Yamaha PSR-170 61-Key Portable Electronic Keyboard

by Yamaha

Product Features

• 61 Piano-sized Keys
• DJ button accesses special dance voices and songs
• Interactive Yamaha Education Suite included for beginning musicians
• 100 authentic instrument voices and styles encourages creativity
• Multifingering auto accompaniment

Product Details

Product Manual [5.00mb PDF]

• Shipping Weight: 25 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• ASIN: B00005K9DW
• Item model number: PSR170AD
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #30,171 in Musical Instruments (See Top 100 in Musical Instruments)

Product Description

Amazon.com Review

The Yamaha PSR170AD is a dream-come-true for piano students. It would be hard not to learn at least basic keyboard skills while using this model. The user-friendly LCD display shows permanent bass and treble clefs and has a small virtual keyboard. As a song played or we plunked at the keyboard, the notes were instantly displayed. At first we felt that this was a novelty feature, but as we moved into the lessons, we could see that it can be helpful to see the staff and notes.

While we were playing random chords to see what they looked like on the bass clef, we noticed that the keys are not sensitive to touch. We could bang on the keys like Jerry Lee Lewis or caress them like Yanni and the volume never changed. Though this may throw an experienced keyboardist for a loop, it might also be useful to the novice, who won't have to worry about volume control.

The PSR170AD is equipped with the Yamaha Education Suite feature. This feature walks you through seven lessons at your own pace. The lessons are a blur at first, but the fact that the keyboard will repeat them as many times as you want allows you to run them over and over again until you become comfortable. The lessons can be done using the 100 voices and styles that come on the PSR170AD. This was particularly enjoyable, as we would have been bored while practicing without a little variety. It comes with 100 prerecorded songs--some we never heard before, some we can't forget. You can play along with any of them anytime.

Yamaha lets you have fun away from the lessons and learning with the DJ Mode. The DJ Mode has groovy voice and music samples you can use to play along with a prerecorded funky dance riff or to create your own. If you're like us, it may take you a while to get back to the serious side of the keyboard. As a MIDI compatible keyboard, the PSR170AD can connect to a sequencer or computer via MIDI cables (sold separately), both of which can record musical performances from the keyboard and then play them back using the instrument voices on the PSR170AD. This is great for adding it to an ensemble and using the keyboard to lay down tracks while recording.

Overall, this keyboard impressed us most by how well designed it was for the music student. It comes with just enough functions for learning the basics and not so many that you get bogged down in menus. The keyboard isn't all about learning, though. We plugged it in right out of the box and had a toe-tapping good time. --Brian Vandiver

Pros:

• Very portable
• 61 full-size piano keys
• MIDI capable
• Great for learning

Cons:

• The keys are not touch-sensitive

Product Description

Yamaha PSR-170AD 61-Key Portable Electronic Keyboard with AC Adapter

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great for the money, December 13, 2001

By 

S. Taylor "stusrt" (Detroit, MI) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Yamaha PSR-170 61-Key Portable Electronic Keyboard (Electronics)

I bought this for my wife because I didn't think she would stick with it. She is having fun with it, and it has a lot of neat extras. Great for beginners, but more advanced music needs will need more.
If you're buying a keyboard for a kid or someone that isn't a professional, this is a great deal.

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just what I needed to learn to play the piano!, October 2, 2002

By 

William Keith Mathison (Battle Ground, WA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Yamaha PSR-170 61-Key Portable Electronic Keyboard (Electronics)

What a great keyboard! I am learning to play the piano in my spare time! The built-in lessons really work. I am learning at my own pace. I played back all 100 songs and put a star by the songs I want to learn. There are a lot of great songs built in. By the time I get through all of them I should be able to read music and play the piano very well. I am on the 5th song and it is easier with each new song I learn. I love lesson #2 for the right and left hand. You have to hit the right keys for the keyboard to work and after finishing the song the keyboard tells you how well you did.. either "OK", "Good", "Very Good", or "Excellent!" There are all kinds of voices, styles, songs and the DJ mode that make it fun and entertaining. I haven't learned all of it yet. I also like the fact that the keyboard is very portable so that I can take it places easily. I ordered the keyboard with a stand and AC adapter which are essentials. This keyboard is not touch sensitive which I think makes it easier to learn. The only small complaint is that the song book does not have the words to the songs in it which I have complained to Yamaha about. The PSR-170 is an affordable, versatile, quality product. I would buy it again without hesitation.

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for learning!, January 18, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Yamaha PSR-170 61-Key Portable Electronic Keyboard (Electronics)

I bought this keyboard for the purpose of learning to play the piano. It is a great instrument, lots of fun, and makes learning a pleasure! The value and quality are more than I expected. I wouldn't hesitate to purchase this item again.