IMPORTANT Check your power supply Make sure that your local AC mains voltage matches the voltage specified on the name plate on the bottom panel. In some areas a voltage selector may be provided on the bottom panel of the main keyboard unit near the power cord. Make sure that the voltage selector is set for the voltage in your area. The voltage selector is set at 240V when the unit is initially shipped.
SPECIAL MESSAGE SECTION PRODUCT SAFETY MARKINGS: Yamaha electronic products may have either labels similar to the graphics shown below or molded/stamped facsimiles of these graphics on the enclosure. The explanation of these graphics appears on this page. Please observe all cautions indicated on this page and those indicated in the safety instruction section. CAUTION RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK DO NOT OPEN CAUTION: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK. DO NOT REMOVE COVER (OR BACK).
PRECAUTIONS PLEASE READ CAREFULLY BEFORE PROCEEDING * Please keep these precautions 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, short-circuiting, 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.
Introduction Thank you for choosing a Yamaha YDP-121 Digital Piano. Your YDP-121 is a fine musical instrument that employs advanced Yamaha music technology. With the proper care, your YDP-121 will give you many years of musical pleasure. ● Stereo sampling of the acoustic piano voices offers unmatched realism and expressive power, while the AWM (Advanced Wave Memory) tone generator system offers rich, realistic reproductions of all other voices.
Contents The Control Panel .......................................................... 6 Key Cover & Music Stand .............................................. 8 Selecting & Playing Voices ............................................ 9 Playing the Demonstration Tunes ................................ 10 ■ Voice ■ The Function Mode ...................................................... 23 ● F1: Tuning ................................................................ 24 ■ F2: Scale .........................
The Control Panel MASTER VOLUME MIN MAX 2 DEMO TRANSPOSE REVERB 3 4 5 ROOM HALL1 HALL2 STAGE TOUCH MAX DEMO E.PIANO HARPSICHORD 6 MASTER VOLUME MIN GRAND PIANO HARD MEDIUM SOFT TRANSPOSE REVERB ROOM HALL 1 HALL 2 STAGE STRINGS PIPE ORGAN VARIATION 7 TOUCH HARD MEDIUM SOFT GRAND PIANO E.
The Control Panel ! [SONG] Button This button enters the Piano Song Mode. While in this mode you can use the [SONG SELECT ▼/ ▲] buttons to select from 50 songs. METRONOME TEMPO FUNCTION SONG –/NO FUNCTION 8 9 SONG SELECT 0 ! START/ STOP TRACK REC 1 2 +/YES @ # $ 1 YDP-121 POWER F5 G5 A5 B5 C6 D6 E6 F6 G6 A6 B6 C7 @ [SONG SELECT ▼/▲] (–/NO, +/YES) Buttons These buttons select a piano song number for playback, and are also used to adjust a range of other parameters (i.e.
Key Cover & Music Stand Key Cover To open the key cover: Z Lift the cover slightly (not too much). X Slide the cover open. Be careful to avoid catching your fingers when opening or closing the cover. To close the key cover: Z Slide the cover toward you. X Gently lower the cover over the keys. CAUTION • Hold the cover with both hands when moving it, and do not release it until it is fully opened or closed. Be careful to avoid catching fingers (yours or others) between the cover and main unit.
Selecting & Playing Voices Turn Power On ................................................................................................... After making sure that the YDP-121’s AC cord is properly plugged into the YDP-121 itself and plugged into a convenient AC wall outlet, press the [POWER] switch located to the right of the keyboard to turn the power ON. In some areas a plug adaptor may be provided to match the pin configuration of the AC wall outlets in your area.
Playing the Demonstration Tunes Demonstration tunes are provided that effectively demonstrate each of the YDP-121’s voices. There are also 50 piano songs that you can play individually, all in sequence, or in random order. Here’s how you can select and play the demo tunes. NOTE • The demo or piano song mode cannot be engaged while the recorder (page 20) is in use. * See page 29 for a complete listing of the demo tunes. Voice Demo Engage the Demo Mode ......................................................
