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stoken6

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Posts posted by stoken6

    Tired of playing covers?

    in The Keyboard Corner

    Posted

    Very interesting thread.

     

    I'm avoiding the funk and monotony (to a degree) by:

    1. Not having gigged as often as some of you guys, so not bored with the scene in the same way

    2. Being the "first call sub", particularly for bands without regular keyboard players. If the gig is too far away, or an unpleasant venue, or whatever - I can simply turn it down without any guilt.

     

    At the moment the bass player I worked with in a couple of projects has recommended me to a bandleader - I'm busy charting some great tunes (e.g. September, as in the other thread), and some tedious ones - 90s four-bar loops,release the MPC pad four beats before the drop, rinse and repeat (This is how we do it, Finally, Return of the Mack ...)

     

    I do know that performing the song is very different from listening to them at home, and I like stretching myself, so I'm going for it. 

     

    Cheers, Mike.

    Lost KC thread - chart for EWF "September"

    in The Keyboard Corner

    Posted

    15 hours ago, Reezekeys said:

    Right or wrong, this is what I do

    Thank you Rob, that's exactly my approach. 

     

    12 hours ago, Reezekeys said:

    Maybe Mike is off by one chord when saying most folks play a Bmin there

    Definitely Mike is off by one chord. I meant C#m7 of course.

    11 hours ago, Sean M. H. said:

    Probably just a clerical error I suppose.

    Correct, apologies.

     

    Cheers, Mike

    iPhone mount for round-tube keyboard stands

    in The Keyboard Corner

    Posted

    Someone posted a question about recommended solutions for mounting a phone onto an X-stand - UK-based. Of course I can't find the thread, so starting another to respond.

     

    I had exactly the same conundrum - I have bought this one https://staggmusic.com/en/products/view/LOOKSMART10SET-look-smart-phonetablet-holder-set-with-clamp-and-arm/ which in all honesty I wouldn't recommend. The clamp that grips the phone mounting arm (left in the third photo in the link) works by deforming a single piece of metal - it's not hinged. As such (on mine at least) I couldn't get enough grip to securely hold the mounting arm without wrpping tape around the mounting arm. And of course there's not a lot of tolerance.

     

    The other clamp - the one that grips the keyboard stand - is fine. The phone holder is... all right, I guess. There's a ratcheted mechanism that keeps the brackets gripping the phone, but the the release mechanism round the back is small,fiddly and unreliable.

     

    I would probably recommend using something like the On-Stage KSA7575 - I have good experiences of mechanisms that expand to grip a tube from within, robust and reliable. Add:
    1. a mic boom

    2. tripod thread adapter (5/8in to 1/in)

    3. Simple tripod phone mount. 

     

    Regards, Mike.

    • Like 1

    Lost KC thread - chart for EWF "September"

    in The Keyboard Corner

    Posted

    Does anyone remember the thread from some years ago discussing how to play "September" with a single keyboard player, no horns? Someone attached a chart, including a description of how to use an octave brass patch for that "repeats an octave down" hook at the beginning. I've tried the internal forum search engine as well as google site:forums.musicplayer, but (as you might expect) either too many or too few results.

     

    Any help much appreciated - I've picked up a new sub gig from my old bass player in a few weeks, and want to make a good impression.

     

    Cheers, Mike.

    Help me downsize my rig

    in The Keyboard Corner

    Posted

    20 minutes ago, AnotherScott said:

    I think the Roland VR pianos/EPs are on the weak side

    Good point - although I think that applies more to the 71-key VR09. The VR730 has additional EPs not in the VR09, which make a difference.

     

    Cheers, Mike.

    Help me downsize my rig

    in The Keyboard Corner

    Posted

    5 minutes ago, The Piano Man said:

    Is the Jazz piano card a good upgrade? I certainly dislike the stock piano sound! 

    I struggled with the stock sound (it consistently got lost in the mix), but the Jazz Piano card has the ability to cut through.

     

    Cheers, Mike

    • Like 1

    Help me downsize my rig

    in The Keyboard Corner

    Posted

    Electro was my first thought, but 73/76 is the TP100 action. I wouldn't recommend that.

