Though I too would appreciate a 76 note (and better yet 88 note) arranger for the ability to play solo piano style on the arranger, for auto-accomp style playing, 61 notes really is sufficient. With the split point set at F#2, I'm able to easily able to play just about any standard chord progression, with full chords & inversions, rootless chords with extensions (9ths, 11ths, 13ths) & alterations (b9,#11,etc), and relatively 'smooth voice leading', all within the confines of an octave and a half (C1-F#2). The KEY to mastering this is learning "how to" play all the standard chord changes (I-VI-II-V7, IV-V-1, etc in ALL keys) utilizing smooth voice leading, utilizing all available chord inversions.

This leaves F#2 - C7 (four and a half octaves) available for the right hand part: melody & melodic fills, which is the same real estate playing area possible (between middle C and the highest note on a standard 88 note (not 76) acoustic piano. Considering this fact, and also, the ability (on the Tyros) to conveninetly trigger the 'octave transpose' buttons (if needed), I now tend to argue for maintaining the 61 note approach on a "portable arranger" (afterall that's what it's marketed as, right) to preserve lighter weight. As a classically trained acoustic pianist begining at age four, I had to later learn to adapt my playing style for arranger playing & its 61 keys. The bottom line is that "no arranger out there" includes keys that feel or respond remotely like a true 88 note grand piano. I've learned to approach solo keyboard & arranger keyboard playing differently. Ok gang, I promise I won't even go into the 'smaller' Yamaha keys issue, of which I believe is continued with Tyros2. As far as integrating 76 keys, fitting within the confines of the existing Tyros2's dimensions, it would further raise the Tyros2 weight, and 'my guess' is that the 'new improved' 61 key feel key bed included in Tyros2 will already raise the Tyros2 weight above Tyros1. 76 keys would add additional weight, and I'm sure there will be some people complaining about that. That said, other than missing the ability to play full solo piano on the Tyros, to me, 61 keys is just fine for arranger style playing, of which this keyboard was primarily designed for. - Scott

[This message has been edited by Scottyee (edited 09-22-2005).]