Casio Keyboard Key Notes
Your search for a portable, 61 key touch sensitive keyboard is nearly over. The Casio CTK-3500 portable keyboard can open your mind up to an entire new world of music. Casio is a famous brand across the world that is chosen by many piano playing enthusiasts across the globe. Casio LK-110 Keyboard Instrument LIGHT UP KEYS Learn Play Piano Chords Notes. Condition is 'Used'. This Piano for being used is in great condition. Only a few scratches. It’s got light up keys and this piano actually has really good key tension when you press it so it’s not too soft or hard to press the keys. 1-20 of 89 Free Keyboard Sheet Music (search within these results) (Displaying 'melody+chords' keyboard music. See also our piano sheet music selection) Level Artist Title Popularity Date. Beethoven Fur Elise. We wish you a merry christmas. 2014 Bach Air on the G. Casio electronic musical keyboards were first manufactured in 1980 and continue to be made by Casio today. The original Casiotone line was abbreviated to CT in the mid-1980s but has continued to feature full-sized keys.
Your search for a portable, 61 key touch sensitive keyboard is nearly over. The Casio CTK-3500 portable keyboard can open your mind up to an entire new world of music. Casio is a famous brand across the world that is chosen by many piano playing enthusiasts across the globe. Casio is trusted to make the best equipment for learning and for beginners but also for advanced players too.
This article is going to review some of the key features of the Casio CTK 3500 that you might have questions about. Inside of this article I am going to go over the main benefits to selecting the Casio CTK3500 as a beginner keyboard, that also remains portable, so that you can take it with you if you so choose. If you are just starting out, or if you are writing songs on your tour bus and need to take a portable keyboard with you, you will love the CTK3500 made by Casio.
First off there are 400 high quality tones built into the Casio keyboard, and 150 built in rhythms including a dance music mode. The keyboard is made up of 61 full sized and touch sensitive keys that respond fully to your playing dynamics, and individual needs as a piano playing enthusiast. You can express yourself with ease and with natural flow with these high quality, responsive keys.
Casio has a reputation for delivering high quality products, and the Casio CTK 3500 is no different. If you haven’t used or trusted Casio in the past, this might be your chance to try a really high quality product from a high quality product maker in the music industry. The keyboards are in the affordable range, and this is another high quality product that fits the bill and checks all the boxes in a portable keyboard for beginners and enthusiasts alike. Its versatility and wide range of rhythms and sounds give you the ability to get creative while also not breaking the bank or holding down your back with heavy weight.
- 2 What We Like About Casio CTK 3500
- 3 Bottom line Casio CTK3500
Casio CTK3500 Review
The Casio CTK 3500 is built by Casio, and mainly designed for beginners. It comes with a 61 key piano style touch sensitive keyboard with 400 tones onboard and 150 rhythms and digital effects. They have added a new feature called dance mode which can help you create dance music.
Something that we like about this keyboard is that it has Chordata play app integration, so that you can use your tablet and connect to the device for your learning and playing needs. You can learn to play some of your favorite songs using MIDI files and that is a great thing for new piano players and old piano players alike.
The step up lesson system made famous by Casio is included and includes audio inputs for an MP3 player. This will make the CTK 3500 much more realistic and expressive than its competitors and predecessors at this price range.
Tap into your creativity with this machine. Leverage superior technology in this product and create new value for your listeners with this machine.
What We Like About Casio CTK 3500
- Durable
- Portable
- High end touch feel (very responsive, no issues)
- Chordana Play connectivity
- Pitch Control Wheel
- USB -B port
- Touch Response
- Great Piano Sounds
- Can Run On AA Batteries
- Speakers (although loud enough, could be a bit better, but best at this price range definitely)
If you are a beginner pianist and you are looking for a high quality great keyboard, this is the one for you. We recently have tried the CTK 3500 and there is not much else to say other than that it is a high quality keyboard that gets every single thing done that needs to be done.
