Keyboard for ear training and theory study ?

[Mark Ambler]

At music college, if Piano isn't your first instrument, it is your second, and rightly so.

 

[Mechanical]

musictheory.net - Exercises

 

[Bill Murray]

I was thinking about buying a keyboard for ear training and general theory learning ?

Good idea or not ?

Edit to add, I'm thinking it will be a good songwriting tool.

Everyone should have a keyboard. It’s the center of our musical universe.

 

[bholder]

Ah-yup.

 

[Ryan in PDX]

I've been recording everything and I can always listen back and figure out what I played, but I just want a quicker way.

Most keyboards these days will connect to your computer. You can record the midi output and go back to see the individual notes if need be.

I am not a pianist, but I use my keyboard for transcribing, writing, studying theory, arranging harmonies, programming drums or other virtual instruments, and more.

 

[buldog5151bass]

It's the best tool there is. Every note, interval, etc.iis right in front of you, and unlike guitar or bass, infinite close intervals and number of notes can easily be played.

Even a cheapie - check your local Craigslist.

 

[Pings Bass]

Yes, keyboard for learning theory and composing and arranging is indispensable.

 

[arepa_funk]

Midi keyboard (Akai, Nektar, Arturia, etc.), 25 keys or you can go bigger. Connect to your laptop. If you have an Apple laptop, GarageBand is free and you can use their software instruments. You can also translate what you play into standard notation using the scroll feature. Only minus here is that (of course) you need to be connected to your laptop. A midi controller has no built-in sounds so it expands the size of your setup if you need to travel. On the other hand, controllers are small and portable so it's not impossible.

 

[glocke1]

How many hours in a day do you have available for practice? If you're like me and you only have less than an hour, then attention to the keyboard will detract from your bass.

Thats often how much time I have but I have an electric piano here just the same that I use for ear training and playing chords.


Its an indispensable learning tool.

As Marcus Miller said in a workshop one year, " if you aren't using a piano to improve your musicianship, you are doing it wrong "

OP, get a keyboard, or better yet an electronic piano if you have the space.

 

[bigdaddybass12]

I played bass for a church band. It was keyboard driven. Saturday night keyboard player unexpectedly quit. So I started playing keys the next day. For 5 years. I Never learned so much chord structure ever. Made me a much better bass player. You will learn a lot but remember to stick to the bass part.

 

[bobba66]

Once you master it, everybody else has to tune to you!

 

[OldSchoolFlats]

Another angle might be standard notation software. Great free software, with playback, available here: Free music composition and notation software | MuseScore

Cakewalk, also free, has a built-in keyboard instrument (along with bas, etc), that like a real keyboard, allows you to visualize chords on a software keyboard: BandLab: Make Music Online

Both of the above work quite well, but for me required a day or so (each) of watching YouTube videos to get started.

 

[magyk8ball]

Yeah, go for it. Id get something you can lay down some arpeggios and something with a sustainer pedal so you can practice bass over some chords.
I like my synths, but im a terrible piano player.

 

[Cal03]

Absolutely agree with picking up a keyboard for overall better musicianship. I started out on clarinet and saxophone, and picking up keyboards helped immensely with learning and really comprehending theory. Mind you, I'm not a good keyboard player by any stretch of the imagination.

That said, I've been pleasantly surprised with how a fretboard tuned in regular intervals can help demonstrate some concepts. Even though I started bass guitar knowing notes and the like, I quickly took to shapes since it was a visual interpretation of theory concepts I already knew.

-Cal.

 

[lowplaces]

It's the best tool there is. Every note, interval, etc.iis right in front of you, and unlike guitar or bass, infinite close intervals and number of notes can easily be played.

Even a cheapie - check your local Craigslist.

I looked and there are a few for around 50 bucks. Good idea, thanks.

 

[Bemo]

If you're just wanting something to tell you what chord you're playing, GuitarPro Tab software has that function. you just tab out the chord, click on it, click the chord name function and it does for you plus a litany of alternate fingerings and names.

 

[buldog5151bass]

I looked and there are a few for around 50 bucks. Good idea, thanks.

I'm self-taught on keys. I've ended up playing them in several bands (I can take my way through a lot). The skill will help you grow as a musician, and might even be fun.

 

[bfields]

Any keyboard that does MIDI/USB will do. It doesn't need built-in sounds. I'd recommend at least 61 velocity-sensitive keys, and other than that just buy on price for now--there should be options under $100 USD. If you decide you like playing keyboard you can upgrade another day.

Use your laptop/phone/tablet/whatever as the sound source or as a sequencer. You could do automatic chord identification with software too, if you really want--but I'm going to second what others have said: learning to quickly recognize and spell chords on a keyboard is one of the first skills you want to learn.

 

[bassliner50]

Get a piano. Digital or authentic. Weighted keys. It will teach you to realize what you do not know. Hopefully it will give you motivation to learn many of those things. Be sure to pass up cheap cheesy "keyboards".

 

[deste]

It's essential.

...and even more, if possible...