Daves Blog

It’s a while since I posted any of my attempts to play music and so here’s one I learnt recently. She, made famous originally by Charles Aznavour who incidentally wrote the words but then also by Elvis Costello who had great success with it partly because of it’s use in the film Notting Hill. One of my all time favourite films by the way.

The audio was recorded to the Tyros 2’s HD recorder and then I re-synchronised it with the video. This always seems to give better results on YouTube.

All the styles and voices were programmed into registrations and then switched on the foot switch as usual nowadays.

Also, the quality of the mp3 is much better than the YouTube video so if you care about that, please listen to the mp3. The video is just of my playing with no special effects, slide show or any other enhancements.

Anyway, hope you like it.

It’s a while since I posted anything about my music but just yesterday I switched on the Tyros 2 only to notice it’s display had developed a fault. Odd how things like that happen. It was perfectly OK the last time I played it.

A call to Yamaha tech support in the UK confirmed it was a hardware fault with the screen. Fortunately it has a 2 year warranty and so I called Andertons in Guildford where I purchased it. Absolutely no quibble, they arrange immediately for it to be collected today and will get it repaired, by Yamaha, under warranty. Excellent service.

Of course it means now I don’t have my keyboard and I don’t know how long it will be away for, so good job I have the bikes to keep me occupied.

Inspired by the last night of the Proms, this is my version of this popular tune. There’s no multi tracking in this or other tricks and it’s played exactly as you hear it which of course, I’m sure, isn’t perfect at all. I used the Tyros 2 Orchestral March style but as usual spent some time choosing the instruments, balances, combinations etc. As usual I then programmed them all into registrations which I then switch with a switch pedal so I don’t have to be too ambitious with my hands.

As is the accepted way, I started the tune at a steady pace but then increased the tempo as it progresses. I’ve included just a few topical pictures in the video but it is mostly me playing and there’s also some out takes, for amusement, at the end.

As always the sound quality of the mp3 is significantly better than that of the video so if you care about the sound and the subtleties in it, then please also listen to the mp3.

I’m sure it’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but I had a lot of fun playing it and so I hope those interested enjoy it. I am and always will be simply amazed at this instrument that enables me to make such a noise… it’s almost unbelievable.

It’s a while since I posted any of my music, well, if you can call it that. Anyhow this is a simple tune made famous by Elvis Presley and it meant I could put together a little video combining my three favourite things in life… Music, Bikes and… well, see for yourself.

Hope you enjoy it. It’s just for fun.

I should add though that I am absolutely not condoning some of the actions in some of the pictures. I personally think that any beautiful girl that actually goes riding on a motorcycle while wearing a bikini is plain stupid. Any motorcycle rider that takes one is careless and thoughtless beyond belief. If any of these girls are in need of a Teddy Bear… well, they only have to ask lol.

Here is Johnny B. Goode Take 2. I’ve spent some time with this trying to pick the right instruments, adjusting the harmonisation where appropriate and levels to suit each one. This makes the backing style stand out more. I also played this at 166bpm which I feel does make it more entertaining as an instrumental even if it would probably now sound a little ridiculous if sung. The mp3 sounds much better than the video audio as usual.

Anyhow, hope you enjoy it.

A little background…

I came in for some criticism on a Yamaha keyboard forum that I frequent for my last version of Johnny B. Goode. I’m always open to constructive criticism in anything I do even though one individual there only criticised in a belittling manner. Still, that’s his problem, not mine, and who knows maybe he doesn’t mean to come across that way. Some people liked it, but others, the more purists and traditionalists didn’t, and it seems especially that they didn’t like it being played with more of a ’swing’ style.

It was suggested that it was far too slow and needed more padding out. Well let’s see… Chuck Berry performed the original at 148bpm and I played it at 144 so I don’t really think that can be called far too slow. I think the problem here is that it’s been performed faster by other people since then and so nowadays, especially those who don’t know better or are not a good judge of music timing think it’s meant to be really fast. As for more padding out, well, that’s subjective. Many keyboard players do pad music too much in my opinion to make up for the lack of vocals. On my previous version I had the keyboard doing some harmonising (playing more than one note at once) and can count some 9 different instruments in it. 5 more than most live bands who perform this have lol.

You know it’s an odd thing. When I watch these videos back they always make it look as though performing it was easy. I suppose in a way it is, but the video doesn’t show the hours that go into the preparation. Style and voice selection, timing, settings, registrations, change sequence etc. It also doesn’t help for the video that I now do all my changes on a foot pedal and so again it looks like I really don’t have to do much. I suppose in a way that is the aim… a great sounding live performance with as little complex moves required as possible.

I decided to play around a little with some voices that I wouldn’t normally play and experiment, just a little, with the pitch bend wheel etc. Up until now I’ve always stayed clear of such styles and voices as I really didn’t know what to do with them. In other words played it safe. I thoroughly enjoyed playing this though so watch out for more lol.