     

    Going through the other manufacturers:

    - Yamaha: CP73 is a solid choice for a hammer action, with internal PSU. MODX7 action might not meet your requirements for quality of action (also external PSU).

    - Roland: VR730 has a better action than the 61-key VR09, but external PSU. Don't know if it can do your layered-left hand requirement. Fantom-07 has external PSU

    - Korg: Vox Konti was an obvious call, but I don't know about layer-LH. External PSU. Nice sprung action, and light. Grandstage and SV1 are a little too heavy (37.5lb)

    - Kurzweil: PC4-7 external PSU, otherwise capable.

     

    Would the new Studiologic Numa X be of interest?

     

    Otherwise secondhand - Alesis QS7.1 with the Jazz Piano card was my go-to gigging board back in the day. 

     

    Cheers, Mike.

     

     

    Help me with the "Hotel California" solo?

    in The Keyboard Corner

    Posted

    I'm fortunate to be subbing with a one-guitar band, who play Hotel California - I get to play the 12-string acoustic intro on keys, and play the lower harmony part in the solo. I've got the basic broken-chord pattern (5:38) down without problems, but the two bars leading up to that (at 5:25 or so) are more difficult to pick out. I could probably bluff something, but like the OP in the "I want you back" thread, I want to get it right.

     

    Does anyone have anything that could help me work out specifically the lower harmony part? 

     

    Cheers, Mike.

    DOMi & JD Beck

    in The Keyboard Corner

    Posted

    2 hours ago, yannis D said:

    Of course, I agree. I like kids who can play an actual instrument with such perfection. But I have to say that most interesting music in our days is usually coming from guys who don't really know theory or have any kind of instrumental chops, or very few. 

    Got to disagree Yannis. The non-theory, non-instrument types tend to layer up a few four-bar loops (repetitive, so boring) and then add some sound-design stuff on top. I'd much hear something that evolves, ebbs and flows, and takes me on a musical journey.

     

    Cheers, Mike.

    Fastest lead sheets - hand or app?

    in The Keyboard Corner

    Posted

    21 hours ago, analogika said:

    One thing that really annoys me is that I haven't found any software solution that lets me freely combine notation and text.

     

    E.g. write out

    a hookline,

    an A Theme, and

    a B Theme, all with melody and chord changes. 

     

    Then free space to write as text 

    "A Theme (sin rep)" 
    "B Theme (organ solo)"

    "A Theme (with drum breaks)"

     

    Then another line of notation and chords for the C part

     

    Etc. 

     

    The way I work now is to take a sheet music lined blank PDF and write it out by hand on the iPad, directly in the Files app. 

     

    I'd really like to be able to just MIDI-record some of the more complex stuff for speed and combine computer notation with the above free layout. 

     

    Nothing seems to be able to do this, unless I arrange screen-shot notation and text with a layout program like Pages. 

    Yeah I like my charts to do this, and I use Sibelius in a fairly simple way to achieve it. I'd score "hookline", "A theme", "B Theme", and then use multiple bar rests for the subsequent times they appear, with added text above/underneath as appropriate. Then score the C part, and refer back to it if needed.

     

    Cheers, Mike.

    Space Station XL or Leslie 2121?

    in The Keyboard Corner

    Posted

    If your digital sim is good enough for you, and good enough for the audience, then it's good enough for the singer. It strikes me that the requirement here is for sidefill (otherwise just mix your keyboards into the singer's wedge), and you are being very kind by providing sidefill to the band. 

     

    So... cheap, light and small. Mackie Thump 12? Alto TX310? QSC CP10? Even some bargain-basement secondhand Behringer tat. 

     

    Cheers, Mike.

     

     

    • Like 2

    Pretty nervous about my first gig

    in The Keyboard Corner

    Posted

    36 minutes ago, Bill H. said:

    I second Dave's opinion on this. Drinking alcohol before a performance can quickly become a habit, and after awhile it becomes extremely difficult to disconnect playing before an audience from alcohol consumption. I speak from experience. I'd recommend sucking it up and doing it straight. 

    +2. I'm not anti-drink, but I find even the smallest drop of alcohol takes away from my performance in ways I wouldn't expect. Make sure you're relaxed in any event, by planning properly, arriving in plenty of time with spares for everything.

     

    Cheers, Mike.

    • Like 1
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