Pianos and Snobbery -

[The Shadow]

I've been looking at online forums re: learning piano recently (mostly as a stepping stone to be able to better understand music theory and record synths) and my main concern was cost. $500 digital pianos with weighted keys exist. That's at the upper end of what I'd be able to afford for this and be able to fit in my living area.

There were a lot of answers to the effect of "If you want to learn piano you need a REAL piano, not a toy." Okay. So how much is a real, acoustic piano? Like $3500 new. What a fucking joke. I love that they're trying to imply you need an expensive, costly musical instrument you can't even tune yourself just to learn basic shit that's transferable to the piano's sexier sisters, the Hammond organ and Moog synths.

I've been doing guitar and bass for a long time and I would really love to see the salesman that tells you that you need a Custom Shop American Strat or Ibanez Prestige and a Bogner stack just to learn your basic chords and scales.

I know they're different instruments but is it just me or are piano professionals really high on the smell of their own farts or what?

I'm totally inviting you rich snots and Heathen Chinese that got piano lessons growing up to comment on this, too.

 

[Maggots on a Train v2]

Just cruise through some secondhand music and used junk shops, you can get a 70 year old piano for like $100. They're huge, people buy them as status symbols, they get used twice, then the owners die and the family absolutely has to get rid of it.

 

[The Shadow]

Just cruise through some secondhand music and used junk shops, you can get a 70 year old piano for like $100. They're huge, people buy them as status symbols, they get used twice, then the owners die and the family absolutely has to get rid of it.

I don't want a used acoustic piano nor do I have the room for one.

More than anything I'm bitching about piano playing snobs that think you need to invest $3k right out the door just to start learning.

 

[Cinderblock]

Piano snobs are piano snobs. I'm happy with my Yamaha.

 

[Gordon Cole]

Just get an electric piano if you're looking to learn, and a USB MIDI cable and some synth presets if that's what you wanna do.

 

[Stoneheart]

You need weighted Keys. The playing is totaly different. yes they arent cheap and pretty heavy and dont do much more than beeing a digital replacement but they sound and feel almost like the real deal.
Alsoyou just should get some basic lessons first, you dont need them after that for along time.

 

[The Shadow]

You need weighted Keys. The playing is totaly different. yes they arent cheap and pretty heavy and dont do much more than beeing a digital replacement but they sound and feel almost like the real deal.
Alsoyou just should get some basic lessons first, you dont need them after that for along time.

I don't really care if they sound or feel like the real deal. I'm not interested in playing piano in a professional or public setting. I just want to be able to play synths adequately for recording.

 

[MadDamon]

I don't really care if they sound or feel like the real deal. I'm not interested in playing piano in a professional or public setting. I just want to be able to play synths adequately for recording.

Get a synth keyboard then. Some no name brands are pretty cheap.
Personally I still prefers a piano with a weighted keys though, if you are serious about learning to play piano.

 

[The Shadow]

I suppose what I'm saying is, if you're not sure you're gonna stick with the instrument, it makes more sense to buy a digital piano (full setup brand new: $500 or under, with weighted or hammer-action keys) rather than a heavy acoustic piano you have to have moved and tuned. Yet a lot of recommendations I've read seem to have no understanding of the logistics or financial limits of people that didn't grow up in 5,000 square foot McMansions and assume everyone has the space and money for an acoustic piano and should invest in one immediately before even thinking about taking lessons because "you'll never learn it the right way otherwise".

I get salesmen upselling, but I don't get randos on the internet implying I should invest $3000+ out the door for something that's just a means to an end.

Whereas any other instrument (let's use guitar because these are things I know) it's like "well, get an inexpensive but decent brand and see if you're gonna stick with it before you shell out 2 grand on a USA-made Gibson or Fender".

I don't think I have anything new to say. Not even sure why I started this thread. I know I posted it after I got sober so...weird.