Owner's Manual
SPECIAL MESSAGE SECTION This product utilizes batteries or an external power supply (adapter). DO NOT connect this product to any power supply or adapter other than one described in the manual, on the name plate, or specifically recommended by Yamaha. This product should be used only with the components supplied or; a cart, rack, or stand that is recommended by Yamaha. If a cart, etc., is used, please observe all safety markings and instructions that accompany the accessory product.
PRECAUTIONS PLEASE READ CAREFULLY BEFORE PROCEEDING * Please keep this manual in a safe place for future reference. WARNING Always follow the basic precautions listed below to avoid the possibility of serious injury or even death from electrical shock, shortcircuiting, damages, fire or other hazards. These precautions include, but are not limited to, the following: • Do not open the instrument or attempt to disassemble the internal parts or modify them in any way.
Congratulations on your purchase of the Yamaha EZ-20 PortaTone! You now own a portable keyboard that combines advanced functions, great sound and exceptional ease-of-use in a highly compact package. Its outstanding features also make it a remarkably expressive and versatile instrument. Read this Owner’s Manual carefully while playing your new EZ-20 in order to take full advantage of its various features.
Portable Grand ................................. page 40 The EZ-20 also has a Portable Grand function for realistic piano performance. Pressing the [PORTABLE GRAND] button instantly calls up the stunningly authentic “Stereo Sampled Piano” voice and configures the entire EZ-20 for optimum piano play. Special Pianist styles - with pianoonly accompaniment - are also provided.
Contents Setting Up .................................8 Song Lesson .............................35 Power Requirements ................... 8 Using Headphones...................... 9 Connecting a Keyboard Amplifier or Stereo System...................... 9 Using a Footswitch...................... 9 Using the MIDI Terminals ........... 9 Using the Lesson Feature ........... 35 ABC/DoReMi Guide.................... 37 Grade .......................................... 38 Talking .................................
MIDI Functions........................ 58 About MIDI ................................. 58 MIDI Terminals ........................... 58 How Can MIDI be Used? ............ 59 Troubleshooting..................... 60 Voice List ................................ 61 Sound Effects&Drum Kit List . 63 Style List & Multipads ............ 64 MIDI Implementation Chart... 66 Specifications ......................... 69 Index .......................................
Setting Up Power Requirements Although the EZ-20 will run either from an optional AC adaptor or batteries, Yamaha recommends use of an AC adaptor whenever possible. An AC adaptor is more environmentally friendly than batteries and does not deplete resources. ■ Using an AC Power Adaptor Use of an AC power adaptor is recommended, especially when you use the EZ-20 for a long period of time. 1 Make sure that the [STANDBY/ON] switch of the EZ-20 is set to STANDBY.
Using Headphones For private practicing and playing without disturbing others, connect a set of stereo headphones to the rear panel PHONES/OUTPUT jack. Sound from the built-in speaker system is automatically cut off when you insert a headphone plug into this jack. tions the same way as a damper pedal on an acoustic piano - press and hold down the footswitch as you play the keyboard to sustain the sound.
Panel Controls and Terminals Front Panel 1 [MASTER VOLUME] dial...................... 22 2 Power switch ([STANDBY/ON])........... 22 3 [PORTABLE GRAND] button ............... 40 1 2 4 [METRONOME] button........................ 40 5 [DEMO] button .................................... 28 3 6 [OVERALL] buttons .............................. 23 4 5 7 [SONG] button .................................... 28 8 [VOICE] button .................................... 42 9 [STYLE] button ..............................
B 0 7 A 8 9 I L M J N K O 11
Quick Guide Quick Guide STEP 1 Songs 12 212 Playing the Demo Songs Demo songs (001–100) showcase the sophisticated features and stunning sound of the EZ-20. Let’s play the Demo songs now, starting with 001... 1 Press the [DEMO] button. Demo song 001 starts playing. When the song is complete, the subsequent songs (002, 003...) start playing sequentially. 2 Stop the Demo song. or ❋ Want to find out more? See page 28.
Playing a Single Song Naturally, you can also individually select and play back any of the EZ20’s songs (#001–#100). Also, simply by pressing the [START/STOP] button, you can start playback. 1 Start the Song. When the power of the EZ-20 is turned on, the song of “003: Linus And Lucy” is selected. For instructions on selecting songs, see page 28. 2 Stop the song. ❋ Want to find out more? See page 28. [Song List] No.
Quick Guide STEP 2 Lesson 2 1 Using the Lesson Feature Songs 001 to 100 are specially designed for use with the educational Lesson feature. Let’s start the practice, following the light. 1 Select Timing, Waiting, or Minus One, and start the lesson. When the power of the EZ-20 is turned on, the song of ”003: Linus And Lucy” and the right-hand part are selected. Lesson 1: Timing This step lets you work on the timing of the notes.
