Layering // 5 secret weapons for keys players

[@allendunning272]

Fuller, kudos for bringing videos for keys plays to worship

[@allendunning272]

tutorials. I've been watching WT for several years and one of the best tips ever was from Brian Wahl about using "RehearsalMix" at multitracks.com to learn individual electric guitar parts. The same can be applied for learning individual keyboard parts. But just as with there being multiple electric guitar tracks/parts, each with different tones/pedal combinations on a song's verses, chorus, or bridge (which are handled as "snap shots" on the Helix), there are different keyboard patches/tones for the multiple tracks/parts - many of which have more than one patch/tone layered per track. Plus most churches only have one keyboard player, as opposed to two electric guitar players, to attempt to cover the parts live, that is if you're not running stems/tracks, which can suffer from audio deterioration when transposed more than a 1/2 step or two from their original key. Just listen to how the vocal timbre changes; the same happens for keyboard wav/mp3 files. If one "layers" the patches and plays chords in parallel beneath a lead/riff, for example a piano, a warm pad, and strings, you can end up with something similar to the joke from the movie Amadeus where the Emperor tells Mozart "there's just too many notes"; that is - your playing can end up quite different from the original mix/sound of the song. Here are some suggested topics that you might consider covering in future tutorials. Each of them are practical issues I've had to face when trying to prepare keyboard parts. 1. Matching/approximating the original patches/tones - Not all animals (pianos/synths) are equal; some are more equal than others. 2. Create non-parallel chords that can be played with one or two fingers, thereby freeing other fingers to play leads/riffs, which often have a completely different rhythm pattern. "Chord Trigger" in MainStage works here, but I use Ableton's MIDI Fx/Chords and Instrument Racks. 3. How to switch patches/tones for the different sections of a song, because in songs with several multiple tones the computer's CPU can become overloaded, and just lowering the volume slider isn't a fix. MainStage or Ableton most likely handles this issue differently. 3. How to use a an arpeggiator, including how to play independent riffs/leads with just one finger using the arpeggiator. "SundayKeys" had a MainStage tutorial on this. I use Omnisphere's arpeggiator, which can be applied differently to mutliple patches. 4. How to use "filters" and "envelopes" for patches/tones . 5. How to switch songs without having the patches/tones "drop out" or "hang up". I eagerly look forward to your future WT videos.

[@brianmichaelfuller]

@@allendunning272 Great stuff Allen! Yes, I have also dealt with all of these obstacle as well. I will definitely be addressing some of these things!!! Specifically, how to learn songs and "reduce" parts to make the song work and feel right!

[@allendunning272]

Just for fun I made a spread sheet matrix of the different patches/tones for the song sections of Elevation Worship's "Gone", which I'm currently preparing. On the "original recording" MultiTracks there are 4 keyboard tracks (really stems) plus a Synth Bass track. Assuming that the electric bass player is not going to be simultaneously playing the Moog Bass with a MIDI foot controller, this makes for a total of 5 tracks for the keyboard player to consider. But, there are actually 12 different patches/tones (at least that I can identify), which range from a minimum of 2 on Verse 1 up to 10 on Bridge 2. Definitely a challenge to attempt to play all of that "live", but also perhaps making an argument regarding the benefit of running stems/tracks with your worship band in the alternative.

[@ashmarch]

Awesome. I'm a guitar player.i always wanted to convey this to the keyboard player in our church. It explains clearly .. thanks for the resources. God bless

[@martinodelazzari6373]

Looking forward for the next installment of this series....,you guys keep up with the good work y'all are surely making a huge impact (at least in our team).

[@2ridin]

Second :) Seriously though, I appreciate all the resources you provide! Just bought a bunch of patches for my, new to me, Helix!

[@PhilipCarado]

Thank you. such a short video. yet, I learned a lot!

[@Diamond88keyz]

Would love for you to cover Pedal techniques when playing piano/pads/strings please🙂

[@Diamond88keyz]

Excellent lesson and teaching style.

