Gear Review: Yamaha PSR-E473 Keyboard
Photo Source: YAMAHA
General Overview
The Yamaha PSR- E473 is a great Keyboard for beginners. Especially children and teenage students. Although the 61 keys are not weighted or semi-weighted, they are still touch-sensitive. With over 800 voices, nearly 300 rhythms, and 10 play-along songs, this instrument is great fun for an aspiring musician. Being able to sample and split the keyboard in 2 is a bonus.
The Keys
I feel having 61 keys is a great choice for an entry-level keyboard. This is because the extremely low octaves and high octaves are rarely used by a beginner. Not having weighted keys also makes sense. Many younger students struggle with weighted keys when playing scales and arpeggios due to the size of their smaller hands.
Portability
This keyboard is highly portable due to the fact it has 61 keys NOT 88. I love the idea of having a keyboard that can be powered by batteries! With 6 double A batteries, you can take this keyboard anywhere! That means your kids can play it in the car as opposed to watching their IPADS! The built-in speakers are also an amazing feature for playing this keyboard on the go. It is also super lightweight at around 7 Kilograms.
The sounds
The great thing about Yamaha is that an entry-level instrument doesn’t always mean entry-level sounds. The PSR-E473 has an amazing grand piano sound! This is sampled from an actual Yamaha grand piano. It is not something I would expect to be included in a beginner's instrument. I should also add that the organ, strings, and woodwind also sound very realistic. Having a single button to separate each instrument makes this function very user-friendly.
Photo Source: YAMAHA
Extra features
The PSR-E473 allows you to split the keyboard into 2. This means you can play the bass part with your left and the melody/chords with your right hand. It also allows you to sample your sounds from the built-in microphone. The Groove Creator also lets you play along with prerecorded parts and also mute/unmute different instruments. I feel this is a great first step for young musicians to start writing and programming their own songs.
The Menu
The bright blue LCD screen lets you know multiple things. Mainly, the instrument you are using, the octave you are in, and the song's BPM. It is important to point out that the menu isn’t touch-screen like the more expensive models. This is to be expected in this price range.
Notable features
Having batteries means this is a true portable keyboard. It is light enough for a child to carry. I was surprised the PSR-E473 has a USB input. This is something I wouldn’t expect on an entry-level keyboard in this price range.
I feel all of these features prepare young musicians not only for just playing the piano but also for recording music.
| PROS | CONS |
| You can record up to 10 of your own songs. | No sustain pedal is included. |
| USB connectivity | |
| An onboard sampler means you can add your own sound via a built-in microphone. |
Rating
Build quality: 8/10
Price: 9/10
Functionality: 8/10
User experience: 8/10
About Magesh
Magesh is a musician and producer who has worked with Rihanna, Lionel Richie, Ricky Martin, Chris Brown, The Pussy Cat Dolls, Nelly Furtado, and Vernon Reid of Living Colour.
He released an instructional drumming dvd called "Unique Beats" where he mixed the drum kit with electronics and Indian hand percussion. He recently moved from Australia to the UK to explore new musical opportunities.
Website: mageshdrumteacher.co.uk
Contact Magesh at magesh.magesh7@gmail.com
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