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Why do so many people (especially kids) start learning how to play the piano, only to drop it within a couple of months?
Often it’s because they’re bored!
But the problem is they’re not learning on the right keyboard – one that’s fun to play!
That’s one of the key features of the Yamaha YPT 240 keyboard. So if you have a child who’s interested in learning how to play, and you want to make sure that they stay interested, it’s time to take a look at the Yamaha YPT 240.
Overview of Yamaha YPT 240 Keyboard
When you have a child who is just starting to learn how to play any musical instrument, you likely don’t want to spend a lot of money until you know that they are going to stick with it.
This is one of the reasons why the Yamaha YPT-240 is such a popular model.
Sure, it doesn’t have as many features as the higher-end models, but it has plenty of things to keep kids interested, and it isn’t going to cost a whole lot of money.
One of the things that makes this keyboard ideal for beginners is that it has the Yamaha Education Suite, which helps to make learning how to play the piano fun and easy. The learning tools can be used for self-teaching, or to go along with regular piano lessons. This keyboard offers up loads of other great features, including tones and accompaniments, so it can be made to sound like many other instruments, such as strings, brass, or a regular piano.
Sure, it doesn’t have a full-size keyboard, but most musicians find that they do well enough with 61 keys. If this keyboard is going to be for a beginner, they won’t need all of the keys for intricate pieces anyway. It does work over five octaves, and the keyboard’s interface allows users to be able to achieve more octaves.
Like many of the more expensive keyboards, the YPT-240 has a feature that allows users to be able to connect the keyboard to their computers, so they can use all kinds of fun learning apps.
This is a great way to keep kids interested in music, especially when they are able to use the apps to learn a lot of their favorite songs.
Video Overview of Yamaha YPT 240
A short video on unboxing of Yamaha YPT 240.
Who is the Yamaha YPT 240 Keyboard For?
If you’re a professional musician who’s looking for a high-end keyboard, the YPT-240 is not the keyboard for you. But if you’re just getting started, and you want an inexpensive and fun model to learn on, the YPT-240 is an excellent choice.
It has most of the same features as the more expensive models, but if the student decides that they are no longer interested in playing the piano, you are not going to be out a lot of money.
This is a great little keyboard for anyone who simply wants to enjoy playing once in a while without going out and spending a fortune on a traditional acoustic piano or an expensive digital piano.
This keyboard has enough bells and whistles to keep younger learners interested, and they can even use it with their mobile phones so they can get all of the fun learning apps. Even though this is not a high-end keyboard, you can be sure that with a name like Yamaha, it is going to be pretty good quality.
What’s Included with the Yamaha YPT 240?
Even though this is not an expensive keyboard to begin with, you can save even more money when you buy it in a bundle pack. When you open the box, you will find all kinds of fun goodies to play with, and you will be able to use the new keyboard right out of the box. Included are the keyboard, a power supply, an adjustable X stand, and a pair of headphones.
If you want to see what everything looks like when it comes out of the box, check out this cool YouTube video, done by a younger user who also gives his review of this keyboard
This is not the bundle package, but it gives you a good view of what you really want to see, the YPT-240.
Yamaha YPT 240’s Features
This may be a “cheap” keyboard, but it is loaded with fun features. For instance, it has USB connectivity, so you can connect to a computer. You can also use the keyboard as a MIDI controller.
This keyboard will interface with many music apps for iPhone and iPad, so it has even more to offer, especially for beginners. There are all kinds of great learning apps out there for beginners of all ages, including some excellent apps for young children. Other features we really like about the YPT-240 include:
Spans Five Octaves | ||||
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Spans Five Octaves | |||
Spans Five Octaves | ||||
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Even though there are only 61 keys, this keyboard will span five octaves, so users have more than enough range for whatever type of music they are playing. Thanks to the keyboard’s interface, you can reach even more octaves. Chances are that you may never need to use any more than 61 keys. When first starting out, five octaves is plenty for learning how to do the basic finger positions. |
Responsive Keys | ||||
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Responsive Keys | |||
Responsive Keys | ||||
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The keys are super-responsive, which is great for those who are just starting out and need to learn what it would feel like to use a real piano. These keys let users control how hard they touch the keys. Once the user gets used to proper fingering and has gone beyond the beginner stage, then it may be time to consider getting a larger keyboard. The keys are not weighted, which can be a disadvantage since weighted keys give a better real piano feel. |
Sound Library | ||||
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Sound Library | |||
Sound Library | ||||
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This keyboard has nearly 400 voices to play around with. Voices are the various instrument sounds, and you can make this keyboard sound like anything from a concert grand piano to a guitar to a horn and then some. There also several instrument samples that are easy to access. In addition to the hundreds of voices, there are also other sound effects that can be used to come up with truly unique sounds. |
Stereo | ||||
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Stereo | |||
