• Choose an Electronic Keyboard

• Evaluate Electronic Keyboard Features

• Buy Accessories for Your Electronic Keyboard

• Find Electronic Keyboards on eBay Australia

• Buy with Confidence

• Need More Help?

• Legal Disclaimer

Choose an Electronic Keyboard

Choose an Electronic Keyboard

Electronic keyboards give you a great way to explore music and learn to play an instrument. Different types of electronic keyboards work best for different players. Popular keyboards include everything from Yamaha keyboards, Roland keyboards, Casio keyboards, and Korg keyboards to keyboards from Wurlitzer, and Kurzweil.

Pack up a portable electronic keyboard

Affordable and easy-to-play portable electronic keyboards can go anywhere and you can play them anywhere, even on your lap. Plus, portable electronic keyboards come with built-in speakers, so you’ll have everything you need to be a one-person band or orchestra.

Portable electronic keyboards can produce dozens of instrument sounds and percussion rhythms. Some electronic keyboards even have sampling capabilities, allowing you to record and play back sounds. Higher-end portable electronic keyboards, geared toward more seasoned players, offer more functionality and better sound.

Select a synthesiser

Synthesisers, or synths, are more sophisticated than portable keyboards and utilise cutting-edge technology. Many include a sampler that works like a digital tape recorder, playing back stored digital sounds. Samplers will also record original sounds and play them back. Some synthesisers can also change the waveform of an instrument’s sound and alter it completely.

Synthesisers or samplers that have percussion and rhythm sounds fall in the workstation category. Workstations function like a complete music studio, allowing you to create compositions without additional equipment.

Make the most of MIDI

Many electronic keyboards have Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) capabilities that allow them to communicate with other electronic instruments and computers. If you're strapped for cash, consider a standalone MIDI keyboard controller, which is basically a keyboard without sound. Hook the MIDI keyboard controller up to your computer, play back your music on your computer's built-in sound system, and digitally record your jam sessions.

Play the digital piano

Portable keyboards and synthesisers can approximate the sound of an acoustic piano, but digital pianos sound closer to the real thing. The lower-cost and portable alternative to the acoustic piano makes sense for professional musicians who need to carry their instrument from gig to gig and for novice players who eventually want to graduate to an acoustic piano.

Digital pianos have two or three pedals and require a stand. Aside from realistic piano sounds, most can produce a limited number of other sounds such as organ, vibes, harpsichord, and strings. Most also feature MIDI in and out jacks so that you can connect them to a computer or other MIDI device. Popular brands of digital pianos include Yamaha, and Casio.

Electronic organs are available as well with a great range from Yamaha.

Evaluate Electronic Keyboard Features

Evaluate Electronic Keyboard Features

From producing a background salsa beat with the touch of a button to recording your own multi-instrumental compositions, electronic keyboards have features that let you do almost anything.

Explore electronic keyboard sounds and rhythms

Electronic keyboards come with an array of sounds, rhythm patterns, and bass lines. Most electronic keyboard models feature the industry standard of 128 acoustic and electronic instruments and 47 prerecorded percussion sounds. The percussion sounds provide the basic rhythms for different types of music, including rock, reggae, and funk.

Higher-end electronic keyboards come equipped with even more sound options, such as specialty sounds, vocal effects, and drum pads.

Dig into digital effects

Digital effects such as reverb, chorus, delay, and even distortion, colour your music. Use distortion to emulate the sound of a guitar playing rock and roll. Pitch benders let you raise or drop the pitch of a note or chord.

Evaluate the electronic keyboard

The keys on an electronic keyboard can come in one of three sizes: mini, organ style, and full size. Smaller-sized keys are appropriate for children and people with small hands. If you hope to play an acoustic piano one day, pick a keyboard with full-sized keys so that you get used to the larger size.

Electronic keyboards will have varying numbers of keys. Most have 61, but you’ll also find keyboards with 49, and 76 keys. Digital pianos should always have 88 keys.

Designed to more closely approximate acoustic pianos, weighted keys and touch-sensitive keys on electronic keyboards allow you to play harder or softer and allow more subtle variation in your playing technique.

MIDI means more possibilities

Most electronic keyboards have a MIDI port that allows your keyboard to communicate with your computer and other electronic devices. Some electronic keyboards even allow you to download songs to your keyboard. It's a must-have feature for anyone who likes to DJ or experiment with sound.

With MIDI, you can compose music, transfer it to your computer, and then edit and customise your work until it sounds perfect. Use your electronic keyboard's sequencing capabilities to write, record, and create multi-track recordings.

