Yamaha EZ20AD 61-Note Portable Keyboard with Guide Lamps and AC Adapter

• 61 piano-sized keys with guide lights
• 100 built-in songs to learn
• Interactive Yamaha Education Suite 3 included
• 100 instrument voices and 16-note polyphony
• Two-way stereo speakers with bass ports

Amazon.com Review
The Yamaha EZ-20 is a great starting place for budding musicians. It’s a versatile tool for the beginning musician, offering a variety of musical sounds, songs, educational activities, and built-in accompaniments.

The EZ-20 is first a synthesizer. There are 100 different instrument sounds, from pianos to strings to guitars to drums. With a little imagination, the sounds are quite realistic. While 100 sounds seem like a lot, many people may outgrow them and yearn for more. Since the EZ-20 is a MIDI keyboard, it can be connected to a computer via MIDI cables (sold separately), which can record musical performances from the keyboard and then play them back using the instrument voices on the EZ-20. However, the EZ-20 is not a General MIDI keyboard, which means that if you were to connect it to a computer, General MIDI files (a standard of most MIDI files in educational software and of those available on the Internet) will not sound correct (i.e., the instrumentation will be wrong).

The EZ-20 has 100 songs including classical tunes, world music, and holiday pieces. Certain sections of the songs can be repeated, and the tempo and accompaniment instruments can easily be changed. The EZ-20 uses these songs to teach the user musical skills through three lessons.

The lesson types installed on the EZ-20 are timing, waiting, and minus one. All lessons can be done with only the left hand, only the right hand, or both hands together. In the timing lesson, the song plays and the student presses any note in proper time. In the waiting lesson, the EZ-20 holds the accompaniment until the student plays the correct notes. In the minus one lesson, the student plays the proper notes in the correct time.

An evaluation function gives a grade for each lesson. Colored lights above the keys as well as a staff display will help the student identify the correct keys. A dictionary function shows the student the different chord types on the keyboard and on the display staff. All these educational activities are very entertaining, and by doing them, the student will pick up some rudimentary skills that may help in the further study of music.

One hundred accompaniment styles will bring out the budding improviser and composer. The EZ-20 plays a bass line, drums, and chords (chords are optional), while the user is free to create a melody.

To use the EZ-20 is exactly as the name implies, easy. Unpacking is easy: connect the adapter to the keyboard, plug in the adapter, turn the keyboard on, and play! There is plenty to experiment with before even opening up the manual. The EZ-20 is also a fun keyboard to use. With a whole band of instruments and accompaniments at a finger’s touch, everyone will be surprised at how fast and how effortlessly they can make music!

The EZ-20 has one other limitation: the keys are not touch sensitive. No matter how hard or how soft the user plays the keys, they all play at exactly the same volume. A dynamic change in volume can only be attained by raising and lowering the volume knob.

Overall, the EZ-20 is a good instrument for perhaps a young beginning musician. The limits of the sounds and lack of touch sensitivity keep the keyboard simple and extremely easy to use. If you’re a bit more serious about playing the keyboard, investing a little more money can return many more features in a more powerful keyboard like Yamaha’s EZ-30AD or the PSR-340AD. –Chris Fresolone

Pros:

• Easy to use
• Lightweight yet sturdy
• Educational activities and dictionary helpful to beginning musicians
• MIDI compatible for computer interface

Cons:

• Only 100 sounds
• Not General MIDI compatible
• Keys not touch sensitive

Amazon.com Product Description
Beginning keyboardists will love Yamaha’s EZ20AD Portable Keyboard With Guide Lamps. The follow-along illuminated keys facilitate learning, and the Yamaha Education Suite 3 provides virtual lessons using 100 built-in songs. It features 61 piano-size keys and MIDI interface for computer connectivity.

Two stereo speakers plus bass ports and bass boost enhance the sound. With 100 instrument voices to choose from, plus 100 accompaniment styles, the Yamaha EZ20AD encourages creativity. In addition, it includes 19 multipads using keys for sound effects. If you need to practice in privacy, the EZ20AD features a built-in headphone jack.

The keyboard operates with an included Yamaha PA3B power adapter or with six optional D-cell batteries. Yamaha provides a one-year limited warranty on parts and labor.

Yamaha EZ20AD 61-Note Portable Keyboard with Guide Lamps and AC Adapter