Playing the Demonstration Tunes Piano Song Engage the Piano Song Mode ......................................................... SONG Press the [SONG] button to engage the piano song mode — the [SONG], [1] and [2] indicators will light. Play a Piano Song .........................................................................................
Playing the Demonstration Tunes Piano Song A-B Repeat The A-B Repeat function can be used to continuously repeat a specified phrase within a piano song. Combined with the Part Cancel function described below, this provides an excellent way to practice difficult phrases. Specify the Beginning (A) of the Phrase .............................. FUNCTION Select and play a piano song, then press the [FUNCTION] button at the beginning of the phrase you want to repeat.
Playing the Demonstration Tunes Piano Song Part Cancel The 50 piano songs have separate left- and right-hand parts that can be turned on and off as required so you can practice the corresponding part on the keyboard. The right-hand part is played by the recorder’s [1] track, and the left-hand part is played by recorder’s [2] track. (Some of the songs are arrangements for four-hands, tracks [1] and [2] correspond to primo and secondo parts of the arrangement.) Turn the Desired Part Off ....................
The Dual Mode The dual mode makes it possible to play two voices simultaneously across the entire range of the keyboard. HARPSICHORD PIANO STRINGS PIPE ORGA Voice numbering priority 1 2 3 4 5 GRAND PIANO E.PIANO HARPSICHORD STRINGS PIPE ORGAN To activate the dual mode simply press two voice selectors at the same time (or press one voice selector while holding another). The voice indicators of both selected voices will light when the dual mode is active.
Reverb The [REVERB] button selects a number of digital reverb effects that you can use for extra depth and expressive power. REVERB To select a reverb type press the [REVERB] button a few times until the indicator corresponding to the desired type lights (the indicators light in sequence each time the [REVERB] button is pressed). No reverb is produced when all indicators are off. ROOM HALL1 HALL2 STAGE OFF No reverb effect is selected when no REVERB indicator is lit.
The Pedals The YDP-121 has three foot pedals that produce a range of expressive effects similar to those produced by the pedals on an acoustic piano. Damper (Right) Pedal ................................................................................ The damper pedal functions in the same way as a damper pedal on an acoustic piano. When the damper pedal is pressed notes played have a long sustain. Releasing the pedal immediately stops (damps) any sustained notes.
Touch Sensitivity Four different types of keyboard touch sensitivity — HARD, MEDIUM, SOFT or FIXED — can be selected to match different playing styles and preferences. TOUCH To select a touch sensitivity type press the [TOUCH] button a few times until the indicator corresponding to the desired type lights (the indicators light in sequence each time the [TOUCH] button is pressed). HARD MEDIUM SOFT HARD The HARD setting requires the keys to be played quite hard to produce maximum loudness.
Tuning Tuning makes it possible to adjust the pitch of the YDP-121 over a 427.0 Hz … 453.0 Hz (corresponding to the A3 note’s Hz) range in approximately 0.2 Hertz intervals. Pitch control is useful for tuning the YDP-121 to match other instruments or recorded music. A -1 B -1 C3 B3 Tuning Up ............................................................................................................... Z To tune up (raise pitch), hold the A-1 and B-1 keys simultaneously.
The Metronome & Tempo Control The YDP-121 built-in metronome is a convenient feature for practice, and it can also provide a solid rhythmic guide when recording using the Recorder feature, described in the next section. The Metronome METRONOME The metronome sound is alternately turned on and off by pressing the [METRONOME] button. When on, the beat indicator flashes at the current tempo. Beat indicator Metronome Time Signature .................................................................
Using the Recorder The YDP-121 features a two-track recorder that let you record what you play on the keyboard and then play it back. Two tracks mean that you can “overdub” one part on top of another, using a different voice if you like. The recorder feature is a useful adjunct to any keyboard study program, since it lets you hear exactly how you sound from the listener’s perspective. It can also be just plain fun.