• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to secondary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Piano Keyboard Reviews (2021)

  • Brands
    • Yamaha Keyboards
      • Yamaha Keyboard Apps
      • Where to Buy Yamaha Keyboard
      • How to Record a Yamaha Keyboard on a Computer
      • How to Fix Dead Keys on a Yamaha Keyboard?
      • DGX 650 Review
        • DGX 650 vs 660
      • DGX 660 Review
        • DGX 660 Tutorial
        • DGX 660 vs P115
      • EZ 220 Review
        • EZ 220 Tutorial
        • EZ 220 vs PSR E363
      • MM8 Review
      • MO8 Review
      • Motif XS6 Review
      • NP12 Review
      • Pianica Review
      • P45B Review
      • P71 Review
      • P105 Review
      • P125 Review
        • P125 vs Roland FP-30
        • P115 vs P125
      • P255 Review
      • P515 Review
      • PSR E263 Review
        • PSR E263 vs E363
      • PSR E363 Review
        • PSR E363 Tutorial
      • PSR EW300 Review
      • PSR EW410 Review
        • PSR EW410 vs EW300
      • S70XS Review
      • YDP142 Review
      • YDP181 Review
      • YDP V240 Review
      • YDP 103R Review
      • YDP 143 Arius Review
      • YDP 163 Arius Review
      • YDP 184 Review
      • YPG 235 Review
      • YPG 535 Review
      • YPT 240 Review
      • YPT 255 Review
      • YPT 260 Review
        • YPT 260 vs YPT 360
    • Casio Keyboards
      • Casio Keyboard Accessories
      • Casio Keyboard Apps
      • How to Play a Casio Keyboard
      • How to Connect My Casio Keyboard to a Computer | Garage Band | Mac | Laptop | iPad | iPhone | Chromebook
      • CDP 240 Review
      • CGP 700 Review
      • CT X700 Review
        • CT X700 Tutorial
        • CT-X700 vs Yamaha PSR E363
      • CTK 4400 Review
      • CTK 2550 Review
        • CTK 2550 Tutorial
        • CTK 2550 vs 3500
      • CTK 3500 Review
        • CTK 3500 Tutorial
        • CTK 3500 vs CTX 700
      • LK 265 Review
        • LK 265 Tutorial
        • LK 265 vs CTK 3500
      • LK 280 Review
        • LK 280 vs Yamaha EZ 220
      • PX 160 Review
        • PX 160 Tutorial
        • PX 160 vs Yamaha P115
      • PX 350 Review
      • PX 750 Review
      • PX 770 Review
      • PX 870 Review
      • SA 46 Review
        • SA 46 Tutorial
        • SA 46 vs 76
      • SA 76 Review
      • WK 245 Tutorial
        • WK-245 vs Yamaha PSR-EW300
        • WK 245 vs Yamaha YPG 235
      • WK 6600 Review
    • Amazon Piano Keyboards
      • Alesis Melody 61 MKII Review
      • Alesis Recital 88-Key Digital Piano Review
        • Alesis Recital: Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
      • Alesis Recital Pro Review
        • Alesis Recital Pro vs Yamaha P45
      • Goplus Piano Review
      • Hamzer Keyboard Review
        • Hamzer Keyboard: Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
        • Hamzer Keyboard 61 Keys vs Rockjam 61 Keyboard
      • Joy Keyboard Review
      • Korg B1 Review
        • Korg B1 vs Yamaha P45
      • Korg Tiny Piano Review
      • LAGRIMA 61 Key Keyboard Review
      • LAGRIMA 88 Key Digital Piano Review
      • Plixio Keyboard Review
      • RockJam 54-Key Keyboard Review
        • RockJam Keyboards: Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
        • RockJam vs Alesis
      • RockJam 61 Key Keyboard Review
      • The ONE Smart 88 Weighted Key Piano Review
      • The ONE Smart Keyboard Review
    • Roland Keyboards
      • Best Roland Keyboard
      • FP 30 Review
      • RD 2000 Review
      • Go: Keys Review
      • Juno DS88 Review
        • Juno DS88 VS Yamaha MX88
        • Juno DS88 Tutorial
      • Roland Keyboard FAQs
  • Buyer’s Guides
    • 38 Best Piano Keyboards Ranked
    • Beginner Keyboards
      • How to Buy a Keyboard Piano for a Beginner
      • How Many Keys Should a Keyboard or Piano Have?
    • Budget Keyboards
      • Where Can I Buy a Cheap Keyboard Piano?
      • How to Play Keyboard on a Budget
    • Kids Keyboards
      • How to Teach Piano to a Toddler
      • Best Piano for Toddlers
      • How to Teach Your Child to Play Piano
    • Portable Keyboards
      • How to Fly with a Portable Keyboard
    • Roll Up Keyboards
      • Where to Buy Roll Up Piano
      • Lujex 88 Keys Roll Up Piano Review
    • Weighted Keys Keyboards
      • What is a Weighted Keyboard?
      • How to Choose a Weighted Keyboard
  • Best Under $
    • Under 100 Dollars
    • Under 200 Dollars
    • Under 300 Dollars
    • Under 500 Dollars
    • Under 1000 Dollars
    • Under 2000 Dollars
  • Accessories
    • Musical Keyboard Accessories
    • Headphones
  • Lessons
    • Best Online Piano Lessons
      • FlowKey Review
      • Piano for All Review
      • Playground Sessions Review
      • Simply Piano Review
      • Yousician Review
  • Tutorials
    • History
    • Benefits
    • Types
      • Casio vs. Yamaha
      • Digital vs Acoustic Piano
    • Selling
      • Piano Restoration Cost
      • Baby Grand Piano Cost
      • Buy a Used Piano
    • Tuning
      • Piano Tuning Cost
      • How to Clean a Piano Keyboard
      • How to Clean Piano Keys
    • Transport
      • Piano Weights
    • Parts of a Piano
      • What are Piano Keys Made Of?
      • Sustain Pedals
      • How to Fix Sticky Keys
    • What Age to Start
    • How Long to Learn
    • How to Play Keyboard
    • Learn Piano Online
    • Beginner Piano Books
    • Learn Piano Faster
    • Learn Without a Piano
    • Piano Levels
    • Learning as an Adult
    • Beginner Piano Exercises
    • Self-Taught Pianist vs Lessons
    • Piano Exercises
    • Improvise on a Piano