Cost Effective
This piano is very cost effective. You will get a lot of bang for your buck by choosing the Casio CTK 3500. As a beginning pianist, you are probably looking at options that are affordable, but you do not want to sacrifice quality or playing sound, and especially not longevity.
Luckily this product checks all boxes and will last you for years to come. At the price of about $125, you cannot beat this keyboard. One of the best things about this keyboard is that it integrates headphone listening so that you can play whenever you want without disturbing anyone. The keyboard actually comes with a set of headphones that work just fine for playing, and you will be pleased with the sound quality of the headphones.
You can set a beat in the background, sometimes like a metronome, and you can practice with the sheet music while this beat plays in the background. The sound quality of this system is going to blow you away.
As a beginner you will appreciate the portable, compactness of this unit so you can maneuver around with ease. You can take it on the go or you can set it up anywhere to practice. Its very important to practice a lot otherwise you will never get good at playing the piano. It is very easy to pack up and travel with this keyboard if necessary, so it could be good for bands on the go.
The piano itself is very durable and feels strong and sturdy, it does not feel cheap at all whatsoever. You can pack it up and throw it in the trunk and not worry about a thing because this high quality product is going to stay in good shape.
Another thing that we like is the screen that is right on the middle of the product, there for beginners. You can see which key and which note needs to be played while you are playing. This is a huge plus for beginners who are just starting out and want to see what they need to press to play the music. You will see how notes correlate to sheet music and it will help you learn fast and efficiently.
The Stand
The stand is actually really high quality, and sturdy and we like the stand. So if you are looking for something that comes with a decent stand that will get the job done, this is it. We cannot find anything that we would make better about the stand just that it is sturdy enough to get the job done for nearly all applications. At this price point you are not going to find much better of a stand that comes with your new piano.
You must purchase the bundle to get the stand, and it also comes with a pair of headphones that are good enough to get you going with good sound quality and great connectivity. There are no issues with the bundle accessories and we have found that It is a great deal for someone that wants to get the whole package at an affordable price.
Key Action
Key action is really great on this system and you will find that there are two levels of touch sensitivity, plus the “off” option which gives it three levels of touch sensitivity.
What Can Be Better
- Low Volume Speakers (Competitors are the same, you will not get better speakers at this price range)
- Keyboard display has no light
- You will outgrow this piano fast. 61 key keyboard is easily outgrown for a beginner piano player
- Stand: you must buy the bundle to get the stand
- Headphones: you must buy the bundle to get the headphones
- Despite needing the bundle, it is still a great price for everything that you will not find elsewhere.
One of the main things that we have noticed with the Casio CTK 3500 is that it could be a little bit louder. You can avoid this by using the headphones, but we find that if you are just playing the piano, it can be a bit quiet and can’t turn it up super loud. At this price point though, it is going to perform about the same as any other piano at this price range, you will not get a super loud keyboard at this price range.
Speakers – Louder and Better
Our main concern with this beginner piano, the Casio CTK 3500, is that the speakers could be louder and better. It is widely known that the other brand which starts with a Y is a little bit better as far as loud speakers and sound quality. But we find that the Casio is going to have a lot better functionality for beginners.
Aux cable Not included. Keep in mind that with this product you will not get an aux cable. You can check from certain third party retailers if it comes with, but chances are that it will not come with. Another thing is that the power cable that comes with is not the highest quality and you might benefit from changing the power cable to a more high quality one in the future. But, this power cord should last you for some time and get the job done no problem.
Must Buy Accessories For Casio CTK 3500
If you are going to purchase the Casio CTK 3500 you might be wondering what are some of the best accessories that I will need as a beginners. Well we can start off by recommending you a few things that go great with your new ctk3500. Some of this includes a dust cover, travel cover, usb a to b cable, and note stickers so that you can keep your mind right.
Bottom line Casio CTK3500
Choose the Casio CTK 3500 if you are a beginner who wants to learn how to play on a 61 key piano with the help of a screen, touch functionality, and durable portable keyboard feel. It has a good sound, and can help you grow in your endeavors as a piano playing enthusiast. BUT you will outgrow this fast is you are really wanting to get to learn piano properly. This is because it is a 61 key.