Lesson 2: Waiting In Lesson 2, you practice playing the notes correctly as they appear in the display notation. The accompaniment pauses and waits for you to play the notes correctly before it continues. Lesson 3: Minus One In Lesson 3, you practice playing correct notes, along with the accompaniment. The accompaniment continues playing in tempo. 2 When you’re finished, stop the Lesson. ❋ Want to find out more? See page 35.
Quick Guide STEP 3 Voices 1 1 2 1 1 Playing the Piano Simply by pressing the [PORTABLE GRAND] button, you can automatically reset the entire EZ-20 for piano play. 1 Press the [PORTABLE GRAND] button. The song and style are also set for piano performance. 2 Play the keyboard. ❋ Want to find out more? See page 40. Playing along with the Metronome 1 Press the [METRONOME] button. ❋ Want to find out more? See page 40.
Playing the ABC/DoReMi Voices 1 Press the [ABC/DoReMi] button. The ABC voice is selected. To select the DoReMi voice, press the [ABC/ DoReMi] again. ABC DoReMi Off 2 Play the keyboard. ❋ Want to find out more? See page 43. Selecting and Playing Other Voices The EZ-20 has a huge total of 100 dynamic and realistic instrument voices. Let’s try a few of them out now... 1 Press the [VOICE] button. 2 Select a voice. 3 Play the keyboard. ❋ Want to find out more? See page 42.
Quick Guide STEP 347 4 Auto Accompaniment 6 1 2 Using the Auto Accompaniment Simply play chords with your left hand - and the EZ-20 automatically produces appropriate bass, chord and rhythm backing. Use your right hand to play melodies, and you’ll sound like an entire band! Accompaniment key range For more information on playing proper chords for the auto accompaniment, see “Using Auto Accompaniment - Multi Fingering” on page 50 and “Looking up Chords in the dictionary” on page 52.
3 Turn the auto accompaniment on. 4 Turn the Sync Start function on. 5 Play a chord with your left hand. The auto accompaniment starts as soon as you play the keyboard. ❋ Want to find out more? See page 53. 6 Select a section. The auto accompaniment has four sections: Intro, Main A/B, and Ending. 7 Stop the auto accompaniment. ❋ Want to find out more? See page 46.
Continuation Quick Guide STEP 4 Auto Accompaniment 15 Looking up Chords in the Dictionary The convenient Dictionary function teaches you how to play chords by showing you the individual notes. In the example below, we’ll learn how to play a GM7 chord... Chord detection key range (C1–F#2) Example: Keys for entering the chord type (A2–Bb3) G M7 Root note Chord type 1 Press the [Dict.] button.
2 Specify the root note of the chord (in this case, G). 3 Specify the chord type of the chord (in this case, M7). 4 Play the chord by pressing the keys lighted up. The chord name flashes and a ”congratulations” melody is played, when the chord is played properly. 5 To leave the Dictionary function, press the [Dict.] button again. ❋ Want to find out more? See page 52.
Panel Display Indications Adjusting the volume level Rotate the [MASTER VOLUME] dial. Rotating the dial counterclockwise lowers the volume level. Rotating the dial clockwise raises the volume level. Power on To turn on the power, set the [STANDBY/ON] switch to the ON position. Even when the switch is in the “STANDBY” position, electricity is still flowing to the instrument at the minimum level.
Overall indicator Overall settings The [OVERALL] button enable you to make EZ-20’s global settings. ABC/DoReMi GRADE TALKING TRANSPOSE TUNING ACMP/SONG VOLUME METRONOME VOLUME 43 38 39 44 45 55, 31 41 If you press the [OVERALL] button located in the upper-left of the display, a menu icon advances and the top row in the display indicates the currently-selected “setting item” and “value.” When you press the [OVERALL] button again, the menu icon advances to the next setting item. E.g.
Panel Display Indications Selecting a function • Pressing the [STYLE], [VOICE], or [SONG] button enables you to select one of EZ-20’s basic functions. (The icon of the selected function appears.) Selects a song for playback or practice. Selects a voice to play on the keyboard. Select a style for accompaniment. • If you select a song or accompaniment, then select a voice, the EZ-20 indicates the following: 24 [Song→Voice] Select a voice using the numeric keypad.
Numeric keypad Name & number indication (Song/Style/Voice) The top row of the display indicates the name and number of the currently-selected function. E.g., Selecting a song Song number Song name Selecting a number • To increment or decrement the number, use the numeric keypad or [+]/[–] buttons. Pressing the button once decrements the number by one. Pressing the button once increments the number by one. Pressing and holding down the button increments/decrements the number continuously.