Original words and music by Chuck Berry.

Hope you enjoy it.

As anyone who knows me knows, or perhaps from reading this blog regularly you’ll have realised I have more interests than just motorcycling, although that will always be my biggest interest. I’ve been trying to maintain separate sites for my interests but it’s all becoming a bit unmanageable, especially with having so much work to deal with as well. Therefore I’ve decided to combine them all into the blog.

At the moment that really means my interests of motorcycling and playing keyboards but it gives me the scope and flexibility to add more in the future if I want to. For example I also have interest in flying radio controlled model helicopters and I have another site to share my interest in the Jaguar X350 (New XJ) model car.

I’ve restructured some of the categories so that you don’t have to read about anything you don’t want to. For example, if all you’re interested in are motorcycles then click the ‘Bikes’ category and likewise the ‘Music’ category will list only those posts relating to music. I’ve also made sure the sub categories are retained so you can easily select posts within those main categories. For example ‘Web Performances’ will list only those posts containing my keyboard performance attempts posted here whereas ‘Goldwing Bling’ will list only those posts referencing any bling I’ve added to my Goldwing.

Obviously I hope this won’t detract from anyone’s enjoyment of the site and I hope it makes sense. It certainly does to me.

Would just like to wish everyone who reads my blog a very happy new year for 2008. I hope it brings everything you want. Apart from the obvious health, wealth and happiness for me I’d love to have a more prolonged summer… not too hot, but nicely warm with dry roads all over Europe so we can get some serious touring in. I wonder what it will really be like this year?

This is my rendition of Auld Lang Syne. I was experimenting with the Tyros 2 and its AI Full Keyboard chord detection as well solo instrument selection when playing the full keyboard. I deliberately played it slightly slower than normal for a dramatic effect which becomes most apparent as the electric guitar is introduced in the third verse.

Words by Robert Burns (1759-1796). Melody: Traditional.

The video contains real time samples of the Tyros 2’s screen to show the AI chord selection, voice selection, volume levels etc. I also tried something a little different with the audio recording on this. I recorded it as a MIDI file on the keyboard at the same time as shooting the video and then played the MIDI file back while recording on the Tyros 2’s HD recorder for subsequent synchronisation with the video. This seemed to be much easier as it is definitely easier to restart MIDI recording than it is to restart recording on the HD recorder.

I wish everyone a very happy, successful and prosperous 2008.

After some research I’ve taken a bit of a chance and ordered a dual radio microphone set from a seller on eBay. I managed to find the manufacturer of these and the specs look to be quite good.

The seller on eBay was selling them for the best price I could find and so it made sense to order from there.

I thought that getting a set up with two mics would make sense for future village events as well as my own performances and so I hope they do really perform well. Of course I’ll be posting more about them when I receive them and get to test them out.

So yesterday was the big day. My first public performance for what must be 30 years and I’m actually very happy with the way it went.

Firstly my speaker stand spacers from Chamberlain Music did arrive in the morning post and then in the afternoon Meike and I went to the manor house to set up for the evening. It was pretty easy to set everything up although I realised I will need longer speaker leads than the supplied 5m ones and a quick sound check playing a midi file through the keyboard sounded very good. In fact I was surprised to hear pretty deep bass notes from the PA system.

As I suspected I was asked to set up in a corner almost, which I think I prefer anyway… that way people can see me actually playing rather than me having to look at them and likewise them having to look at me lol. It was also agreed with the host that I would just be playing some appropriate music for 30 to 45 minutes to give the local brass band a break. So, no show to put on as such other than me playing.

When the time arrived I switched everything on and just played. It was very difficult to know if the volume was correct as it was pretty deafening to me but early on Meike’s dad came over and turned the volume up even more. Amazing really how much noise people can make just by talking or rather shouting at each other.

I made a few mistakes but non that forced me to have to stop and start again and I received applause at the end of each piece. I did feel a bit isolated where I was and couldn’t be sure many were really watching but I received a lot of positive comments afterwards and secured a second booking for the middle of the year lol. It was great to surprise a few village folk who thought they already knew everything about everyone.

I learnt some lessons from it…

Firstly, when you’ve spent a few hours making settings to suit the PA system don’t forget to select them. Yep, I left the keyboard set up for it’s home speakers and while I was impressed with the sound from the PA feel it would have been better with the right settings selected.

Secondly don’t be frightened to turn the volume up and lastly I need a new microphone! I didn’t need to use it at all but I lent it to someone for the raffle and it fed back much too easily. It’s an old radio mic and I don’t think a particularly expensive one so I obviously need to replace it with something newer and more suited to a vocal environment.

Overall though a great experience that I thoroughly enjoyed.