YAMAHA PSR-E363 Digital Electronic Keyboard with 61 Keys and Built-in Lesson Function, in Black

First of all I have to say I’m not a musician, and I can’t play any instruments. I’m getting on a bit and I thought the challenge of learning to play might be good exercise for my memory and my dexterity. I only intend to play for myself and have no expectations of any real level of skill developing.Still I wanted something that would be fun to play and, maybe disguise my lack of skill while I was playing. I spent a lot of time reading reviews of various keyboards, and my final decision was made on the basis of Youtube videos where this particular keyboard sounded much more natural than the Casio it was in contention with.I love the sound quality of this keyboard – not just the piano, but the various other voices built in to it. I particularly love that I can ‘play’ Sax without having to blow into anything. It is every bit as good as the videos suggested.Down to the practicalities.It measures approximately 3’ x 1’2” x 4” (11” high with the music stand attached). It has a ton of different instrument sounds (Voices) and Styles e.g. ballad, country, and waltz. There is also a series of built in learn to play songs that will help you to build up your repertoire. The styles are used as a background accompaniment to playing and, even with my serious lack of skill, makes my playing fun and enjoyable because it sounds so much better than me just tapping the notes.The keys are big enough for my large fingers, but I do wish I had bought the 76 key version ( PSREW300UK ). The only problem I have with the 61 key version is that middle C is right in front of me and I find it quite difficult to get my right hand there without any awkwardness, so I play everything one octave higher simply because it’s physically easier for me. This keyboard does however have a facility to shift the octaves left or right in relation to the keys, but I haven’t done that yet, because to me it sounds ok the way I’m doing it and since no one else is listening it doesn’t matter.There’s a small backlit LCD screen which gives some really useful information for a beginner.First of all it shows you which options you have selected from Voice, Style and so on. It has a small keyboard representation which identifies which keys you are pressing (good for getting to play by feel rather than looking at the keyboard directly). It also has a musical staff which shows the location on the staff of the notes you are playing. Again great for a beginner learning to read music and become familiar with musical notation.Another feature, if you are receiving tuition, is that the keyboard can be split in two so that a tutor can play on one side while the student mimics on the other half. They’ve thought of everything.One of the things I especially love are the drumkits. There are several sets of drum sounds built in. The tiny white icons on the casing, just above the keys, are pictorial representations of the various drums that are built in so it makes it very easy to be a drummer if you feel that way inclined. The sound quality from these is excellent.It also has MIDI output so that you can connect to computer based sound editing/recording software, though you will have to provide your own connecting cable.Yamaha supply a load of free apps suitable for tablets that can be used along with the keyboard to help you develop your skills. Just rest the tablet on the music stand and off you go.It comes with an excellent user manual, and a downloadable 210 page A4 songbook graded for beginners.What you will need, if this is your first keyboard is a stand and a stool. I can recommend the Stagg KEB-A10 Adjustable Keyboard Bench and the Bespeco BP50XI am very pleased with this keyboard. It’s fun to play, has loads of features I haven’t even begun to explore, it sounds great, and doesn’t disturb anyone else when you play with headphones plugged in. I’m still a rubbish musician, but getting slowly better.

Loved the touch sensitive keys. It came with a trial subscription to Flowkey, a teaching app which is exceptionally good.The quality of sound and manufacture is very impressive. It has many features that are normally only found on much more expensive boards. I have it connected to my ipad through a usb lead.If you are looking for a good quality keyboard at a reasonable price, this is the one that I would go for. Very happy with it.I have also bought a sustain foot pedal to use with it.

Bought this to see if an oldie could keep the fingers and grey cells working by learning to play the piano. Easy to use although the manual could be written better and with larger print. Comes with free 3 month trial of Flowkey which makes life much more fun when learning the basucs. Two downsides. No you dont get a mains power adaptor (at least I didnt) and connecting it to an Ipad is an expensive and frustrating exercise but thats mainly down to Apples proprietary connection arrangements.

The speakers on this keyboard are, I’d say, one of its biggest selling points. The on-board selections sound great. There is a bewildering number of presets - over 500 different voices, some of them split-keyboard which is extra fun. It comes with a piano course you can download as a pdf and 3 months membership to Flowkey which is, in my opinion, one of the best keyboard-learning apps out there. I plug my iPad into this through the MIDI link as I have a ton of synths and a couple of really detailed piano-emulations which also sound great through the built-in speakers.My one wish is that I didn’t have to keep scrolling to ‘32’ to cancel the built in keyboard voice when using with my tablet.And my one gripe? I think I’d have liked to have been able to alter the actual keyboard action so that velocity was a bit more sensitive. Sometimes when trying to play something pianissimo you have to depress the key a little too hard, therefore not getting the desired effect. Still, that’s good for building up the strength in my fingers I suppose!

Have been incredibly impressed with this keyboard so far. I have had several portable Yamaha keyboards as well as more static electric pianos over the years and Im really pleased with this product. Gorgeous, rich sound and lovely to play. Also looks smart and attractive too, as well as being light weight and portable. Many thanks

I was going to buy the larger version, the 410, but as this was £100 cheaper it was a bit of a no brainer bearing in mind the only difference is that this has 61 keys and the larger one has 72. The only downside is that middle C is more 'two thirds from the left C' !If you just want to learn the piano and that's all you are going to play, get yourself an Alesis Recital/ Recital pro as you can't go wrong for the money.If you want to learn the piano/ create your own music, this is the one for you. I bought mine for a ridiculous £150 and I haven't been off it. There is a music book installed with a 'learn to play' guide which is fab (I can play Fur Elise!! ) and apparently an online course which I haven't tried yet.As for making your own music, this has all the bells and whistles....seriously, bells and whistles are some of the voices in the memory and I'm pretty sure there are cats and dogs in there too. Okay, maybe not cats, but I haven't even begun to scratch the surface yet of just what it is possible to do.I know some reviews have been a bit harsh re the quality of the voices incorporated but come on, it's £150! They sound pretty good to me so any criticism of thet at this price is a bit silly, IMHO.It's light and portable too, so no problem if you want to store it away and bring it downstairs to use.Downside? The power cable is too short!Highly recommended.