This keyboard works quite well for someone who wants to practice piano without being disruptive to the people they live with. The keyboard is standard dimensions so that you can extend to f in the third octave above middle c. It covers the range that most people would possibly need. If you have just started playing piano, and want to use this system to take your playing to the next level, then its the option for you. You can use this for years to come without any issue. 61 Key pianos are a bit lighter than 88 key pianos and you will find that it is going to be very portable and you can move it around your house without too much weight or bulkiness. It is not a full MIDI controller when using USB but GarageBand recognizes it and you can record the MIDI info and notes played. You can play it back in GarageBand and change instruments and use any of the instruments in GarageBand. You can even play Live midi instruments in GarageBand with this piano. That is a great part about this system.
Main Features Casio CTK3500
Built In Songs: Make music or learn anywhere with built in songs
Rhythms: 400 tones, 150 rhythms, wide variety of music exploration, built in speakers or connect headphones to jam out
Dance Music Mode: Remix electronic dance music easily and efficiently. Choose from different styles of EDM and use lower keys for drum beats, bass lines, or synth parts. You can add filter, flanger, gate, roll low fi and other effects to polish off your creative song.
- MIDI USB
- AC Adapter
- Chordana Connectivity: use your iOS or android app to play with the free Chordana play app. The display on your CTK3500 will assist you in how to play your favorite songs. Download your favorite MIDI files and connect your device’s headphone output to the CTK3500 audio input. Explore a never ending library of music for your learning and playing experience. You can even transfer the songs right to your keyboard and play them directly from the device when it isn’t connected to the app. You will find that some file limitations apply here,
- Upgraded Functionality
- Dance music mode
- Improved sound quailty
- Keyboard style
- Touch Responsive
- Digital effects
- Audio In Jack
Casio instruments have long been amongst the best in the world; now, we are looking for the best Casio keyboards and digital pianos. With such a prolific manufacturer, there are enough options to make several lists, but we will try our best to narrow it down for you. We will list and review what we consider to be the best Casio offerings available in 2021. Let’s get started!
Here are the best Casio keyboards and digital pianos 2021:
1. Casio Celviano AP-700
The most realistic piano experience
We are stepping into expensive territory now with the Casio AP-700. At this level, it’s not enough just to sound good, it has to feel as close to the real thing as possible.
The AP-700 has scaled hammer action keys with premium ebony and ivory feel. The difference between these hammer action and those of the PX range is that these are mechanical. There are no springs at all, the hammer action is entirely dependent on levers and weights. It has a max polyphony of 256 notes.
Three are three main piano tomes, named Berlin, Hamburg, and Viena. The flagship voice is the Berlin grand piano, which is modeled on the legendary D282 Bechstein. On top of the three pianos, there are a further 21 onboard sounds. Instruments can be layered to create custom voices and exciting textures.
There are two levels of play-along material, including 15 high-quality orchestral recordings. For the less advanced players, there are 60 training songs to develop your playing. Like most other models, it has duet mode for teaching, but this one also has two headphone outputs, which is a nice touch.
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The Casio AP-700 is a very realistic digital piano. The mechanical hammer action keys, combined with the ebony/ivory feel, is superb. In fact, you would struggle to find a digital piano that feels more realistic. In our opinion, that’s the main thing when spending so much money, because cheaper pianos can sound just as good.
Getting the whole experience depends more on the physical attributes, speaking of which, the AP-700 has a reasonably large cabinet. That might be a negative for some people, but again, if you want realism, this is it. Our advice would be that it’s too expensive for a beginner, other than that, we love it.
2. Casio Privia PX-S3000
The future of Privia keyboards
The PX-S3000 is one of the latest 88-key Casio keyboards. It has an ultra-modern design and is a sign of the future for the portable Privia range. We can all agree that good looks are only a secondary concern, but the fact that it looks super sleek doesn’t hurt one bit. It’s also the world’s slimmest keyboard piano, so we’re off to a good start.
