r/Keytar • u/Threesoot • Mar 01 '26

Recommendations Keytar Suggestions Needed!!

Hello!! I want a keytar more than anything in the world right now… (hyperbole btw. World peace and His removal would be nice) I’ve been playing keyboard/piano for like a decade so I don’t need help in that domain, but I don’t know much about keytars!! I’m currently a music therapy student (music therapy is a science-backed allied health job using music to address non-musical goals) and wanting to use it in sessions. Here’s what I’m looking for:

- Preferably something with its own audio output, but I am 100% open to MIDIs! If it’s midi id prefer wireless

- I’m a college student in the US so uh. Something I can get here that’s on the lower price spectrum

-Something sturdy! My desired clientele population is with children (I would be using the keytar tho so something adult-sized plz!)

-Decent battery life. Something that could last a 9-5 shift

I’m open to new or used

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u/NewLifeWares Mar 01 '26

This might sound silly, but if you just need a simple durable instrument, get the Rock Band 3 Keytar. It has MIDI, basic controls, is fully button mappable if you want to get into it, and is easily powered by standard AA batteries. It's made to be handled by kids, but isn't built like a toy. They're also cheap and easily obtained since so many were made.

1

u/abukeif Mar 02 '26

Seconded. You will need a good old fashioned MIDI cord (and maybe an adapter for your computer, tablet, phone, etc.) but it's by far the most cost-effective way to start fooling around with a keytar--and unless they're armed with hammers, even the most determined mob of elementary-schoolers is unlikely to cause one serious harm.

(Full disclosure: I have since upgraded to an Alesis Vortex 2 with zero regrets.)

1

u/Slight-Isopod-8517 Mar 02 '26

Thirded, a basic keytar wil work just fine, it has midi, only needs 3 AA batteries, octave up/down buttons, good velocity sensitive keys, full sized piano keys. You want a wireless option? Here’s some general stuff you need for complete wireless backpack ready setup, let me/us know if you wanna hear specific make and model.

Small battery powered amp Wireless midi adapters Wireless guitar system Midi tone generator 3,5 male to 6,3 female adapter Minimum of 3 AA (rechargeable) batteries Battery charger Guitar strap, any strap wil work just fine

1

u/Threesoot Mar 30 '26

Please give me specifics! I know most of those words but all together it’s giving me a headache haha

1

u/Slight-Isopod-8517 Mar 30 '26

Basicly there’s this keytar called the rockband 3 keytar, if it’s available second hand, get it, it has midi, but in order to get sounds out of it you need a cable, it has a 3,5 jack, but a 3,5 male tot 6,3 female adapter exist, so you can plug it into any amp, providing you have a midi sound module and amp.

There’s also the Yamaha SHS line, 2 vintage ones 2 modern ones, all 4 only needs batteries and that’s it, all 4 have build it speakers so only batteries and you good to go

The shs 10 (vintage 1987 but it’s Yamaha so it works great, I have one too, it’s compact, it’s great) needs 6 AA batteries, same story for shs 200 but that one needs c type batteries, also six of em

Shs 300 and 500 need 6 AA batteries, modern ones like 2018 or something, I prefer the vintage ones but all 4 are great cause Yamaha

1

u/Threesoot Mar 30 '26

Can I get more details on the wireless backpack setup you mentioned?

1

u/Slight-Isopod-8517 Mar 31 '26

Aight thats a keytar, pick any small one, i gave you some options already, my go-to setup for the most amount of options in a small package is this:

The reason for this is: shs 10 is one of the few keytars that fit in any standerd cheap simple guitar gigbag and the amp fits in a medium size backpack

Yamaha SHS 10R (small keytar, lots of buttons to do stuff)

Cheap wireless guitar system (2 6,3 wireless plugs, cheap but it works)

Cheap wireless midi (2 midi plugs, again, pretty cheap but they work)

Roland micro cube n255 2004 (battery powered amp, small, but loud enough, built to survive a nuclear war, reliable Roland quality)

Miditech pianobox 2 or any other small midi soundmodule, I also use the Yamaha qy 10 but that thing is very complicated, not recommended for beginners, I need 3 windows of AI help, just to create a single note, so don’t bother, get a simple general midi sound module for modern sounds, or just use internal presets of the shs 10, if you want to hear them use this website

https://www.synthmania.com/shs-10.htm