Keyboard backing

[Pee Dee]

Hi all
Just made a revelation! I am self-taught for three years now, mostly on my own in the spare bedroom,
with backing and playalong discs. That's ok except you have to play strictly to the written music, at the same tempo with no time to pause for a bar or two. If there are bars for improvising, that's how many bars you can improvise, play more and you're back into the tune again. Maybe you prefer to play in another key, but you can't, 'cos it will clash with the music on the disc. You're tied, a slave to the recorded music. But, I have a keyboard, which I was gonna learn to play, but lack of co-ordination between me hands made me give that up, so it's been gathering dust. Then I had an idea, the keyboard has a backing facility! Set the tempo, set the style, set the key and away you go! I now find my improvising is improving, and also my timing. Much better than the metronome!
So you fellow novices, if you got a keyboard, give it a try.;}

 

[JasonC]

Funny you should mention this as I was just about to buy a keyboard for this reason and to also help me learn a little more about music, plus I have some written music that I don't have any backing tracks for so, it would be good if I could play at least a simplified version of the song to play along to on sax.

I have recently bought a Korg Kaossilator which I have been using instead of a metronome as its much more interesting to listen to than the beep beep beep! you can set the tempo, key etc, then you just create a couple of backing sounds on it which takes seconds and away you go.

 

[visionari1]

Awesome bit of kit the kaossilater, do you put it through any amp etc?
I've seen it used very creatively.
Ciao
Jimu

 

[JasonC]

You can play it through an amp, but at the moment I just play it through some amplified monitor speakers.
I haven't had it long so I haven't done anything too creative on it yet, although you can create some great little beats very quickly and easily, and the sounds are just amazing.

 

[thomsax]

A good way to learn and practise if you can't make it for a band rehearsal or a jam .... . I use the keyboard often. Last time we played the hornparts (trp, ts and trb) to "Unchain My Heart" (Joe Cocker version with a solo). You can use a laptop, USB or a CD. It's very easy. You can get the music as a MP3 file, download it to the computer ..... .
I ran the keyboard through a small PA with a sub bass. I use a 300 w amp, a 16 channel mixer, two 12" speakers, an active sub bass and a Casio keyboard. If I need a microphone I blow into a Shure SM57. Nothing fancy. I like the "live feeling" instead of headphones. So my practising room is more like a performance/live room instead of a recording studio.

Thomas

 

[old git]

A good way to learn and practise if you can't make it for a band rehearsal or a jam .... . I use the keyboard often. Last time we played the hornparts (trp, ts and trb) to "Unchain My Heart" (Joe Cocker version with a solo). You can use a laptop, USB or a CD. It's very easy. You can get the music as a MP3 file, download it to the computer ..... .
I ran the keyboard through a small PA with a sub bass. I use a 300 w amp, a 16 channel mixer, two 12" speakers, an active sub bass and a Casio keyboard. If I need a microphone I blow into a Shure SM57. Nothing fancy. I like the "live feeling" instead of headphones. So my practising room is more like a performance/live room instead of a recording studio. Thomas

Reduces my Yamaha 9000 Pro and ordinary computer amplifier, speakers and bass unit to kid's stuff.

BTW:-Kaossilator owners, which is better, the yellow or pink version?

 

[JasonC]

old git, the Yellow and Pink versions are exactly the same, but you will probably pick up the Pink version cheaper as they are less popular. There is also a Kaossilator Pro out this month which is a lot better but 3x the price!

 

[kevgermany]

old git, the Yellow and Pink versions are exactly the same, but you will probably pick up the Pink version cheaper as they are less popular. There is also a Kaossilator Pro out this month which is a lot better but 3x the price!

Methinks OG is waiting for someone to say the Pink verion is better value for money and give reasons - cos the pink will go with his decor, and he wants a better excuse.

So creative thinking time, why would a pink one work better for OG, but don't mention the decor.