Stereo | ||||
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This keyboard, like many Yamaha keyboards, is equipped with Ultra-Wide Stereo technology. This ensures that the keyboard is going to have the best possible sound production, as well as stereo imaging. This keyboard uses one of the earliest sound engines from Yamaha, AWM Stereo Sampling. It may not be the most modern design in this manner, but considering it is a beginner keyboard, sound quality is not the biggest concern. It is from Yamaha, so even though it is low-end, it is still going to be great. |
Styles and Songs | ||||
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Styles and Songs | |||
Styles and Songs | ||||
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There are 100 accompaniment styles and 102 songs built into this keyboard, which is more than enough for beginners. There is sure to be something that everyone likes, and that is going to make learning how to play the piano a lot more enjoyable. Users can play along with the songs to practice, and even slow the tempo until they are able to play faster and keep up with the original. |
Learning Tools | ||||
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Learning Tools | |||
Learning Tools | ||||
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Here is something else that makes the YPT-240 a great choice for beginners. Having the Yamaha Education Suite is a great way for beginners to be able to hone their skills, making it easier to learn songs. Because you can connect this keyboard to the Internet, there are also many other learning apps that can be used to make learning how to play the piano a whole lot easier. |
Master EQ | ||||
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Master EQ | |||
Master EQ | ||||
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There are all kinds of cool sounds and effects, and you can tweak them to the sound you want by using the onboard master equalizer. This is going to give you the ability to change various tones, add or remove bass, add or remove treble, and more. You can use the master EQ to tweak reverb, which gives you that concert hall sound, as well as a chorus effect that helps to enhance this sound. |
Metronome | ||||
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Metronome | |||
Metronome | ||||
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Another feature that makes this an ideal keyboard for beginners is a built-in metronome. Using this tool will help the beginner to be able to stay in time with whatever they are playing. It makes it easier to learn how to keep up with the rhythm and pace of each song, and it can be a great tool to let users know if they are on the right track. It can identify when the wrong keys are being played, so it is like having an extra teacher right there all the time. |
Melody Suppressor | ||||
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Melody Suppressor | |||
Melody Suppressor | ||||
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You already know that this keyboard can be plugged into a computer so you can play along with your favorite songs. But, it gets even better, because it also has a Melody Suppressor feature. This lowers the lead vocals, making it easier to be able to play along and hear all of the notes. This is yet one more feature that makes this an excellent little keyboard for beginners. One of the things that we don’t like about this keyboard is that unless you buy it in a bundle package, there is little chance that you are going to get anything more than the keyboard, with no extras, such as a stand. If you want to play without the power supply, you even have to buy the batteries separately. For a few extra bucks, it is worth it to look for a dealer offering a bundle package, because you will be saving a lot of money on extra gear that you would have had to buy anyway at one point or another. |
How to Use the Yamaha YPT-240 Keyboard
If you get a bundle package with a power supply, you can start using the Yamaha YPT-240 right out of the box. The package will include everything you need to set up and start playing right away, including a stand and a padded bench. If you have never played the piano before, you can use the Yamaha Education Suite, and you will be playing songs in no time, without having to bother with expensive piano lessons that are likely going to be boring. This is great for kids, because we all know that they tend to get bored with things pretty easily.
An Alternative Product (Yamaha YPT 240 vs YPT 255)
The Yamaha YPT-255 is another excellent model for beginners who are trying to learn how to play the piano. Like the YPT-240, this keyboard has 61 keys that have the same feel as those of a traditional acoustic piano, except for the fact that they are not weighted.
Both keyboards have a master EQ for tweaking sounds, reverb, chorus, 100 styles, 102 pre-set songs, and the Yamaha Education Suite.
If you want to see this keyboard in action, check out this YouTube video
When you come right down to it, there are not many differences between the two keyboards. The biggest difference is that the YPT-255 is less expensive, whether or not it is purchased in a bundle package. Of course, if you take your time and shop around, you are likely going to find great deals on both of these quality Yamaha products.
Yamaha YPT 240 Manual
If you’d like to check out the nitty-gritty of the Yamaha YPT 240, here’s a link to the model’s manual:
CLICK TO DOWNLOAD YAMAHA YPT 240 MANUAL
Yamaha YPT-240 Test Run
Captain Namco’s Yamaha YPT-240 Review
Conclusion
We hope this review of the Yamaha YPT-240 showed you that there’s no need to run out and buy an expensive keyboard for someone who is just learning to play the piano.
There will be plenty of time for higher-end instruments later on, if the beginner decides that they want to become the next Mozart ;)The Yamaha YPT-240 is a great beginner model, with plenty of fun features, as well as the Yamaha Education Suite, a wonderful learning tool that can help beginners learn more quickly, so they can start playing their favorite songs and really learn to enjoy playing the piano.
Yamaha YPT 240 (click image for more info)
