Why do the notes sound "wrong" on my new digital piano?

Question

Hi guys. Just an FYI, I'm completely new to playing any instrument. I never got the opportunity to learn when I was a kid, but I've always wanted so badly to learn the piano (I'm 20). I now have a Yamaha, and the number on it reads "Digital Piano P-155" in case that's important.

Anyway, I don't have time for real lessons yet, so I've just been on YouTube learning a little bit from tutorials and lessons. I understand that YouTube videos could warp the sound a LITTLE, but my piano seems to be off by three whole keys (sorry for being ignorant of the technical phrasing). For example, CDE on all the other pianos (on YouTube) sound EXACTLY like FGA on mine. So weird --and irritating because I have to adjust accordingly.

I have 88 keys on my piano and it's on the default settings (the number 120 is on the screen in the middle that reads "Tempo/Other Value"). What is up with this? Can I fix it? How?

Answer 1

this is a built in feature called transposition (in some cases they call it "key shift" but i think yamaha says "transpose"). it lets you play stuff in different keys without learning different notes.



the "default" 120 you are talking about is just the current speed setting of the built in metronome. you need to press the "transpose" button to get the display to tell you where it is set. it will probably have setting options of -12 to 12, set it to 0.



(there's also a "tuning" feature that can have a similar effect, but since you say it's off by several notes, it's probably not that, since that would make it just a little bit off)

Answer 2

I personally think that an acoustic piano is often the better choice. It helps develop strength and tonal control which you can take to other acoustic pianos . . . HOWEVER, If your budget is limited and all you can afford is a crappy acoustic, then go with the digital. I'm currently in the process of getting a new piano myself as the one I've had since childhood is really nothing to brag about. It's action is by far worse than the digital as it is so light and you can hardly control the tone you are trying to produce. So again, if the budget is limited, get a digital, otherwise get a fairly recent or new piano. (Not a baby grand though, there are better uprights than the best baby grand). Good luck!

Answer 3

The transpose button is the second button from the left on the control panel. It has an LED indicator, if the indicator is on, press the button to turn the transpose feature off.



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Page 23 of the User's manual:



Transposition – [TRANSPOSE]

The instrument’s Transpose function makes it possible to shift the pitch of the entire keyboard up or down in semitone intervals to facilitate playing in difficult key signatures, and to let you easily match the pitch of the keyboard to the range of a singer or other instruments. For example, if you set the transposition amount to “5,” playing key C produces pitch F. In this way, you can play a song as though it were in C major, and the instrument will transpose it to the key of F.



[5]



Use the [–/NO] and [+/YES] button while holding the [TRANSPOSE] button to transpose down or up as required. The amount of transposition appears on the display while the [TRANSPOSE] button is held. The default transpose setting is “0.”

The [TRANSPOSE] button indicator remains lit when a transpose setting other than “0” is selected. Every time the [TRANSPOSE] button is pressed after that switches the transpose function ON or OFF.



Transpose:

Changing the key signature of a song. On the instrument, transposing shifts the pitch of the entire keyboard.

The transposition range:

–12: –12 semitones (down one octave)

0: normal pitch

12: 12 semitones (up one octave)

Answer 4

Try looking at your manual- I have an electric piano that can be transposed into a different tuning- but only if you hold down certain buttons and hit keys near the top end. You could also get in touch with yamaha and see if they can help?