Yamaha YPG-235 76-Key Portable Grand Keyboard

zZounds' Take on Yamaha YPG-235

If you're shopping for a portable keyboard for a beginning piano student, you're probably looking for an instrument without a lot of bells and whistles. But here's a secret: when you start a piano student out on a keyboard that's irresistibly fun to play, they'll actually look forward to practicing! Designed for the student or hobbyist performer looking to bridge the gap between acoustic piano and portable keyboard, the Yamaha YPG-235 combines industry-leading grand piano sound with a host of features designed to make learning to play keyboards a blast. Side note: while it's great for young students, this Yamaha is just as much fun for adult beginners -- or seasoned pros, for that matter.

A Serious Instrument

Before you even begin to play, the first thing you'll notice about the YPG-235 is its size. Smaller 61-key keyboards can leave frustrated pianists reaching for keys that aren't there. Although the YPG-235 is only 18 pounds, it's a substantial 76-key model that looks and feels like a serious instrument. The YPG-235 comes with a sturdy music rest that attaches securely in slots at the top edge, and easily detaches when you'd like an unobstructed line of sight with your audience. The unobtrusive LED display glows cool blue with a handy display of the musical staff and preview of the keyboard. And while other portable keyboards have puny on-board speakers, the YPG-235 boasts a room-filling 12-watt 2-way stereo speaker system. If you prefer to practice in privacy, simply plug in headphones to the 1/4-inch jack.

Authentic Piano Sound

Yamaha builds some of the world's top-quality acoustic pianos, so it stands to reason that their digital instruments are also built to a high standard. "YPG" stands for Yamaha Portable Grand, and it's no exaggeration: expressive, detailed grand piano sound is the crown jewel of the YPG-235. Piano-style Graded Soft Touch keys are heavier to the touch as you move lower on the keyboard and lighter on the higher notes, just like a real acoustic piano. Optimized for beginners, the non-weighted keys are touch-sensitive for greater expression. And speaking of expression, you can add even more realism to your performance with the sustain pedal input, built-in pitch wheel, and on-board Reverb, Chorus, Master EQ, and Harmony effects.

...Plus 488 More Instruments

Get ready to rock out with a grand total of 489 high-quality on-board sounds! Just press the Voice button and spin the jog wheel to scroll through pianos, organs, guitar, bass, strings, horns, drums, synths, and beyond. You can play two instruments simultaneously with a press of the Dual On/Off button, or play two different instruments with your left and right hands using the Split function. When you just want to play piano, touch the black "Portable Grand" button to return to the industry-leading grand piano sound. With the jog wheel and dedicated buttons, the YPG-235 couldn't be easier to navigate.

Learn To Play In Style

This is where the intermediate keyboardist can really get cooking. The YPG-235 has an auto-accompaniment feature that generates rhythm, bass, and chords in any style you choose, to go along with chords you play with your left hand. Press the Style button to select one of 160 Styles, from 60s Guitar Pop to Ibiza trance. Then press the start button to start the rhythm, adjust the tempo, and play a left-hand chord to start the style. Even if you don't know chords, the YPG-235 can follow the root notes you play with just one finger. Even your piano warm-up exercises are fun to play when there's a drum kit backing you up!

Master a Song At Your Own Pace

Want to really impress Mom? Press the Song button and scroll the jog wheel to choose one of 30 favorite on-board songs. Slow down the song's tempo to play along at your own pace, using the buttons like a tape deck to play, rewind, fast-forward, reverse and pause. The Yamaha Education Suite, or Y.E.S., steps you through the song, each hand separately, then together. Once you've got the notes down, you'll learn to play them with the correct timing, and finally you'll be playing along with the YPG-235 backing you up. And if you miss a phrase, press the "Repeat & Learn" button to go back four measures and try again. At the end of your performance, you'll get an evaluation and a chance to try again or move on to the next step. It's a little like playing a video game -- just a lot more educational.

Record Your Own Tunes

The YPG-235 has an has an easy-to-use 6-track sequencer that lets you record five of your own compositions and save them as User Songs. Play along with the metronome, with your recorded performance, or any of the on-board Styles. Not sure which Style suits your music? Browse the Music Database and choose a sound you like based on 300 classics -- rock ballads to show tunes. Then lay down your tracks in any order you like. You can individually access, re-record or delete each track layer from dedicated front-panel buttons. Time to back up your creations? Transfer your songs to your computer via a printer-style USB cable, using the Yamaha's included Musicsoft Downloader software. And while you're at it, add any of the 70 songs on the included CD-ROM to your YPG-235's internal memory. There's even a Digital Music Notebook online service that helps you download, practice and master your favorites.

