an intermediate instrument in preparation for learning to play the piano. These instruments are similar in their specifics, so you can use a synthesizer to prepare for the more "serious" piano or grand piano.

Professional concert activities. No one claims that a synthesizer is a toy and cannot be used as an independent instrument. Especially when it comes to professional models. They have from 61 to 88 keys, the number of tones - up to 700, the ability to record voice and processing, as well as other interesting features.

Studio work to create and record music.

To understand which synthesizer is best, you need to understand exactly what you need it for. Different applications have their own requirements for the instrument, so not everyone needs a professional model with a bunch of functions and features.

What to pay attention to when choosing?

We will consider the example when we choose a synthesizer for beginners, but the parameters of the choice are almost identical.

Key Size

This is one of the main parameters that indicates the "maturity" of the musical instrument. Full-size keys correspond to the keys of an ordinary acoustic piano, so if you choose an instrument for learning and want to play the piano later on, you should choose this option.

Models with smaller keys cost less, so they are quite suitable for a child. In this case, the synthesizer serves more as a toy. This is explained by the fact that learning to fully play the piano is associated with the development of certain motor skills. That is, a person should get used to the keys of the instrument, and therefore small-sized versions for these purposes are not suitable.

Number of keys

Their number depends on how many octaves the instrument has and determines the range of played parts. A number of pieces are played on 2-3 octaves, while others may require 5 or more.

For children 5-7 years old for fun it is enough to synthesizer for 32 keys - this will be enough to generate simple melodies. It is clear that this will not be enough for full-fledged learning.

What is the optimal number of keys? The question is ambiguous. The fact is that the classical piano keyboard has 88 keys, but most musical pieces do not always use this entire range. For most works, 61 keys are enough, so it is a good option if you are going to play in a band. For serious study, however, you need a keyboard with at least 76 keys.