The PX-S3000 has Casio’s scaled hammer action keys with five sensitivity levels. Considering how slim the keyboard is, it’s remarkable that it houses such a realistic keybed. It sports a max polyphony of 192 notes, which is higher than many similar keyboard pianos.
If the advanced hammer action keys weren’t enough, this gorgeous keyboard also features the Air sound engine. That means it has stunning piano sounds with damper and string resonance. In total, there are 700 voices and 200 rhythms, which should keep the most creative players busy for some time.
There are 96 registration memories to save custom voices, like layered or split patches. As well as the 200 onboard rhythms, you can stream music/backing tracks through the keyboards built-in speakers from a smart device via Bluetooth.
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There are lots of good things to say about the Casio PX-S3000, but the thing that stands out most is the weight of the keys. Never before have we seen such a convincing hammer action keybed in such a slimline instrument. That feature alone males this keyboard a dream for the working musician.
Couple that with the sound quality of the AiR piano engine, and the results are quite astonishing. The PX-S3000 is a prime example of a professional Casio keyboard. Ultimately, you could find better sounds and a better feel, but at this size and weight, you won’t even get close.
3. Casio Privia PX-870
The best home digital piano under $1000
Casio’s Privia range has stood the test of time, usually in direct competition with the Yamaha Arius series.
The PX-870 is one of the best-selling Casio digital pianos. It has Casio’s premium Tri-sensor II hammer action keys, with a max polyphony of 256 notes. One of the best physical features of the high-end Privia pianos is the simulated ebony, and ivory feel keytops. It might sound like an indulgence, but it makes a huge difference.
As for the all-important piano sound, it comes from Casio’s remarkable AiR Sound Source. This sound engine is present in Casio pianos far more expensive than the PX-870, so when Casio says it’s their best ever, we believe them.
One of the factors that determine how well the piano can utilize the sound engine is its internal memory. Casio opted to increase the memory in this model compared to previous ones, to get the best out of the AiR piano engine. Everything about the piano performance is very accurate, including the mechanical noises like the pedals, or key lift, and so on.
After the grand piano tones, the electric pianos are the best of the 19 onboard voices. Voices can be layered, too, and the keyboard can be split to create more diverse sounds. The onboard effects are pretty standard for the Privia range with reverbs, chorus, and brilliance.
In terms of interactive content, there are 10 concert play-along songs, but there is far more if you use the Chordana Piano app. The app also has lots of lessons and tutorials. Rounding up the main features is the 2-track record function, allowing up to 5000 notes.
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As we have repeated time and time, Casio Privia digital pianos are always excellent. This particular model happens to be the best one available under $1000, which is good and bad. It’s good because it’s worth the money, but it’s bad because it’s getting into a price range where you have so many great pianos to consider.
We think the PX-870 could be more versatile, for example, the built-in recorder could have more tracks. Or, the onboard voices (other than the pianos) could be better. The thing is, this kind of instrument is mainly about the acoustic piano experience, everything else is secondary. In that sense, it ticks all the boxes, it feels and sounds just as it should.
4. Casio Privia PX-160
The best cheap Casio Privia keyboard
Yes, it’s another Casio Privia,but what do you expect? They are that good; you won’t find a list of Casiokeyboard reviews without them.
Despite being lower down in the Privia line up, the PX-160 has the same Tri-sensor II hammer action keys that you will find on the PX-870. They also share the same simulated ebony/ivory feel with the more expensive models.
Casio Keyboard Key Notes Windows 10
Again, the flagship piano tone comes from the AiR sound engine. There are five acoustic pianos in total, amongst the 18 onboard voices. The voices also include some lush string ensembles that came from Casio’s award-winning PX-5S stage piano. Being cheaper than the PX-870 makes this digital piano more accessible to beginner players, and it has plenty of functions aimed at the learner market.
One of the best tuition features, which is common throughout the Privia range, is the duet keyboard mode. Duet mode creates two identical playing zones, so that a student and teacher can play side by side. It also has a second headphone jack, so you can keep your practice nice and quiet.
