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Conference napalm::commusic_v1

Title:	* * Computer Music, MIDI, and Related Topics * *
Notice:	Conference has been write-locked. Use new version.
Moderator:	DYPSS1::SCHAFER

Created:	Thu Feb 20 1986
Last Modified:	Mon Aug 29 1994
Last Successful Update:	Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:	2852
Total number of notes:	33157

1417.0. "Pitch Bend Techniques..." by JAWS::COTE (Read it and weep...) Thu May 26 1988 12:22

Last night I "discovered" a technique I had so much fun with I
thought I'd share it. Actually, the inspiration was right outta
Keyboard magazine, but it was great to come up with a real
application...

Anyone read the columns on pitch bending technique???

While working on a cover of Ronstadt's "Blue Bayou" I felt the
straight electric piano part could use a little oomph during the
solo. Listening closely, you can hear pedal steel/slide guitar
playing, and since this is a 'kinda' C&W tune, I thought a little
bit of that 'essence' might be just the kicker, so I "invented"
the....

           (drum roll please....)
    
     
    
    
    
    

                       Pedal Steel Electric Piano!!!
    
    
    
    
    

What I did...

Some of the Yamaha DX series have a fairly sophisticated pitch bend
architecture. Not only can you set the range of the bend in semitones,
you can use one of three different modes; HI, where only the highest 
note held down bends, LO, where only the the lowest note held down
bends, and KON (Key-ON) where everyone held down bends. Notes held
by a sustain pedal aren't affected. 

I set the DX up to bend the highest note 2 semitones...

During the solo only 2 chords are used, B6 and F#. With the PB wheel in
the neutral position I voiced the B6 as F#-G#-B-*C#*. Not D#, C#. As 
soon as I hit the chord though, a nudge of the PB wheel bends the C# up 
to a D#. As time draws near to grab the F# chord, releasing the C# 
(which is bent to a D#) causes the held B to become the highest note
and consequently *that* note bends to C#, setting you up to voice the
F# chord as F#-A#-B(bent to C#). Playing around with the chord voicings
and releasing the wheel to neutral gave some pretty nice effects. 

Even though a Pedal Steel Piano isn't a real instrument, use of the
technique gave just a little more C&W flavor to an otherwise fairly
mundane piano part.

T'was fun...

Edd

T.R	Title	User	Personal Name	Date	Lines
1417.1	You know, The Poison Ivy	DRUMS::FEHSKENS		`Tue May 31 1988 10:57`	4
	Edd, you been smokin' that stuff in your backyard again? len.
1417.2	I have grass in my backyard. Clover too!!	JAWS::COTE	Read it and weep...	`Tue May 31 1988 11:19`	8
	To make matters worse, I spent about 3 hours working up a pedal-steel patch for the DX!! Could this mean I'm starting to like C&W?? {gasp!} Edd
1417.3	signed, a closet country music fan	20981::EATOND	Where is he when the music stops?	`Tue May 31 1988 16:03`	10
	RE < Note 1417.2 by JAWS::COTE "Read it and weep..." > > To make matters worse, I spent about 3 hours working up a pedal-steel > patch for the DX!! Hey, if you come up with anything good, share it with us, please. I've been looking for a good pedal steel patch for quite some time. Dan
1417.4	Hey, listen to this....twang.....???	JAWS::COTE	Read it and weep...	`Tue May 31 1988 16:17`	6
	I'll let you know how good it is after I spring it at rehearsal tonite... Edd
1417.5	Live Edd?	AQUA::ROST	Lizard King or Bozo Dionysius?	`Tue May 31 1988 17:13`	13
	Re: .4 Rehearsal ????? Tell me more..... ....is this for the much-rumored Steely Dan reuinion tour??? 8^) 8^) 8^) 8^)
1417.6		MIZZOU::SHERMAN	Baron of Graymatter	`Tue May 31 1988 22:52`	7
	Sorry to go back to the topic, but ... In my Commusic V submission I did a thin out of the pitch bending in a couple of places. It seemed to add a neat effect when it was 'over-thinned'. Steve
1417.7	Bend it, bend it, show me you can do it...	JAWS::COTE	Look!! Eeet eees BASSOON!	`Tue Jul 05 1988 10:08`	16
	Hmmmm, seems I've run into a dilemma. What does one do when the music requires both hands on the keyboard AND a pitch bend down 3 semitones?? ("Playing 'These Dreams' by Heart, eh, Edd?", "Gee, how'd ya guess?") It's gotta be real time, so a sequencer is my last resort. Aftertouch is out as the Mirage doesn't support it. BC would be just too cool, but I'd have some serious re-mapping to do, as the Mirage doesn't support that either. (What does the Mirage support? The DX21...). A pedal would be OK... Any other suggestions? I'm leaning towards having an idle guitarist run the wheel while I transpose up... Edd
1417.8	Don't hose me for this	DREGS::BLICKSTEIN	Yo!	`Tue Jul 05 1988 10:19`	13
	A pedal seems like the best way. But going for the prize in the creativity contest: 1. Create a special patch that uses envelopes to do the bend. We did "These Dreams" at Summerjam and if I recall correctly the tune leaves plenty of room for a program change after the bends. Eh.... Get the friggin' CV pedal. db ;-)
1417.9	Is that anything like 'Beautiful Dreamer?'	AKOV68::EATOND	Where d' heck a' we!	`Tue Jul 05 1988 10:27`	11
	Do you REALLY need to have both hands playing at once? In an ensemble, Can't the other instruments (especially bass guit.) carry what would be played by the left hand? Admittedly, I don't know the song that you're trying to play... How's about hitting the chord, hitting the SUSTAIN pedal and freeing up your hands? Dan
1417.10	"Don't Dream (It's Over)" was easier than this...	JAWS::COTE	Look!! Eeet eees BASSOON!	`Tue Jul 05 1988 11:09`	18
	Well, since I've layered 5(!) voices from 4 seperate synths to do the part, a custom PEG-bent patch won't cut it... good idea though. Actually, it's not the actual bend that's giving me gas, it's the chord immediately following it. It bends from a Bm(no 3rd) to a G#m, which I never actual play. I just bend to it. The problem is I need my hand back at the keyboard and have to hold the wheel down while setting up for the next chord... Having some other members cover a couple notes may work, but I'd get a whole lotta satisfaction outta doing it myself... Can't I just throw some money at it? There must be something I can buy!! Maybe the new LERDS-BIM footpedal to wheel linkage retrofit!!! Edd
1417.11	$$$ to throw, eh?	DYO780::SCHAFER	Brad - DTN 433-2408	`Tue Jul 05 1988 11:20`	3
	Buy a Fairlight. &*}