Your search for a portable, 61 key touch sensitive keyboard is nearly over. The Casio CTK-3500 portable keyboard can open your mind up to an entire new world of music. Casio is a famous brand across the world that is chosen by many piano playing enthusiasts across the globe. Casio is trusted to make the best equipment for learning and for beginners but also for advanced players too.
This article is going to review some of the key features of the Casio CTK 3500 that you might have questions about. Inside of this article I am going to go over the main benefits to selecting the Casio CTK3500 as a beginner keyboard, that also remains portable, so that you can take it with you if you so choose. If you are just starting out, or if you are writing songs on your tour bus and need to take a portable keyboard with you, you will love the CTK3500 made by Casio.
First off there are 400 high quality tones built into the Casio keyboard, and 150 built in rhythms including a dance music mode. The keyboard is made up of 61 full sized and touch sensitive keys that respond fully to your playing dynamics, and individual needs as a piano playing enthusiast. You can express yourself with ease and with natural flow with these high quality, responsive keys.
CHECK FOR BEST PRICECasio has a reputation for delivering high quality products, and the Casio CTK 3500 is no different. If you haven’t used or trusted Casio in the past, this might be your chance to try a really high quality product from a high quality product maker in the music industry. The keyboards are in the affordable range, and this is another high quality product that fits the bill and checks all the boxes in a portable keyboard for beginners and enthusiasts alike. Its versatility and wide range of rhythms and sounds give you the ability to get creative while also not breaking the bank or holding down your back with heavy weight.
Casio CTK3500 Review
The Casio CTK 3500 is built by Casio, and mainly designed for beginners. It comes with a 61 key piano style touch sensitive keyboard with 400 tones onboard and 150 rhythms and digital effects. They have added a new feature called dance mode which can help you create dance music.
Something that we like about this keyboard is that it has Chordata play app integration, so that you can use your tablet and connect to the device for your learning and playing needs. You can learn to play some of your favorite songs using MIDI files and that is a great thing for new piano players and old piano players alike.
CHECK FOR BEST PRICEThe step up lesson system made famous by Casio is included and includes audio inputs for an MP3 player. This will make the CTK 3500 much more realistic and expressive than its competitors and predecessors at this price range.
Tap into your creativity with this machine. Leverage superior technology in this product and create new value for your listeners with this machine.
What We Like About Casio CTK 3500
- Durable
- Portable
- High end touch feel (very responsive, no issues)
- Chordana Play connectivity
- Pitch Control Wheel
- USB -B port
- Touch Response
- Great Piano Sounds
- Can Run On AA Batteries
- Speakers (although loud enough, could be a bit better, but best at this price range definitely)
If you are a beginner pianist and you are looking for a high quality great keyboard, this is the one for you. We recently have tried the CTK 3500 and there is not much else to say other than that it is a high quality keyboard that gets every single thing done that needs to be done.
Cost Effective
This piano is very cost effective. You will get a lot of bang for your buck by choosing the Casio CTK 3500. As a beginning pianist, you are probably looking at options that are affordable, but you do not want to sacrifice quality or playing sound, and especially not longevity.
Luckily this product checks all boxes and will last you for years to come. At the price of about $125, you cannot beat this keyboard. One of the best things about this keyboard is that it integrates headphone listening so that you can play whenever you want without disturbing anyone. The keyboard actually comes with a set of headphones that work just fine for playing, and you will be pleased with the sound quality of the headphones.
CHECK FOR BEST PRICEYou can set a beat in the background, sometimes like a metronome, and you can practice with the sheet music while this beat plays in the background. The sound quality of this system is going to blow you away.
As a beginner you will appreciate the portable, compactness of this unit so you can maneuver around with ease. You can take it on the go or you can set it up anywhere to practice. Its very important to practice a lot otherwise you will never get good at playing the piano. It is very easy to pack up and travel with this keyboard if necessary, so it could be good for bands on the go.
The piano itself is very durable and feels strong and sturdy, it does not feel cheap at all whatsoever. You can pack it up and throw it in the trunk and not worry about a thing because this high quality product is going to stay in good shape.
Another thing that we like is the screen that is right on the middle of the product, there for beginners. You can see which key and which note needs to be played while you are playing. This is a huge plus for beginners who are just starting out and want to see what they need to press to play the music. You will see how notes correlate to sheet music and it will help you learn fast and efficiently.