Don't Forget The Power Adapter

Pick up one of zZounds' bundles, and make sure you get the optional power adapter along with your YPG-235 keyboard! Choose a bundle with stand, headphones, and power adapter, or choose the Survival Kit accessory pack that includes a power adapter, headphones, foot switch for use as a sustain pedal, a DVD with learn-to-play software, and a two-year extended warranty from Yamaha.

Features:

- 76 touch-sensitive keys
- 489 high-quality on-board sounds, including impressive stereo grand piano
- Easy-to-use interface with backlit LCD, dedicated buttons, and jog wheel
- Split, layer, or transpose the keyboard
- 160 Styles -- practice playing in rhythm at any tempo
- Powerful 12-watt speaker system
- 1/4-inch headphone jack
- Sustain pedal jack
- Pitch bend wheel
- Can run on 6 D batteries or with an optional power adapter
- Learn 30 on-board songs with the Yamaha Education Suite
- Included CD-ROM bundles 70 more songs and Musicsoft Downloader software
- USB port -- connect the YPG-235 to your Mac or PC

Manufacturer's Description for Yamaha YPG-235 76-Key Portable Grand Keyboard

You probably know that Yamaha makes some of the world's finest acoustic grand and baby grand pianos. It only makes sense, then, that their digital grand piano would sound a notch above the competition. The true, stereo-sampled grand piano is lifelike and rich, and it's reproduced beautifully on the Yamaha YPG-235's built-in, stereo, two-way speaker system. Adding to the real-piano experience is the Graded Soft Touch keyboard. Comprised of 76, semi-weighted keys, it approximates the "action" of real, mechanical ivories.

The Yamaha Education Suite: Learn At Your Own Pace

If you've ever been frustrated by educational software in the past, the straightforward simplicity of the Yamaha Education Suite, or Y.E.S., will be a breath of fresh air. Y.E.S. presents an easy-to-understand and effective learning system that'll help students of any age become better players. Simply load up one of the YPG-235's 30 internal songs (another 70 are included on CD-ROM) and the on-screen piano graphic shows you which notes to play.

Access An Infinite Library Of Music

Once you're comfortable with sight-reading, you're going to want to play as many different pieces of music as you can find. The YPG-235 can help you there, too. A USB input connects the keyboard to your computer, and from there, the internet. Any song saved in the popular MIDI format can be downloaded to the Yamaha YPG-235, with real-time feedback displayed on the graphical keyboard.

Features:

- 76 Graded Soft Touch keys
- 6 track sequencer
- USB connectivity
- 5 EQ settings
- Interactive lessons
- Performance Assistant
- Tons of amazing instruments

Optional Survival Kit includes:

- Power Adaptor (PA-150)
- Sustain Pedal
- Headphones
- Extended 2-year warranty
- Rebate coupons
- Survival Kit DVD
- Playing with Styles DVD

About Yamaha

Founded in 1887 as a company making reed organs, Yamaha makes some of the best musical instruments on the market. Although they make a wide variety of products, musical instruments have always been their main focus. The YPG-235 represents a halfway point between personal keyboards and stage pianos. While it has better sounds and more features than their personal keyboard line, it lacks the weighted hammer action found on their main line of stage pianos (but costs considerably less). zZounds is an authorized dealer of Yamaha products.

- Keyboard: 76 Key with Graded Soft Touch
- Display: Backlit LCD
- Voices: 489 GM and XGlite Compatible
- Dual/Split: Yes/Yes
- Polyphony: 32 Notes
- Featured Voices: 5 Sweet, 3 Cool
- Music Database: 300 Song titles
- Songs: 30 Internal/70 CD-ROM + 5 User
- Y.E.S. / Lessons: Interactive Lessons
- Styles: 160 + User (SFF)
- Style Sections: Intro/Ending + A/B + Fill x 2
- Sequencer: 6 Track / 5 Songs / 10,000 Notes
- PC Button: Yes
- MIDI: USB Slave
- Storage Device: 373KB Flash ROM+Dynamic RAM
- Effects: 9 Reverb / 4 Chorus / 5 EQ
- Harmony: 26 Types
- In/Out Jacks: Headphone / Sustain
- Speakers: 12cm x 2 / 3cm x 2
- Amplifier: 6W + 6W
- Power Supply: PA-150 (optional) or 6 D Batteries
- Included Accessories: CD-ROM, Manual, Songbook, Music Rest
- Dimensions (WxDxH): 47 x 16.5 x 5.5 in.

Power Supply: PA-150 (Not Included)*

*Optional AC Adapter: PA-150 (only included with "New, with Survival Kit" or "New, with Stand, Nady HP03 Headphones, and AC Adapter" option)

Dimensions and Weight in Packaging

Base Item

Shipping Weight: 29 lbs

Shipping Dimensions: 51 x 22 x 11 in

with Survival Kit

Shipping Weight: 30 lbs

with Stand, Nady HP03 Headphones, and AC Adapter

Shipping Weight: 38 lbs