On Yamaha Portable Keyboards you have a pre-arranged backing band that you can recall at the touch of a single button. On the pro synths, like the MOXF, however, you'll find that a lot of the selections (bass lines, guitar riffs, drum grooves) are left up to you... Even if "just practicing". If you are ready to make few selections, I think you'll find the MOXF will work with you... And for you.

On the Yamaha Arranger Workstation keyboards, a lot of the selection work is done for you, so drum grooves and linked to bass lines that follow your lowest note are already setup (ACMP or accompaniment); you simply recall them and play. The MOXF level equivalent is the PSR-S series, 670, 770 and 970, but before going there, let's see if we can find you an easy workflow on MOXF. Choices, if the MOXF has a downside it is that it gives you too many choices... Sorry, but we don't apologize about that. 🙂

And while there are more than 7900 arp phrases (literally more than 2300 drum grooves, 1200 bass lines, etc., etc) you can either use them, or create your own phrases to practice with...

Or do I have to create an entire performance just to practice?

Creating "an entire Performance" can be done with just a couple of button pushes. It's really quite painless. Try this:

Let's start with an Electric piano sound (you don't say what you were doing, but you can substitute any sound you want to begin with).
To recall your first virtual band member press the button [DRUM ASSIGN]
You will be taken to Category Search in the Drum/Perc area. (If you don't know how to use Category Search, it is a very important skill to acquire)
Press [ENTER] to see a list of Drum Kits
If you select a Kit by name, that name will suggest what type of drum groove is initially assigned. For example, select a Rock Kit, you get a rock beat, select a Hip Hop Kit, you get a hip hop groove, select a Jazz kit etc...

You, of course, can change this selected arp Type, but quickly find a kit name that makes you curious - each Kit has a set of arp a Type (phrases) associated with it - select it by pressing [ENTER] and play... The drums dill start as soon as to touch a key!

Want to add a bass player?
Press [SPLIT]
You are again taken to the Category Search screen, under Basses, move the cursor down and change the search from "All" to "Arpeggio", press [ENTER]
You will be shown a list bass sounds with Arps pre assigned, try out a few... Press [ENTER]

You've built a Performance for practice. Not too painful.

Don't be afraid of building your own Performances. It's what the MOXF is designed to do. Once it becomes second nature you will find making decisions for yourself is worth the extra you paid for it!