The Stand
The stand is actually really high quality, and sturdy and we like the stand. So if you are looking for something that comes with a decent stand that will get the job done, this is it. We cannot find anything that we would make better about the stand just that it is sturdy enough to get the job done for nearly all applications. At this price point you are not going to find much better of a stand that comes with your new piano.
You must purchase the bundle to get the stand, and it also comes with a pair of headphones that are good enough to get you going with good sound quality and great connectivity. There are no issues with the bundle accessories and we have found that It is a great deal for someone that wants to get the whole package at an affordable price.
Key Action
Key action is really great on this system and you will find that there are two levels of touch sensitivity, plus the “off” option which gives it three levels of touch sensitivity.
What Can Be Better
- Low Volume Speakers (Competitors are the same, you will not get better speakers at this price range)
- Keyboard display has no light
- You will outgrow this piano fast. 61 key keyboard is easily outgrown for a beginner piano player
- Stand: you must buy the bundle to get the stand
- Headphones: you must buy the bundle to get the headphones
- Despite needing the bundle, it is still a great price for everything that you will not find elsewhere.
One of the main things that we have noticed with the Casio CTK 3500 is that it could be a little bit louder. You can avoid this by using the headphones, but we find that if you are just playing the piano, it can be a bit quiet and can’t turn it up super loud. At this price point though, it is going to perform about the same as any other piano at this price range, you will not get a super loud keyboard at this price range.
Speakers – Louder and Better
Our main concern with this beginner piano, the Casio CTK 3500, is that the speakers could be louder and better. It is widely known that the other brand which starts with a Y is a little bit better as far as loud speakers and sound quality. But we find that the Casio is going to have a lot better functionality for beginners.
Aux cable Not included. Keep in mind that with this product you will not get an aux cable. You can check from certain third party retailers if it comes with, but chances are that it will not come with. Another thing is that the power cable that comes with is not the highest quality and you might benefit from changing the power cable to a more high quality one in the future. But, this power cord should last you for some time and get the job done no problem.
Must Buy Accessories For Casio CTK 3500
If you are going to purchase the Casio CTK 3500 you might be wondering what are some of the best accessories that I will need as a beginners. Well we can start off by recommending you a few things that go great with your new ctk3500. Some of this includes a dust cover, travel cover, usb a to b cable, and note stickers so that you can keep your mind right.
Bottom line Casio CTK3500
Choose the Casio CTK 3500 if you are a beginner who wants to learn how to play on a 61 key piano with the help of a screen, touch functionality, and durable portable keyboard feel. It has a good sound, and can help you grow in your endeavors as a piano playing enthusiast. BUT you will outgrow this fast is you are really wanting to get to learn piano properly. This is because it is a 61 key.
This keyboard works quite well for someone who wants to practice piano without being disruptive to the people they live with. The keyboard is standard dimensions so that you can extend to f in the third octave above middle c. It covers the range that most people would possibly need. If you have just started playing piano, and want to use this system to take your playing to the next level, then its the option for you. You can use this for years to come without any issue. 61 Key pianos are a bit lighter than 88 key pianos and you will find that it is going to be very portable and you can move it around your house without too much weight or bulkiness. It is not a full MIDI controller when using USB but GarageBand recognizes it and you can record the MIDI info and notes played. You can play it back in GarageBand and change instruments and use any of the instruments in GarageBand. You can even play Live midi instruments in GarageBand with this piano. That is a great part about this system.
Main Features Casio CTK3500
Built In Songs: Make music or learn anywhere with built in songs
Rhythms: 400 tones, 150 rhythms, wide variety of music exploration, built in speakers or connect headphones to jam out
Dance Music Mode: Remix electronic dance music easily and efficiently. Choose from different styles of EDM and use lower keys for drum beats, bass lines, or synth parts. You can add filter, flanger, gate, roll low fi and other effects to polish off your creative song.
- MIDI USB
- AC Adapter
- Chordana Connectivity: use your iOS or android app to play with the free Chordana play app. The display on your CTK3500 will assist you in how to play your favorite songs. Download your favorite MIDI files and connect your device’s headphone output to the CTK3500 audio input. Explore a never ending library of music for your learning and playing experience. You can even transfer the songs right to your keyboard and play them directly from the device when it isn’t connected to the app. You will find that some file limitations apply here,
- Upgraded Functionality
- Dance music mode
- Improved sound quailty
- Keyboard style
- Touch Responsive
- Digital effects
- Audio In Jack