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How many keys (and keyboards) for playing live?
What works best for you when playing live? Why?
- A single 88-key keyboard
- A single 73-key keyboard
- A single 61-key keyboard
- A single keyboard with fewer than 61 keys
- Two or more keyboards?
I started with a single 88-key keyboard and setup as many splits / layers as needed for each song. I moved away from this for 3 reasons:
1. A board with 88 keys is too long to fit in most trunks without folding down a seat.
2. Some of the stages where my bands perform are very small and it is easier to fit a narrower keyboard (especially if I don't want to be banished to the back corner / face sideways).
3. Depending on the song / splits, I found it tough to play two sections that were at opposite ends of 88 keys.
Now I use two keyboards: Arturia KeyLab MkII 61 (15.4 lbs) and Xkey air 37 (1.9 lbs).
1. Size and weight are very easy to manage.
2. These two keyboards look great on stage (I have the Arturia in White and a white column stand).
3. The Xkey's key action is great for organ, synth, pads, etc. while the Arturia is very good for acoustic and electric pianos.
4. I find it much easier to manage the splits and layers with 37 keys in front of 61 keys, and the total number of keys is higher too (more flexibility).
Comments
I’ve never used more than 49 keys live. Currently, I use my Moog Sub 37 for synth sounds and as a midi controller for the iPad (organ, wurli, rhodes, samples). Both of those then go through a small pedal board that’s at arms reach. I’m no “piano virtuoso” so I’ve never needed more keys than that.
Regarding the small pedal board... There are so many great effects available for the iPad. Do you find that there are some effects that you prefer a physical pedal instead of the iPad?
73/76 keys has been the best compromise for me in terms of weight, size and playability. Splits are more fun on 88 keys of course but using one or more XKey 37s additionally sounds like an interesting option.
I do prefer my 49 keys Nord Lead 3 though because it's such a sweet tweakable synth - although its keybed could be better.
Absolutely! I could get away with some virtual FX but I tend to tweak pedals as I’m playing so I like the immediacy and sound of analog/hardware pedals. Some iPad FX are “stepped” when knobs are turned and it sounds bad (they’re great when used stationary though). The one pedal that will always be there is my Moog delay pedal. It’s got some mojo to it that hasn’t been captured via iPad FX yet.
When I played live I have 37 keys just because the ms20 and Minilogue were my go to live synths. Even then I mostly did drums and keys for maybe 2-3 tracks. The music I make now doesn’t translate well live and I don’t have much interest anymore in playing to an audience. But if I did, I think I’d choose 49 now as I’m a slightly better keyboard player than I was.