Yet another feature it has in common with the PX-870 is the 2-track recorder, and USB MIDI interface. The most obvious difference is that the PX-160 is much more portable, which is not only great for gigging, but also just moving it around the house.
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The PX-160 is a fantastic way to get the outstanding AiR sound engine and realistic feel in an affordable weighted Casio keyboard. The fact that it shares most major functions/features with the much more expensive PX-870 speaks volumes about how good this keyboard is.
The piano sound, as we keep saying, is first class. The orchestral sounds are lovely, and they encourage a different style of playing, too, which is good for harmonic development. Having these features in a compact and affordable keyboard is why we think so highly of it.
5. Casio CT-X5000
The best arranger keyboard under $500
The first of two arranger keyboards on our list is the Casio CT-X5000. This budget Casio keyboard offers far more than its price tag suggests. It comes with 61 velocity-sensitive keys that have a nice action for a variety of playing styles, like piano, synths, organs, etc.
There are onboard sounds that come from the powerful AiX sound engine. The soundbank boasts everything from acoustic pianos right through to synth leads. If 800 voices aren’t enough for you, the soundbank is expandable and has plenty of space for user presets. The most noteworthy sounds are the real instruments, like acoustic pianos, horns, and strings, but the synths are better than most similar keyboards.
The 260 onboard rhythms, or smart accomplishments as they are better called, are also expandable. Things, like switching styles or triggering fills, can be controlled by footswitch, so you can keep your hands free for playing.
The DSP effects are high-quality, and include some amp models, too. The best of which is the rotary speaker emulator that gives a real vintage sound, especially to the organs. There are 100 effects in total, with some already applied to preset sounds by default.
The built-in sequencer has 17-tracks with a 42-part mixer. It’s user-friendly, and an excellent tool for beginner producer composers. Another cool production aspect is the phrase pads that you can use to trigger phrases that you have pre-recorded (up to 100).
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The CT-X5000 isn’t quite the best Casio keyboard for beginners, but it could be the best arranger keyboard for beginners. If we had one complaint, it might be that some of the voices already have pre-programmed DSP effects. But, it’s not a massive complaint, at the end of the day, there are 800 voices and 100 effects, there’s something for everyone.
Having got our one complaint out of the way, the overall quality of the AiX sound engine is very high. Features like the rotary speaker emulator add lots of new creative possibilities, too. If you are a fast learner, you might outgrow the CT-X5000, but not before you’ve had more than your money’s worth.
6. Casio WK-7600
The affordable band in a box
Casio pitches the WK-7600 as an affordable powerhouse, and at first glance, that seems an apt description.
The WK-7600 is a 76-key arranger keyboard with a massive 820 voices. The voices range from acoustic pianos, electric pianos to horns, and strings. Although, the organ sounds are some of the most impressive, thanks to the high-quality DSP rotary speaker emulation. If that wasn’t enough, there are physical drawbars to give an authentic organ experience (50 user presets can be saved).
There are 260 smart rhythms that can respond to your playing in various ways, to provide a full backing band. As well as that, there are 100 DSP effects from basic reverbs to crazier phaser and flanger effects. All of which can be tweaked extensively and saved as user presets.
The heart of many arranger keyboards is the sequencer. The WK-7600 has a 17-track sequencer (16 tracks plus 1 system track), and 32-channel mixer. For composers of any kind, this is fantastic for getting ideas together. These compositions can then be saved on an SD card as SMF’s (Standard MIDI Files).
Casio Keyboard Key Notes Tutorial
If the 260 onboard rhythms aren’t specific enough for you, there is a pattern sequencer, so you can create your own. The pattern sequencer allows for up to 8 tracks, which are drums, percussion, bass, and five chord tracks.
88 Key Casio Keyboard
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The Casio WK-7600 is definitely the powerhouse that it’s advertised to be. It has all the expected bells and whistles of a good arranger keyboard. It has a massive soundbank, it has lots of rhythms, and it has a built-in sequencer.