Alesis Melody 61 MKII Review (2021): More Than a Toy, But Not Quite an Instrument

November 12, 2021 By Maurice M.

Alesis is known for their innovative drum kits and digital percussion instruments, specializing in using advanced technology to make high-performance digital instruments more affordable. They aren’t well known in the digital keyboard market, but the Alesis Melody 61 MKII has a great looking setup at an incredible price, so it’s worth taking a closer look.

See Reviews & More for Alesis Melody 61 MKII

Table of contents

  • Overview of the Alesis Melody 61 MKII
  • Video Overview of Alesis Melody 61 MKII
  • Alesis Melody 61 MKII’s and Specs
  • Who is the Alesis Melody 61 MKII Most Suitable For?
  • What’s Included with the Alesis Melody 61 MKII?
  • Alesis Melody 61 MKII’s Features
  • Pros & Cons of the Alesis Melody 61 MKII
  • Alesis Melody 61 MKII Manual
  • An Alternative Product to Consider
  • Alesis Melody 61 MK2 Electric Keyboard Sound
  • HSNtv’s Alesis Melody MKII Review
  • Conclusion

Overview of the Alesis Melody 61 MKII

The Alesis Melody 61 MKII is designed for kids, and meant to appeal to slightly older kids who want a grown-up style piano keyboard setup, and don’t want to feel like they are playing with a toy. It’s a great way to introduce children to playing the piano, and has all the accessories and functions that will make any kid feel like a rock star.

The Alesis Melody 61 MKII is a 61-key keyboard with an astonishing 300 instrument voices and 300 built-in accompaniment rhythms. It has 40 demo songs, and comes complete with a keyboard stand, bench, music rest, headphones, and even a microphone. You can even record and play back your own songs through the keyboard. It has all the functions that a young aspiring musician is looking for.

Video Overview of Alesis Melody 61 MKII

Here’s a quick video for Alesis Melody 61 MKII:

See Reviews & More for Alesis Melody 61 MKII

Alesis Melody 61 MKII’s and Specs

SpecificationDescription
Keys61 full size keys
Demo Songs40 built-in demo songs
PowerCan be AC powered or use 6 AA batteries
Split keyboard modeYes
Special FeatureDual keyboard mode (other companies would call this “layer mode,” where you play two instruments with the same note)
Built-in instrument sounds– 300 built-in instrument sounds, including sound effects
– 300 built-in accompaniment rhythms
Accessories Included– Comes with easy-to-assemble X-style keyboard stand
– Comes with height-adjustable X-style bench
– Comes with headphones
– Comes with a music rest
– Comes with an AC adaptor
– Comes with a microphone
– Includes 3 months of Skoove Premium online piano courses

Who is the Alesis Melody 61 MKII Most Suitable For?

The Alesis Melody 61 MKII is perfect for young kids and pre-teens who have an interest in music. The huge array of instrument voices and sounds are fun to play with, the built-in rhythms and demo songs will have them playing full songs in minutes, and the microphone and headphones will make them feel like rock stars.  It’s also capable of being powered by batteries, and is lightweight, so the keyboard can go with them to parties or picnics.

This is not a great keyboard for very young children. The keyboard itself, and the included stand and seat, are not particularly rugged in construction, and won’t withstand a lot of banging or wobbling.