Teach yourself to play an electronic keyboard

Some electronic keyboards include educational tools, such as tutorials and a sound library, which can help you learn how to play. The song library includes an extensive collection of songs, from old standards to today's hits. Play your electronic keyboard along with your favourites as you become a musician or just sit back and listen for pleasure.

Buy Accessories for Your Electronic Keyboard

Buy Accessories for Your Electronic Keyboard

Once you know what kind of electronic keyboard you need, make sure you buy the right accessories.

• Electronic keyboard amplifiers: Most electronic keyboards come with two built-in speakers and a two- to six-watt output. Get more power and volume for performances with an amplifier for your keyboard. Make sure you buy an electronic keyboard that has a proper output.

• Groove boxes: Groove boxes, made by Roland, are workstations designed for dance music and groove music makers. They feature sequencing and editing functions so that you can create and refine original dance sounds and patterns. Fans of hip-hop, funk, techno, trance, and acid jazz can also take advantage of a groove box’s built-in dance sounds.

• Electronic keyboard stands & racks: If you own a larger electronic keyboard or play in a band, consider investing in a stand, or get a stool if you prefer not to stand.

• Protect your electronic keyboard: Protect your electronic keyboard with a bag, especially if you plan to take it on the road.

• Sustain your sound: Like the sustain pedal on an acoustic piano, sustain pedals for electronic keyboards allow a note to play a natural duration, even when your fingers leave a key.

• Power your electronic keyboard: Remember to buy cables and AC adapters (if they don't already come with your keyboard) to power your keyboard and connect it to your computer.

Find Electronic Keyboards on eBay Australia

Find Electronic Keyboards on eBay Australia

Once you know what type of electronic keyboard you want, go to the Musical Instruments portal, click the Keyboards link under Keyboard, Piano, and start searching for item listings on eBay Australia.

• Categories: The Categories list on the left side of each page will help you narrow down your listings.

• Keyword search: Search eBay Australia listing titles for specific words. For example, if you want to find a digital piano, type "digital piano" (without quotation marks) into the Search box. Click "Search title and description" to expand your results. Visit eBay Australia's Search Tips page for more tips on searching with keywords.

If you can't find exactly what you want, try shopping eBay Stores, tell the eBay Australia Community what you want by creating a post on Want It Now, or save a search on My eBay and eBay Australia will email you when a match becomes available.

Buy with Confidence

Buy with Confidence

Before making your purchase, make sure you know exactly what you're buying, research your seller, and understand how eBay Australia and PayPal protect you.

Know your purchase

Carefully read the details in item listings.

• Figure delivery costs into your final price. If you spend a lot of money, make sure the seller will insure the item when it ships.

• If you want more information, ask by clicking the "Ask seller a question" link under the seller's profile.

• Always make sure to complete your transaction on eBay Australia (with a bid, Buy It Now, or Best Offer). Transactions conducted outside of eBay Australia are not covered by eBay Australia protection programs.

• Never pay for your eBay Australia item using instant cash wire transfer services through Western Union or MoneyGram. These payment methods are unsafe when paying someone you do not know.

Know your seller

Research your seller so you feel positive and secure about every transaction.

• What is the seller's Feedback rating? How many transactions have they completed? What percentage of positive responses do they have?

• What do buyers say in their Feedback? Did the seller receive praise?

• Most top eBay Australia sellers operate like retail stores and have return policies. Do they offer a money-back guarantee? What are the terms and conditions?

Buyer protection

In the unlikely event that a problem arises during your transaction, eBay Australia and PayPal are there for you.

• Pay safely with PayPal: PayPal enables you to pay without the seller ever seeing your bank account or credit card numbers. In fact, PayPal protects buyers 100% against unauthorised payments from their accounts. Plus, with PayPal Buyer Protection, your purchase can be covered up to $1,500.

eBay Australia Security & Resolution Centre: Visit the Security & Resolution Centre to learn how to protect your account and use eBay Australia's quick and efficient resolution tools.

Need More Help?

Need More Help?

Visit our help pages or start a thread on one of our Community Discussion Boards - If you have a quick question that needs answering, try posting it on our community Answer Centre - there's bound to be a seasoned eBay Australia veteran with just the information you're looking for!

Legal Disclaimer

Legal Disclaimer

Buying Guides are intended merely as a guide or review for members when considering what products or services they may be interested in bidding on or purchasing. eBay does not make, and nothing in these Buying Guides is intended to constitute, any warranties, guarantees, representations or assurances about the accuracy of the information or content contained in these Buying Guides. Furthermore, eBay does not make, and nothing in these Buying Guides is intended to constitute, any warranties, guarantees, representations or assurances about the nature or performance of the products or services appearing in the Buying Guides. eBay is not affiliated with nor does it endorse the use of any particular product or service.