The keyboard is a multi dimensional instrument. It can mimic any instrument. That includes guitars, saxophone, trumpet and the piano. Keyboardists are adept at changing instruments and adding a whole new aspect to the orchestra. Adding color with quick and unpredictable changes is the job of a keyboardist. The keyboard can also produce sound effects, which are used in dramas and movies. For example the sound of some one falling or fighting.
The earliest keyboard appeared in the third century BC. It was known as the organ. The organ was the only type of keyboard till the 14th century AD. It did not have keys like today but it had levers, which had to be manipulated with the whole hand. As time went on, keyboards achieved better and better shape. Considerable work was done on the keyboard in the 20th century. Synthesizers developed from 1960's and the moog synthesizers became popular. These gave a boost to the keyboards.
The keyboard was produced through working on a small piano. People wanted a smaller piano with its sound and quality but without its weight and bulk. This led to the electronic piano, which did not succeeded. A modern day keyboard consists of electronic circuits and is able to change and reproduce various instruments.
Today keyboards are of 2 types. The professional versions which have many features and the smaller and in expensive ones for kids and amateurs. The professionals call the higher models simply keyboards while the amateur ones are called electronic keyboards. These amateur versions can be purchased from electronic stores or shops where mobile phones and video games are sold.
The keyboards have many useful features. One such feature is the midi out port, which allows the musician to control another device through his or her instrument. This can be a personal computer where the musician can store the played songs for later editing. This port can also be used to control devices that have no human interfaces. If the keyboard has a midi in port, then it can be controlled through other instruments, midi controllers and equipment that understand the midi standard of message sending.
The keyboard has become an integral part of every group today. Not only is it used in music, but also in providing sound effects and auditory cues in drama theaters and movies. Keyboards are portable allowing the musicians to carry the instrument with him. Finally, it is a package of many. Although one unit it packs the power of many instruments.
Related Articles
MIDI Makes It Easier!
By: Sandra Stammberger | 01/04/2006 | Music
The Musical Instrument Digital Interface or MIDI for short, helps musicians input their work into computers and process it.
How To Set Up a Home Recording Studio
By: Bobby Lapoint | 12/06/2006 | Music
Learn the basics for a studio.
The Green Day
By: Subhash | 06/07/2007 | Music
Green Day was originally part of the punk rock scene at 924 Gilman Street in Berkeley, California. Their early releases for independent label Lookout! Records earned them a grassroots fanbase,
Coming Soon!!! Otilucky`s New Album "dancing Time"
By: Otilucky | 23/02/2008 | Music
Otilucky`s new album, afro/funk/jazz/soul/calypso
Local Metal Band Chaindriven Wins the Los Angeles' 95.5 Klos Mark and Brian Show's "webstock: Battle of the Fans Contest"
By: Eric de Fontenay | 26/06/2008 | Music
CHAINDRIVEN to Open for Lynyrd Skynyrd & Hank Williams, Jr. at the Rowdy Frynds Tour
The Importance of Objective Music Mastering to Get That Hit Sound
By: Hans Klein | 20/08/2006 | Music
Discover why if you're not giving the music mastering process it's full respect, then you're missing out on the winning sound you could so easily have virtually every time!
The Importance of a Good Bio
By: TJ Liebgott | 18/07/2007 | Music
Most bands hate the commercialism associated with the bio or feels that no one reads them. Regardless of your feelings on the music industry, every band should realize that this is a business no matter how indie you think your band is.
How to Build a Successful Singing Career
By: Michael Oliphant | 06/07/2008 | Careers
Are you a young hopeful singer looking to make your mark in the music business?
Whether you are a solo singer/songwriter , rehearsing your first band, singing karaoke, or just wondering about how to get it all going here is some advice that you might find useful.
Let's start with the central...
Latest Music Articles
Promote Your Band or Music Using These Massive Traffic Building Tips
By: David Horne | 25/07/2008
Let's face it, Band Promotion is difficult. However, to promote your band or music use these massive traffic building tips.
Reforming At The Mouth: The Rise Of The Lost Bands
By: Samantha Gilmartin | 25/07/2008
We are currently witnessing a number of comebacks from bands we all thought were dead and buried. From Take That to Rage Against the Machine, it would seem that everybody is doing it. But why?
Playing Native American Hand Drums In Drumming Groups And Ceremonies
By: Craig Chambers | 25/07/2008
If you are interested in authenticity and traditional American Indian values, you will definitely enjoy owning and displaying authentic Native American hand drums.