[@chrismusico9601]

i wish you can do that in electric guitar as well. THANKS:)

[@asmundlunde7762]

Great video!

[@brianmichaelfuller]

Thanks! More on the way

[@Wells306]

What is this 'Key-bord' you speak of?? Is that a new version of Line 6 Helix to make my gortar sound even more like an ambient synthesizer???

[@worshiptutorials]

... yes 😂

[@freemandiaz5123]

Fuller!

[@brianmichaelfuller]

Freeman!!!

[@freemandiaz5123]

@@brianmichaelfuller Yeah, but I have not been MIA. Good to see you brother.

[@brianmichaelfuller]

Thanks!!! You’re about to see a lot more of me ha! More Keys Tutorials on the way!

[@elijahcoleman3193]

The Arturia though!!!

[@brianmichaelfuller]

YES!

[@PaulIsbell]

I’m an acoustic guitar guy but I’m looking into grabbing an Arturia for MIDI work in my home studio for songwriting.

[@PaulIsbell]

Would you guys at WT recommend it?

[@brianmichaelfuller]

Yes absolutely! I have 2 and love them!

[@dunbarcustomsound]

Brian Michael Fuller noice

[@fakepastorbaconchickeneati8965]

@@PaulIsbell can I have 1 😳

[@corandorios]

Nice

[@priscillachrisolite608]

Could you put more videos for key players?

[@brianmichaelfuller]

Yes. This is the beginning. This is part of a 6 video series that will be releasing over the next month

[@priscillachrisolite608]

Thank you !

[@stewartdoty3741]

Can you do a series like this for electric guitar?

[@deenamarie8024]

Fuller, is there a compatible app where I can make these sounds with my iPad and keyboard? I’m willing to pay for a lesson to help me set it up.

[@modestrhythm8422]

Is there a software that's similar to this for Windows OS? I'm trying to layer sounds like this while recording because I only have 8 tracks available in my DAW and would love to consolidated keys and pads and adding some strings would be pretty insane. Sadly I just don't have a mac OS machine for Mainstage.

[@keneokpareke1753]

Why not get a keyboard that can play multiple sounds at once with sliders for each sound?

[@RyanWright]

1:02 Some of us started out playing on a guitar.... lol

[@Beencouraged777]

Lol, I rember the knuckle playing..

[@Serge_17]

Hello What’s the name of that strings preset ?

[@racatolofficial]

how do i connect the pads to my keybard?

[@brianmichaelfuller]

Try our MainStage Pads Player. It was designed to maximize the use of pads live with triggers, cross fades and transparency control. www.worshiptutorials.com/mainstage-pads-player-patches/

[@Melissa-ju1pm]

Does that keylab88 have the sliders that would be managed on my laptop when using keystation88?

[@johnnycha-rach1112]

A year later and comment here is another piano video lol

[@emmanuelakoly9953]

Which keyboard is that?

[@chrisevanz]

Good introductory, thanks. The Ninja Attack adverts have done me in, though. I’ve unsubscribed

[@worshiptutorials]

Ninja attack advertisements? If you're referring to ads that Google/KZbin is showing you in the videos, those are typically based on your own browsing/viewing history - we don't have any control over those. You can use an ad blocker, or sign up for KZbin Premium, and you'll never see an ad again.

[@chrisevanz]

Worship Tutorials Thanks. Ninja as in they leap out mid sentence without warning - it’s usually ‘Do you want to play worship guitar’ (I don’t). I was a bit harsh - re-subscribed :)

[@worshiptutorials]

Ah yeah - the mid-roll ads can be a pain. I've been a KZbin premium subscriber for years. Every once in a while I watch a video while I'm signed out, and seeing ads just feels strange now, ha. That premium subscription is worth just to never see an ad again.

[@chrisevanz]

Worship Tutorials Thanks. I’ll think about that when Covid’s done and I’m back in work. Good content. The basics are really important ... and they’re not that basic ! It takes a lot of chops to play in church :)