The Best of Yamaha Digital Keyboards

Yamaha digital keyboards are one of the hottest selling keyboards on the market. A favorite of mine is the Yamaha Tyros 2. The keyboard is capable of doing everything I need in one package. The "voices" (or sounds) are outstanding as well as the styles (background accompaniments). One of my favorite rhythms is the Epic Ballad. I have been playing keys for 28 years and have spent the last seven years working for various music companies in my area. As a musician I have performed several concerts which included the likes of Roland, Technics, Kawai and Yamaha keyboards and pianos. Enough about that, let us get into the specifics of the Yamaha keyboards.

I cannot knock the Yamaha PSR series keyboards. They are lightweight, have many different features and are affordable. One of my favorites was the Yamaha PSR-2000. It was quite a keyboard in its time with powerful internal speakers. So powerful I had complaints that I was knocking down eyeglass frames from the walls of the optometrist's office next door. The fun feature which is available in most keyboards today is the karaoke capability. If you put in a karaoke midi disk and press play, you can bring the lyrics up on the screen. The PSR-2000, as well as many other Yamaha keyboard models, has a microphone input which makes it much easier for anyone to slide in a disk and just start singing! The company I was at had many karaoke days for customers to come in and show us their talent. It is a great feature to use at home parties as well.

The PSR-S900 and S700 Yamaha keyboards, introduced and exhibited at Summer NAMM 2007, are quite comparable with one another. Both have a really nice 5.7" QVGA screen. One difference is the S700 is in black and white while the PSR-S900 features an attractive color screen. With any keyboard, as you go down in model you will lose features. Some features may not be very important to you now, but in the future I am quite confident that you will say, "I wish I had gotten the one with more voices, styles and that nice color screen!" I would recommend the purchase of a PSR series Yamaha keyboard if you cannot afford the Tyros 2.

My overall favorite Yamaha keyboard is the Tyros 2. With a large 7.8" color screen, 504 voices which includes 42 "Super Articulation" voices you cannot go wrong. The Super Articulation voices which are in the Tyros 2 and the PSR-S900 keyboards add a lot of flare to your music. With guitar fret screeches, brass shake, breathy sax sounds and more, you are bound to find something that you will enjoy just as much as I have.

The downside of all the keyboards listed is the amount of keys. With a 61-key keyboard I tend to run out of keys on the left hand in pianist mode. I sacrificed this only because I have an 88-key digital piano. The keyboard is just fine if I am playing chord structures in the left hand, which was my original intended purpose.

But do not take only my word for it. I contacted a local professional musician named Tommy Johnson. He is an owner of the Yamaha Tyros 2. Tommy Johnson appeared as a concert artist for Kimball, Yamaha, Technics, Hammond and Roland. Tommy was one of the four top performers in the world at the Liberace World Keyboard Entertainer Competition in 1980.

In the interview with Tommy Johnson I asked him several questions that I hope will answer any questions that a keyboard enthusiast would want to know.

What do you like most about the Yamaha Tyros 2 verses other leading keyboard brands?

There is more than one thing. Setup with the one touch feature creates ease of operation, and the Yamaha samples are the best.

What do you primarily use the Tyros 2 for?

I gig with it.

Is it very easy and lightweight to carry around to your gigs?

Yes, it is much lighter than a Roland G-70 Workstation.

Did you have a favorite keyboard before purchasing the Tyros?

Yeah, the Technics KN-6000 keyboard.

What are the major differences between the KN keyboard and the Tyros 2?

The ease of operation is about the same. The Tyros has better samples and better rhythms.

What is your favorite feature?

The favorite thing for me is it sets everything up really good. The one touch features are excellent and I don't have to shop around.

Is there anything in the keyboard that you do not like?

I wish it had internal speakers, but I would gladly sacrifice that.

I then asked Tommy if he would play something for me on his Tyros 2 using piano, brass, organ and guitar. The video that I recorded is available to view on youtube.com. He played "Johnny B. Goode." Follow this link to view the video.

While most of the keyboard enthusiasts and "newbies" call a keyboard just a keyboard, most that are ending up in the homes of today's musicians are called "arranger workstation keyboards." The cost of the models listed in this article range in average from around $999 to $3495. I do not advise purchasing keyboards on eBay, but if you do, be cautious. There are "scammers" selling Yamaha Tyros 2 keyboards on eBay for next to nothing. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Visit an authorized Yamaha dealer in your area to get a demonstration of Yamaha's newest keyboards/workstations. The Tyros 2 is the best bet for any home user or professional musician.