The Alesis Melody 61 MKII is also not a great choice for more serious young music students. Most piano teachers would prefer that children practice on a weighted keyboard, to build finger strength and techniques that will transfer better to traditional pianos. It also doesn’t have any onboard lesson functions, and Skoove Online may not be the best piano instruction option for children. Finally, it doesn’t have any ability to connect to computers or digital devices, so you can’t choose other apps or online tools that may have better instruction.

With all these weaknesses, though, the Alesis Melody 61 MKII definitely looks cool and is fun to play, and is an extremely affordable digital keyboard. For kids the right age, it’s an excellent way to further their interest in music.

What’s Included with the Alesis Melody 61 MKII?

The Alesis Melody 61 MKII comes with:

Headphones

An X-style keyboard stand

An X-style keyboard stand

A microphone

A music rest

An AC adaptor

Altogether, it’s a complete digital keyboard setup, right out of the box.

Alesis Melody 61 MKII’s Features

FEATUREDESCRIPTION
DesignWhen it’s all set up, the Alesis Melody 61 MKII has a stylish look. The stand, bench, microphone, and headphones give the instrument a professional studio feel that is appealing. 61 keys are often used for beginner keyboards, because it’s an ample range of notes for beginners to learn with and produces a satisfying range of songs and musical styles, before upgrading to a full 88-key keyboard.

It’s easily removed from the stand, and is compact and portable. The ability to power it with batteries make it easy to take anywhere, so your kids can perform and share their music.
SoundIt has a huge library of 300 instrument voices, some of them including fun and funny sound effects kids will love.

It also has 300 auto-accompaniment rhythms, so you can start playing complete songs right away, with just the press of a button. The 40 built-in demo songs are fun to play and sing along with.
Skoove PremiumSkoove is an online piano education website that walks you step-by-step through the act of playing and reading music. Because the Alesis Melody 61 MKII doesn’t have online connectivity, you have to set up a nearby computer to access the website through your browser, and then allow your browser to “listen” to your piano playing through the computer’s microphone in order to evaluate and progress through lessons.
SkooveSkoove shows you the correct hand positions and pauses lessons until you play the right note, giving you feedback and progressing you through the learning process. Skoove is an effective way to learn the piano, and a great way to try the service (although  but the user experience and song selections aren’t particularly child-friendly, and may not appeal to short attention spans and encourage kids to practice.
FeaturesDual keyboard mode allows you to play two instrument sounds at once, while the split keyboard allows you to play different instruments with each hand. Onboard recording and playback features allow kids to listen to and share their performances.

Pros & Cons of the Alesis Melody 61 MKII

PROSCONS
61 full size keys are plenty for learning and practicing, and gives kids effective practice on standard-sized keysCan’t adjust the microphone volume independently of the instrument volume, and the microphone is loud
300 built-in instrument sounds, including sound effects, and 300 built-in accompaniment rhythms give children a huge range of ways to explore, experiment, and express themselves with the keyboardInstrument voices and sound isn’t great
40 built-in demo songs are great for practice and learning what the possibilities areNo USB or digital connectivity
Dual keyboard mode (other companies would call this “layer mode” where you play two instruments with the same note) and split keyboard mode allow you to make the most of the number of instrument voices by playing two at once with each note, or playing two different instruments with each hand
Record and playback functions are fun for kids, and a helpful learning tool so they can hear themselves progress. It’s also a great way for them to share their music with others, so they can show what they have learned
It comes with an easy-to-assemble X-style keyboard stand and height adjustable x-style bench so you can set up a keyboard area and keep it off the kitchen table
It comes with headphones, which are particularly necessary for parents, as it allows kids to enjoy their playing with the keyboard without disturbing anyone else
It comes with 3 months of Skoove Premium online piano courses, which normally costs $13.33/month, and is a simple, easy way to learn and practice the piano using a web browser
It comes with a microphone. This one may just as well be a “con” in some homes; the microphone volume can’t be adjusted independently of the master volume, and it is very loud. It’s a blessing for families with good singers, and most kids love it, but some parents find themselves hiding the microphone in the middle of the night

Alesis Melody 61 MKII Manual

If you’d like to check out the nitty-gritty of the Alesis Meldoy 61 MKII, here’s a link to the model’s manual:

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD ALESIS MELODY 61 MKII MANUAL

An Alternative Product to Consider

The Alesis Melody 61 MKII is something more than a toy, but not quite an instrument. When considering alternatives, it’s natural to look at the sister model of this keyboard, the Alesis Melody 61. The two models look very superficially similar, and come with very similar accessories, so it comes down to a few crucial differences:

Alesis Melody 61 MKII

– X-style keyboard stand
– Full-size keys
– 37.2 inches wide, weighs 8.7 pounds
– 300 instrument voices
– 300 accompaniment rhythms
– 40 demo songs
– 3 months online instruction with Skoove Premium

Alesis Melody 61

– Panel-style keyboard stand
– Compact keys
– 33.84 inches wide, weighs 6.87 pounds
– 200 instrument voices
– 128 accompaniment rhythms
– 10 demo songs
– 3 built-in instruction modes
– USB connectivity

One would expect that a keyboard with USB is more expensive than one without; it’s a feature that many keyboard manufacturers attach a premium value to, despite the fact that the capability actually costs the manufacturer very little. However, the Alesis Melody 61 is so much more expensive than the Alesis Melody 61 that the cost difference is truly staggering.

