What is an arranger keyboard and why would I want one?


If you want to play songs with full accompaniment on your own, then an arranger keyboard might be ideal for you. These remarkable instruments combine the best features of synthesizers and sequencers, or “auto-accompaniment” (backing instrument sounds). With an arranger keyboard you can quickly select a style and song form, then start playing. The keyboard’s sophisticated electronics will follow your left hand and melody changes with realistic-sounding backing tracks, giving you the sound of an entire ensemble, in the style you want.

What is a style? It’s a combination of backing instrument sounds (like bass, drums, horns, etc.), chord progressions and rhythms that fit specific musical genres such as Rock, Rhythm and Blues, Latin, Country, Jazz, Techno and more. These Auto-Accompaniment styles let you focus on your playing while enjoying a full musical performance. Even entry-level arrangers offer dozens of styles, plus piano sounds and even DJ/techno sounds.

Once thought of primarily as home entertainment systems, arranger keyboards are now powerful, portable units used by many popular songwriters and recording artists. Arranger keyboards range in price from under $100 to $3000 or more. Some models are equipped with a microphone input, a digital mixer, or a screen that displays song lyrics or notation.

Arranger keyboards are available in several key formats. Some have 61 spring-loaded keys (called “synth style”); others come with 76 semi-weighted keys – a balance between organ-style keys and a realistic piano keyboard. Finally, a few have 88 fully weighted piano-style keys, just like a digital piano.