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larry.fisherman
shoulda died already


Registered: 11/03/12
Posts: 36,294
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Keyboard/midi controller crash course for a non-noob 2
#26938645 - 09/16/20 09:23 AM (3 years, 4 months ago) |
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I got an Akai Pro MPK mini. I was hoping someone might be able give me some resources or some advice starting out. For reference I am what I would consider between intermediate and advanced for music theory knowledge, I've been playing guitar on and off for 13-14 years, just some tips/resources in getting used to a keyboard or midi controller in general would be helpful. Thanks
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psi
TOAST N' JAM


Registered: 09/05/99
Posts: 31,456
Loc: 613
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Re: Keyboard/midi controller crash course for a non-noob [Re: larry.fisherman]
#26938793 - 09/16/20 10:41 AM (3 years, 4 months ago) |
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Similar for me but coming from mostly mando like string instruments. A good starting point is trying to figure out some chord progressions you're familiar with on the other instrument. Or just chord scales too.
Haven't really been systematic about learning chords though. I want to at least learn the triads for every key. What I wanted to find was visual charts of every inversion of every major and minor chord.
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larry.fisherman
shoulda died already


Registered: 11/03/12
Posts: 36,294
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Re: Keyboard/midi controller crash course for a non-noob [Re: psi]
#26938832 - 09/16/20 11:16 AM (3 years, 4 months ago) |
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That's probably a good idea, the chord charts. I've used similar stuff with guitar, I have all kinds of handy printouts. I'm used to knowing my chord shapes, note placement, and how to build the chords so it didnt really occur to me that I should maybe just start from square one. When you say you want to know the triads because you need to muscle and visual memory or you need to know the theory? Because major triads and your chords are based around 1,3,5. Minor is a flat 3, diminished i think flat 3, flat 5. Augmented is a sharp 5 ect. You probably already know that though. It's a pretty clear pattern if you just write them out chromatically
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psi
TOAST N' JAM


Registered: 09/05/99
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Re: Keyboard/midi controller crash course for a non-noob [Re: larry.fisherman]
#26938949 - 09/16/20 12:40 PM (3 years, 4 months ago) |
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For Irish traditional accompaniment I use mostly just major and minor triads. The vii chord is usually an inversion of the V chord instead of a diminished chord. With the left hand I am usually playing one bass note but sometimes I play chords with both hands.
For noodling on the piano I just use the white keys. You can put your hand into the shape of a triad or inverted triad and wherever you place it, it will make some chord out of a C chord scale. And doing that kind of random placement with both hands, you are making some kind of higher order chord that can be derived from the C scale. Playing only on the white keys maybe is the closest to a fretted instrument for an easy transition at the start. And on a rig like yours you can probably just turn a dial to play in different keys.
On a mandolin (etc) fretboard I can visualize the relationships between notes a lot better. On a piano that kind of geometric understanding pretty much goes out the window (outside of playing in C) because of the irregular distribution of the white and black keys. But I can still use circle of fifths type intuition to know which chords I might play in some weird key with a lot of sharps or flats, it's just that I would not know any voicings of the chords. And sometimes there are recordings I would want to play along with except the tunes that would be in D are in Eb.
The other thing is that certain triads are a hassle ergonomically because of the mix of white and black keys. And my hands are a bit fucked up, so it's good to know what inversions of a given triad are easier to do.
At one point I was working fretboard stuff out on graph paper a lot. The augmented triad can be used as sort of a model for all the triads, and similar for the diminished 7th chord for 4-note chords. Because the notes are spaced at even intervals, so in effect they are their own inversions. So if you can say "you can make this from a diminished 7th chord by raising one note by a semitone" then you can generate chord shapes up the fretboard of higher inversions.
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Gypsy Boy
Redeemer



Registered: 03/17/17
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Re: Keyboard/midi controller crash course for a non-noob [Re: psi] 1
#26938965 - 09/16/20 12:48 PM (3 years, 4 months ago) |
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I got CODE49 keyboard
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Edited by Gypsy Boy (10/01/20 12:52 PM)
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zZZz
jesus



Registered: 12/28/07
Posts: 33,478
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Re: Keyboard/midi controller crash course for a non-noob [Re: larry.fisherman]
#26938976 - 09/16/20 12:51 PM (3 years, 4 months ago) |
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nice
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psi
TOAST N' JAM


Registered: 09/05/99
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Re: Keyboard/midi controller crash course for a non-noob [Re: Gypsy Boy] 1
#26938980 - 09/16/20 12:52 PM (3 years, 4 months ago) |
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Don't think I have pics on here but I have a pretty basic Yamaha electric piano (NP-32) and a huge late 70s Yamaha synth (SK30). These days I have just been playing the piano though.
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Gypsy Boy
Redeemer



Registered: 03/17/17
Posts: 4,501
Loc: Deep in the discoteka
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Re: Keyboard/midi controller crash course for a non-noob [Re: psi] 1
#26938982 - 09/16/20 12:54 PM (3 years, 4 months ago) |
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I really gotta start putting hours into music making, it was my resolution this year, so far i havent done shit, distracted by covid and other shit
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zZZz
jesus



Registered: 12/28/07
Posts: 33,478
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Re: Keyboard/midi controller crash course for a non-noob [Re: psi] 1
#26938991 - 09/16/20 12:56 PM (3 years, 4 months ago) |
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shout out to irish music yo
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Gypsy Boy
Redeemer



Registered: 03/17/17
Posts: 4,501
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Last seen: 2 months, 25 days
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Re: Keyboard/midi controller crash course for a non-noob [Re: larry.fisherman]
#26939032 - 09/16/20 01:16 PM (3 years, 4 months ago) |
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Quote:
larry.fisherman said: I got an Akai Pro MPK mini.
Looks like a neat little controller, can take it anywhere with u
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psi
TOAST N' JAM


Registered: 09/05/99
Posts: 31,456
Loc: 613
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Re: Keyboard/midi controller crash course for a non-noob [Re: Gypsy Boy]
#26963782 - 10/01/20 12:29 PM (3 years, 3 months ago) |
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Think larry is banned right now but I found this site that is pretty useful. Scheming on some ideas of doing something similar with js and svg that incorporates some ideas around chord scales.
https://www.pianochord.org/
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