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Covering the song "Drive" by The Cars


Synthoid

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I'm sure some of our members are Cars fans... I'd like to perform "Drive" with the band sometime and was looking for recommendations. From what I remember, there are several synth parts going on simultaneously at various times--do you actually play them all or just the ones that stand out?

 

 

When an eel hits your eye like a big pizza pie, that's a Moray.
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1. Bass line is a synth, right?

2. Then there's the synth part that sounds like an Oberheim with the filters at a fairly high Q and a kinda slow attack and slow decay that gives it a wah sound.

3. There is also a synth pad underneath it all.

4. There is a synth playing what I describe as a flute part.

 

Somebody help me here. I think I hear at least four more distinct synth parts. Particularly the one in the bridge. But I'm listening through the speakers in my laptop.

 

BTW, the power went off in my neighborhood. Wife has a Thanksgiving pie in the oven. Internet is connected to a UPS and I'm using battery power on my MacBook Air. :cool:

 

 

 

"Music expresses that which cannot be put into words and that which cannot remain silent." - Victor Hugo
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This would be a cool cover, if you can get the arrangements right to spread around amongst other (non-keys-playing) members of the band.

 

With the right effects combos, the bass and guitar could handle a number of those "patches", giving you a fighting chance to get the rest. Our band has the luxury of two keyboardists, so it'd be a breeze for us. :D

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I've done the song covering 3 synth parts with a guitar player who had a synth pedal covering a fourth. Great song. Ben Orr (singer) is a stud. There were many other things going on but I had a hard enough time covering the three that I was responsible for.

Steve

 

www.seagullphotodesign.com

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Our band has the luxury of two keyboardists, so it'd be a breeze for us. :D

 

It's hard enough finding someone around here that knows what a synth is, let alone how to program and play one.

 

:(

When an eel hits your eye like a big pizza pie, that's a Moray.
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Other than the drums, is there anything in that song that ISN'T a synth?

 

That's why I like that song so much.

 

:thu:

 

Ditto....but I wouldn't want to cover it.

 

I'm going to listen to it a few more times and decide, but I already created the bell sound and have some tasty pads on the Triton that would work well.

When an eel hits your eye like a big pizza pie, that's a Moray.
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I read that the drummer almost quit the band because the producer, Mutt Lange, recorded all the drums parts with a Fairlight for the "Heartbeat City" album, without letting him play much of anything,

 

I didn't know that Mutt Lange was in on some of the Cars stuff. Man that guy shows up everywhere.

Steve

 

www.seagullphotodesign.com

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I'm going to listen to it a few more times and decide, but I already created the bell sound and have some tasty pads on the Triton that would work well.

 

I think if there's parts that you really have to listen for, then no one will notice if you don't cover them. We're doing Come Sail Away this weekend (inside band joke) and although I'm covering 90% of the parts in the instrumental section, I don't have enough hands to do them all, so I'm focusing on the bits that stand out. In your case it might be a little harder to whittle those parts down.

Bonne chance.

What we record in life, echoes in eternity.

 

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I didn't know that Mutt Lange was in on some of the Cars stuff. Man that guy shows up everywhere.
Tell that to Shania.

"I'm so crazy, I don't know this is impossible! Hoo hoo!" - Daffy Duck

 

"The good news is that once you start piano you never have to worry about getting laid again. More time to practice!" - MOI

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I do this tune in one of my bands.

 

I use my upper board (PEK) to do the soft brass, which I play with my right hand when it's not doing the bells. I use the PC3 to do the pads and bells. The pad is layered so that when I do the counter melody in the second and third verses I can bring in another sound with velocity - I hold down the pads with my outside fingers, then hit those few notes with my middle two.

 

We also double the vocal patches with real "las" and "bas".

 

dB

:snax:

 

:keys:==> David Bryce Music • Funky Young Monks <==:rawk:

 

 

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Our band has the luxury of two keyboardists, so it'd be a breeze for us. :D

 

It's hard enough finding someone around here that knows what a synth is, let alone how to program and play one.

 

:(

 

Well, I should clarify. Our singer is a casual piano player, but I can get enough out of her to handle some synth passages when I need a second board in the mix. She'll be doing the piano parts on "Conquistador" while I handle the strings and the Hammond (and singing...), for example.

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I believe the synth was a NED Synclavier, anyone know for certain?

 

I seem to recall seeing a picture or video of Greg Hawkes playing a Synclavier at one time, yes. Guess I'll have to drive out to Chicago and pick up the one selling for $1500 on Craigslist.

 

:laugh:

 

 

When an eel hits your eye like a big pizza pie, that's a Moray.
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I do this tune in one of my bands.

 

I use my upper board (PEK) to do the soft brass, which I play with my right hand when it's not doing the bells. I use the PC3 to do the pads and bells. The pad is layered so that when I do the counter melody in the second and third verses I can bring in another sound with velocity - I hold down the pads with my outside fingers, then hit those few notes with my middle two.

 

Thanks Dave... makes sense to create some layered sounds to fill in the gaps of what I can't actually play.

 

:thu:

 

When an eel hits your eye like a big pizza pie, that's a Moray.
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