However, the WK-7600 goes beyond what we expected in an affordable arranger. The sequencer is fantastic, but what’s even better is the addition of the pattern sequencer. Another particularly impressive feature is the rotary speaker emulation, that, along with the drawbars, takes you into full Hammond organ mode.
This keyboard would be a fantastic buy even if it were a little more expensive, but we’re happy it’s not!
7. Casio Privia PX-770
The best beginner home digital piano
The Casio Privia PX-770 offers a realistic piano experience at a reasonable price. Being part of the Privia PX digital piano range means that it’s going to be good, it’s just a question of how good.
It has 88 full-size keys with scaled hammer action. The hammer action is a Tri-sensor system, meaning there are three velocity layers. The keys also have a simulated ebony and ivory finish, adding another layer of realism, and it helps maintain grip when your fingers sweat. The PX-770 has a max polyphony of 128 notes, which is pretty standard for a digital piano at this price.
It comes with the same outstanding Multi-dimensional Morphing AiR piano engine that the higher-priced models have. The grand piano sounds were samples at four different velocity levels, so they are quite exquisite. There are 19 onboard voices, including electric pianos, and organs. The number of voices is quite pleasing for this kind of digital piano.
The sounds can be shaped further by the onboard effects. There are four reverb types and four chorus types that add depth to your tone.
Casio digital pianos are known to be fantastic instruments to learn on. The PX-770 has lots of play-along content, including 60 built-in songs, and duet mode, which is perfect for teaching. It’s easy to keep track of your progress, too, with the 2-track MIDI recorder. The whole thing is wrapped up in a stylish, slimline 3-pedal stand/cabinet.
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The Casio PX-770 is a beautiful piano and ideal for any student/learner. It’s also ideal for any advanced player who doesn’t want to spend the extra money on the PX-870.
Casio’s best-ever grand piano tone (as they claim themselves) is absolutely gorgeous. The realistic ebony/ivory feel of the keys, of course, helps the piano tone. The other available voices are good, but not as important. Ultimately, it’s not quite as good overall as the PX-870, but it’s considerably cheaper, and for many, it will be the better option between the two.
8. Casio CGP-700
The most versatile portable digital piano
The CGP-700 is a nice alternativeto other Casio keyboard models, with a bit more versatility than most. Theversatility makes for value for money that you don’t see in some of the otherranges.
It comes with Tri-sensor scaled hammer action keys, not quite the same as the high-end Privia models, but very good nevertheless. The CGP-700 sits on an included stand with built-in speakers.
Casio Keyboard Free Music
Now, here is where that value for money starts to come in. The CGP-700 has a massive 550 onboard voices and 200 rhythms. That’s a great deal more than the average digital piano. Rather than a bog-standard 2-track recorder, there is a 16-track sequencer with enough memory for up to 100 songs.
The focal point of the CGP-700 is the 5.3-inch color touchscreen that controls almost everything. The touchscreen has an icon-based system, so finding your way around.
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We spoke about value for money with this keyboard, and that might make some people think it’s about quantity over quality. However, that’s not the case, the voices may not be as authentic as higher-end models, but they are still good. The sheer number of voices goes some way to make up for the slight drop in quality.
The built-in sequencer is more in-depth than you’d expect, and the touchscreen ties everything together nicely. Casio’s CGP-700 is the ideal keyboard for anyone who wants a balanced mix between performance and production.
Conclusion
We can tell you that it was no easy task to choose the best Casio keyboards and digital pianos. It’s difficult enough when you are trying to separate keyboards from various manufacturers. But, when they are all from the same manufacturer, they carry far more similarities, making it a more difficult decision.
So, when you are choosing the right Casio for you, find a way to shortlist even further. Think about the size/style (keyboard or digital piano) then think about the features you need most. Hopefully, that will leave you with a few fantastic options!
James is a writer and musician with a passion for audio production. He is a lover of all things tech, especially the latest keyboards, synths, DAW’s, virtual instruments, and effects plugins. Musical interests include jazz, funk, hip hop, blues, and rock.