The Alesis Melody 61 MKII is an excellent bargain for the purchase price. The Alesis Melody 61 simply is not; there are exceptional beginner keyboards in that price range that are far superior to this one.

For kids who really want to feel like a rock star, and for a digital keyboard with better sound, better construction, and a better learning experience, a great alternative to the Alesis Melody 61 MKII is the Hamzer 61-key Portable Keyboard. Like the Alesis Melody 61 MKII, the Hamzer 61 has:

– 61 full-size keys
– Comes with a music stand
– Comes with a keyboard stand
– Comes with a keyboard stool
– Comes with headphones
– Comes with a microphone
– Comes with AC power adaptor
– Can be powered with 6 AA batteries
– Built-in recording and playback functions

The Alesis Melody 61 MKII has some advantages over the Hamzer, because it has:

– More instrument voices, at 300 vs 255
– More onboard rhythms, with 300 vs. 255
– More demonstration songs, with 40 vs 24

However, despite being virtually the same price as the Alesis Melody 61 MKII, the Hamzer is a much higher quality instrument, and has features the Alesis lacks, including:

– 61 keyboard percussions
– Integrated learning system
– Advanced audio effects like chord timbre, vibrato, sustain, ensemble
– Advanced customization settings like program/edit rhythm, rhythm sync and fill-in, and tempo adjustment
– Improved sound sources and sound quality
– Importantly, on the Hamzer, you can adjust master volume and accompaniment volume independently
– The keyboard stand and stool are more ruggedly constructed and higher quality
– The keyboard itself is slightly smaller and lighter in weight

While the Hamzer 61 is not a professional instrument, the better sound, higher quality construction of the keyboard and accessories, better onboard learning tools, and greater range of instrument options make it an overall better choice than the Alesis Melody 61 MKII, for just a few dollars more. The Hamzer is a good instrument for beginners of all ages, with a wider range of capabilities than the Alesis Melody 61 MKII.

Alesis Melody 61 MK2 Electric Keyboard Sound

HSNtv’s Alesis Melody MKII Review

Conclusion

While Alesis continues to make groundbreaking drums and percussion instruments, the Alesis Melody 61 MKII isn’t an impressive entry into the competitive digital keyboard market. With affordable options from legendary piano brands like Casio, Roland, and Yamaha, and a feature set that even a simple Hamzer can beat, the Alesis Melody 61 MKII has a way to go.

It also has the advanced digital features that acoustic pianos don’t have, including a wide selection of tones, rhythms, polyphony, and even simple volume controls to make it easy to live with. Recording and playback, transpose, and split keyboard functions offer a range of possibilities and capabilities that invite learning and exploration, as well as affording unique opportunities for growth and expression.

Most keyboards offer a fraction of the features at more than double the cost. This powerful, versatile, handsome digital console keyboard simply cannot be beat in its price range, and is a fantastic choice for piano lovers everywhere.

See Reviews & More for Alesis Melody 61 MKII

What are Piano Keys Made Of? Quick Guide for Beginners

Where to Buy Roll Up Piano

Best Piano Lessons Columbus OH (2021): Prices, Top 15 Instructors & More

Learning Piano as an Adult: Benefits & Tips for Speeding Up Learning

Best Digital Piano Under 300 Dollars: Our Current Top 6 Recommendations for (2021)

Yamaha YPG 235 Review (2021)

Filed Under: Amazon-piano-keyboards

Primary Sidebar

Helpful Links

  • Accessories
  • Amazon-piano-keyboards
  • Best Under $
  • Blog
  • Buyer's Guides
  • Casio Keyboards
  • Lessons
  • Piano Keyboard
  • Roland keyboards
  • Tutorials
  • Yamaha Keyboards
Piano For All

Secondary Sidebar

Piano For All

Footer

Have You Read These Yet?

  • Best Casio Keyboards 2019
  • Best Amazon Piano Keyboards 2019
Piano For All

Browse Our Content

  • About
  • Contact Us
  • Sitemap
  • Buyer’s Guides
  • Best Under $
  • Tutorials
  • Accessories

Copyright © 2022 Piano Keyboard Reviews

About | Contact | Affiliate Disclosure | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy

Piano Keyboard Reviews is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.