The Role Of Native American Drums In Native Ceremonies
By: Craig Chambers | 25/07/2008
If you are interested in the spiritual aspects of life as pertain to Indian beliefs, you would enjoy using and playing Native American drums.
Piano Software Courses Vs Piano Tuition Books (Part 2)
By: Mike Shaw | 25/07/2008
Piano software courses have become very popular in recent years, due in no small part to the simplicity of the idea, that being that you can learn in your own home with a virtual teacher on your computer.
Please Excuse My Hands Ringtone | Plies ~ Please Excuse My Hands Ringtone
By: Jim McEwan | 25/07/2008
Please Excuse My Hands by Plies is becoming a massive hit single and the Please Excuse My Hands Ringtone is one of the most popular ringtones in the world right now. The song is being played on radio stations all over the world and is ranking well on many music charts. The Please Excuse My Hands Ringtone is quickly becoming one of the hottest ringtones available. Please Excuse My Hands is the second single off Plies's second album, Definition of Real. It features Jamie Foxx and The-Dream.
I'll be Lovin' U Long Time Ringtone | Mariah Carey ~ I'll be Lovin U Long Time Ringtone
By: Jim McEwan | 25/07/2008
I'll Be Lovin' U Long Time by Mariah Carey is becoming a massive hit single and the I'll Be Lovin' U Long Time Ringtone is one of the most popular ringtones in the world right now. The song is being played on radio stations all over the world and is ranking well on many music charts. The I'll Be Lovin' U Long Time Ringtone is quickly becoming one of the hottest ringtones available.
History of the Piano
By: Amy Nutt | 25/07/2008
Acoustic pianos have been around for about 500 years, giving the piano a long history of providing music. Despite numerous attempts to create an instrument that involved strings and a hammer, Bartolomeo Cristofori was the one who is credited with actually inventing the first acoustic piano.
More from Sandra Stammberger
Tracing Email Addresses: Why And How?
By: Sandra Stammberger | 24/05/2008 | Internet
Sometimes we get a lot of emails that come from unknown sources such as a person claiming to be someone who has an important position in a prestigious company or a government agency perhaps. So how do we really know from whom all of these emails come from?
There are ways...
Ways For An Effective Free People Search
By: Sandra Stammberger | 24/05/2008 | Internet
People search is a technique for you to find people that you are looking for perhaps long lost friends, family members, classmates or coworkers that you want to get in touch with again. With the help of search engines, you will be able to get hold of information associated with...
Watching Free TV Show Downloads On Your Computer
By: Sandra Stammberger | 23/05/2008 | Art and Entertainment
Missing an episode of your favorite show is something that nobody wants to experience. It's tough when you'll be watching the next episode after missing one, because you'll be wondering what happened during the last episode that lead to the events on the current episode. That's the bad thing about...
Water Powered Cars - How Can They Be Beneficial?
By: Sandra Stammberger | 23/05/2008 | Automotive
The world is actually faced with tremendous problems these days. To mention, we have the major worries in line with greenhouse gases, overpopulation, unemployment, global warming, and the escalating prices of gas and the basic commodities. What makes life hard is the rise in the cost of gasoline since it...
For A Safe Downloading Of Wii Games
By: Sandra Stammberger | 23/05/2008 | Computers
As a Wii fanatic, the best way to get a Wii game is to have it free of charge and a lot of web sites nowadays are giving out these Wii games free for downloading. However, downloading these games for free should be done with extra caution because just like...
The Worth Of Paying For Reverse Cell Phone Lookup Services
By: Sandra Stammberger | 23/05/2008 | Internet
Experiences by many people getting harassed by unwanted phone calls led to the creation of a reverse cell phone lookup. Due to the ever increasing number of these prank calls, many people have found a way to find details related to the cell phone number without having to actually call...
Finding PSP Game Demo Downloads And Trying It On Your PSP
By: Sandra Stammberger | 21/05/2008 | Computers
If you have a PSP, then you probably want to spend some time with different games because you don't want to keep playing just one game over and over till you practically know what's going to happen next. You'll want to go out and buy new games for your PSP,...
Where To Get Free iPod Music Downloads Fast And Easy
By: Sandra Stammberger | 21/05/2008 | Computers
If you own an iPod, chances are you've already scoured your music collection on your hard drive for every last song that you have and uploaded it on your music device. But the thing is, nobody wants to listen to the same songs every day, day in, day out.
Of course,...