When I set out to create my two-man band, it wasn’t out of
synth-driven inspiration—it was purely based on economics. Most gigs
leave me with just enough money for one man, and that man is me!
However, after years of playing solo shows, I started getting bored being
up there all by my lonesome. So I asked myself, “How can I get the
biggest sound out of the smallest amount of people?” Fifty feet of MIDI
cable later, my two-headed beast was born. As my music is piano-based,
and nearly all the sounds on my album The Planeteer were made by
keyboards, I figured I’d be able to replicate most of the parts, including
the bass, myself. The only other musician I’d need was a drummer.
Between the two of us and some key pieces of gear, we were able to
bring to life the sounds I worked so hard to create on record.
New York- and London-based singer, songwriter, and keyboardist Julian Velard guests this month, with a primer on being half of a keyboard-and drums duo. His new album The Planeteer, a collection of keyboard-driven pop, is available at iTunes. Scroll down for audio examples and other web extras.
My keyboard sound consists of three parts: a piano bed, a bass part,
and a layer. My main instrument is a Yamaha CP33, which I use for
my base piano sound and as a MIDI controller. The CP33 has 14 programmable
presets, which I configure for my two external synths: a
Nord Electro 2 Rack and Nord Rack 2X—the rack version of the Nord
Lead 2X. I use the Electro mainly for Rhodes and Clav sounds, leaving
the Rack 2X with the heavy synth lifting. Each one of the 2X’s four outputs
(I only use three) can be assigned its own sound and MIDI channel.
By splitting the CP33 into two zones, I have the bass zone routed
on MIDI channel 1 to output A of the Rack 2X, which holds my bass
sounds. I combine the remaining two outputs with the Electro to create
my layer sound. I route the three signals through a Morley ABC
switch, then into a Boss Chromatic Tuner I use for its bypass feature. I
set up the Morley pedal before each song and use the Tuner to pop the
layer in and out of song sections.
All the other necessary parts and loops are trigged by my drummer,
Adam Christgau, from a Roland SPD-S. The SPD-S acts as the
third member of our band, filling out our sound. As you’ll see in the
following examples, all this gear is an essential part of making this
two-man band rock.
Click sheet music thumbnails for larger versions. Audio examples are at bottom of page.
Ex. 1. “Joni”
This is a good illustration of how I use my setup for a full spectrum from bass to high end. I start the verse with just the piano and
my bass sound: a blend of the Nord Rack 2X and an auto-wah Clav on the Electro. I have to change the Electro’s MIDI receive
channel to 1, as it’s normally set to channel 2 for the right hand of the piano. For the chorus, I add the layer, a synth pizzicato string,
by tapping the B button on the Morley pedal—the Boss tuner bypass stays off for this whole song. This is an example of a verse
leading into a chorus.
Ex. 2. “Love Again For The First Time”
This uses the same principle as “Joni,” but this time, the layer in the chorus consists of two parts: a bell-like Rhodes from the
Electro (now switched back to MIDI channel 2) and a swelling synth pad from the Nord Rack 2X. It really gives the track an
uplifting effect.
Ex. 3. “Me and My Mirror On A Saturday Night”
Here’s an example of what my keyboard rig sounds like with tracks from the Roland SPD-S. In each section, I’m popping in
more and more sounds. Some of the synth sounds are coming off the SPD-S, but the main lead is my right hand doubled by a
high piano sound. Along with a fat bass sound from the Nord Rack 2X, I’m able to recreate the track live.
Ex. 4. “Take the Money and Run”
On my record, this song has an old-school brass arrangement à la Bugsy Malone. I really wanted to get the silliness in there, so I went
for the most tuba-like synth bass I could find. I pair this with funky upright piano sounds, tweaked with a bit of a synthesized edge.
- Audio examples - refer to sheet music above, or on pp. 24-26 of the August 2010 issue.