Panel Display Indications Accompaniment On indicator This appears when the auto accompaniment has been turned on. ABC/DoReMi indicators These show the guide voice (“ABC” or “DoReMi”) for the Lesson function.
Notation display When you are using the Lesson function, the notation display indicates the song melody or chord notation. When you are using the Dictionary function, it indicates the notes that make up the chord. Other than that, it usually indicates the notes you played. Measure indicator The measure numbers of a song or accompaniment are displayed. Chord indicator This indicator indicates the name of the currently-played chord or a chord you play on the keyboard.
Selecting and Playing Songs The EZ-20 has 100 preset songs. Try playing these songs. Listening To a Demo Song Press the [DEMO] button. Songs from #1 to #100 will be played sequentially. Song number Song name Indicates Song mode is selected Measure number If you select a song after another song has started playing, the EZ-20 will sequentially play songs in the category (e.g., Piano/Classical etc. See page 13.) that contains the selected song.
Select the desired song number. Use the numeric keypad or the [+]/[–] buttons (page 25). Start and stop the song playback. Press the [START/STOP] button to start song playback. You can play the keyboard along with the playback. Press the [START/STOP] button to stop song playback. The playback will repeat until you press the [START/STOP] button. Other controls [FF] button .................. Pressing this button during playback will fast forward the song.
Selecting and Playing Songs Adjusting the Tempo Song and accompaniment tempo can be adjusted in the range of q=40–240 (the number of quarter notes per minute). Press the [TEMPO/TAP] button. Press the numeric keypad or [+]/[–] buttons to change the tempo value. You can instantly restore the default setting by pressing both [+]/[–] buttons (When Tempo is selected). Tap Function You can set your own tempo intuitively.
Song Volume Level Adjust the song volume to balance with the level of the keyboard performance. Press the [OVERALL] button repeatedly until “SONG VOL” appears in the display. Current song volume Press the numeric keypad or [+]/[–] buttons to set the song volume (000–127). • You can instantly restore the default setting of “110” by pressing both [+]/[–] buttons simultaneously (When Song Volume is selected). • You can set the volume level of the selected song.
Selecting and Playing Songs Switching the Light Guide On and Off You can switch the Light Guide on the keyboard on or off. The Light Guide can be used as a keyboard guide during song playback or while you are using the Lesson or the Dictionary function. Press the [LIGHT ON/OFF] button to turn the Light Guide on or off. CAUTION Playing while looking at the lights for a long period of time may cause eye strain and stiff neck/ shoulders.
Multi Pads This convenient function lets you instantly trigger various musical and rhythmic phrases as you play the EZ-20. There are a total of 19 different sounds or phrases. This function is assigned to the keyboard range of C1–F#2 only when you play back songs that support the function. Select a song that supports the Multi Pads function. (Songs 1–7, 9–20, 29–50, and 60–100 support the function.) Start the song. Play the Multi Pads. Press the Multi Pads (keys C1–F#2) during the song playback.
Selecting and Playing Songs A-B Repeat The convenient A-B Repeat function is an ideal aid for practicing and learning. It allows you to specify a phrase of a song (between point A and point B) and repeat it - while you play or practice along with it. While playing a song, set point A (the start point). During playback, press the [A-B REPEAT] button once, at the beginning point to be repeated.
Song Lesson You can practice playing a song selected from Lesson songs #001–100. Using the Lesson Feature Select one of the Lesson songs. Press the [SONG] button, then use the numeric keypad or [+]/[–] buttons to select the desired song. Select the part you wish to work on (left, right or both.) If you want to work on the right-hand part, press the [R] button; to work on the left, press the [L] button. Press the [L] and [R] buttons simultaneously to work with both hands.
Song Lesson Types of Lesson Press one of the following buttons to select and start a type of Lesson. Lesson 1: Timing ..........This lesson step lets you practice just the timing of the notes - any note can be used. The melody does not sound unless you play in rhythm. Lesson 2: Waiting ........In this lesson step, the EZ-20 waits for you to play the correct notes before continuing playback of the song. When you play the correct note, the next note to play is indicated.
ABC/DoReMi Guide When the ABC/DoReMi Guide is activated, the EZ-20 sings the next note to play using “A, B, C...” or “Do, Re, Mi...” in Lesson 2. To change the guide voice (ABC or DoReMi), press the [ABC/DoReMi] button (page 43). Press the [OVERALL] button to select “ABC/DoReMi.” Press the [+]/[–] buttons to turn the ABC/DoReMi Guide on or off.
