Casio LK-55 61 Key Lighted Keyboard

by Casio

Product Features

• 61 Full-size keys and 24-note polyphonic
• 246 tones including stereo piano, make you an instant orchestra
• 50 built-in songs that you can sing-along with using microphone input connection
• MIC input and volume control
• MIDI IN/OUT jack and sustain pedal jack

Product Details

Product Manual [5.19mb PDF]

• Item Weight: 16.3 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 17.2 pounds
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B0000ALX5C
• Item model number: LK-55
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #33,671 in Musical Instruments (See Top 100 in Musical Instruments)

Product Description

This portable keyboard was designed for both the beginner and the advanced user. Lights beneath the keys can be turned on or off to help guide the user through any of the built-in songs. The beginner will appreciate the large LCD instructional display that can teach anyone how to play one of over 100 pre-programmed songs in the instrument. There is a built-in scoring system that users can use to track and measure their progress. There is the built-in recording capability for the more advanced user who wants to save their work and then download their composition to their computer using the MIDI interface.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

39 of 40 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding!, December 27, 2003

By 

DJR (Convent Station, NJ USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Casio LK-55 61 Key Lighted Keyboard (Electronics)

I don't give out five stars lightly, but the LK-55 is simply outstanding! I've owned an older casio for years but never really learned to play. I asked for a lighted-key keyboard for Xmas because I thought it would help me learn, and it already has!

I admit I am musically challenged, I can't really read music, and the correct fingering gets me confused. This keyboard transcends all that. The next note is lighted (as in all lighted-key keyboards), but it also has right AND left hand icons indicating the fingering. And if you can't look at all that at once, just push a button and a voice indicates the correct finger ("one", "two", "three", ...). It has 3 different learn-to-play modes. You can read the play mode descriptions in the docs, but suffice it to say that this tough critic really likes casio's implementation.

I had previously, with much discipline, over a long period of time, learned a few bars of Bach's "Jesus Bleibet Meine Freude" (Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring). It is a beautiful song, and I was thrilled to learn a little of it. This keyboard made it easy. I didn't need to find the score, pick out the keys, put A-B-C stickers on the keys, memorize bars, find a recording to compare against, or determine the correct fingering (which I never got right before).

Oh, I almost forgot, it has a microphone and it is great for sing alongs (even if you only use the built in songs like a juke box). It has my wife's favorite song (over the rainbow), popular kid songs, holiday songs, and all the folk & classical songs I currently wish to learn.

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for Beginners, May 7, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Casio LK-55 61 Key Lighted Keyboard (Electronics)

In my mid-30's I decided it was time to finally learn to play an instrument - and the Casio LK55 fit the bill (my husband requested I pick an instrument that could be used with headphones!).
The keyboard has realistic sounding instruments, and a pleasant piano sound. Keys are full sized, and the lcd display is very useful once you figure out what the general functions are.
It has a good range of built in songs that you can play along with - I found as a beginner that most were too complicated but I'm working on it.
I've actually found that I don't use the key lighting as much as expected. Don't expect this keyboard to 'teach' you how to play. You really need to purchase some good instructional materials and learn the old fashioned way (lots of practice!) but it is fun and gratifying to play along with the built in songs in-between regular practice. My only complaint is that if you want to learn a built in song using the key lighting - you can't learn both hands at the same time. You learn the right and left hands seperately - which I can understand as the lighting might be confusing otherwise, but it would be nice to have the option.
I'm extremely pleased with the keyboard, but it will take a while before I'm competent.
I highly recommend the book "Adult All-In-One Course: Lesson-Theory-Technic" by Willard A. Palmer. It's been extremely useful for learning the basics (such as How To Read Music!).

Pluses:
1. Portable (can use batteries or power)
2. Key lighting is great
3. Large selection of built in songs
4. Full size keys
5. Can connect to computer

Minuses:
1. Can't magically transform me into a concert pianist
2. Headphone jack is at the rear of the keyboard & is awkward to access
3. Can't learn both hands simultaneously

22 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Product, but beginners will Need help to configure, January 17, 2004

By 

J. Norton ""Midwest Huskie"" (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Casio LK-55 61 Key Lighted Keyboard (Electronics)

This is actually a great beginner keyboard. The tutorial system is good, and the sounds are good. However, for beginners(like me), you will need some direction getting you PC to communicate the MIDI files to your keyboard. Unfortunately, the 800 number will support this product using the same manual in the box. If you write to Casio, it will take a week to two weeks to get the information I can provide you. So here it is for those who need it:
1.) The casio MIDI cables must be connected in opposite order, meaning the output-end of the cable goes into the input receiver of your keyboard. The input-end of the cable goes into the output receiver of your keyboard. Its counterintuitive, but this is the only way it will work.
2.) You must configure your sound-card by going into \'Control Panel'\'Sounds and Audio Devices'. Choose the 'Audio Devices' tab. You will find one of the boxes reads 'MIDI music playback'. Make the default device 'MPU-401' by choosing it from the drop-down menu. Hit 'Apply' then 'OK'.
3.) The MIDI software refered to as not supported in the user manual and by the 800 number is simply MS Media Player or Real 1 Player. Simply open an MIDI file with your keyboard onwith the keyboard set to GM mode 'on'. Some or all of the song will play through the keyboard speakers. The Navigation channel on the keyboard will allow you to pick-up different ranges the MIDI file is playing.

I hope someone finds this helpful. Once I got it up and running, I learned the tune from 'Cheers' in a matter of two hours with very limited exposure to piano playing. It is a very good investment for those who are musically inclined but do not want to go through paying for lessons! I highly recommend it now.