Another little ditty

[ClavinovaGuy]

I had posted this the other day, but my thread disappeared somehow. A friend from San Antonio wrote this song, called "Walk Away". I added a piano track for him last weekend. Nothing fancy, playing-wise - just a nice, mellow tune.

Walk Away (http://www.digitalsoundplanet.com/Members/000079721_000006961.mp3)

[Howard]

Your post seemed to disappear after I posted a reply. I hope it wasn't anything I did:(

Anyway, another great tune. Would love to hear some more of your midi files. I find I can learn a lot by playing along and looking at how tracks have been played - especially drum tracks as I find this difficult as a non-drummer. Any tips you have or internet resources that you know of on (keyboard) drum techniques would be really appreciated.

Keep posting those tunes. I listened to the tune you have posted here by downloading it at work and transferring it to a Pocket PC and then listened to it on the bus on the way home!!!:D :D :D

[ClavinovaGuy]

Thanks very much, Howard! I don't know of any keyboard drumming resources off the top of my head, but I'll keep my eyes open. All I can offer is to practice and get the feel of it. I was a drummer way back in high school, so I have a pretty good idea of what I'm after, but the technique on the keyboard takes some getting used to.

Start with something you're familiar with that has an easy beat. You may find it easier to do separate tracks for the kick, snare, cymbals, etc. I tend to do most of these in a single track, as the keyboard is laid out fairly logically for the main drum track. I do bass and snare with my left hand, and cymbals and tom-toms with my right. If needed, I'll go back and create additional tracks for other drum sounds.

I'm working on a new cut of Elton's "Tiny Dancer" - I'll post the midi for that one when I'm done. It has some semi-intricate drumming in it.

[ClavinovaGuy]

I dug up a short piece I wrote recently as part of a collaboration - it's a jazz waltz thingy. Here's an mp3 of the last segment of it:

http://www.digitalsoundplanet.com/Members/000015908_000007152.mp3

and here's the midi (it goes through the progression 3 times, with the flute over just the last one):

http://webpages.charter.net/bradpreston/COI2.MID

For the drum track on this one, I recorded the main drums on track 2, and added a second brush swirl track on 3, then merged them to track 10 and deleted 2 and 3. And in typical fashion, I neglected to set the time signature properly - it's still 4/4.

One technique thing came to mind - you want to try to avoid things that a real drummer can't do. For example, a drummer can't use both hands on the snare or toms while continuing to play a riding cymbal. Unless he was born too close to a nuclear power plant and has 3 arms.

[Howard]

Thanks for the advice and the files you have posted. Who knows, perhaps one day I'll be able to post something myself - but you have set a very high standard!!

Look forward to hearing Tiny Dancer soon.

[ClavinovaGuy]

Thanks again, Howard - much appreciated! I dug up another mid - this is a rendition of Elton's "Take Me To The Pilot" I did a while back. I think I had posted it at the old site, too, but don't recall for sure.

http://webpages.charter.net/bradpreston/Pilot.MID

I have 3 drum tracks on this one (2, 3 and 4). A little sloppy around bar 94-104 - I should go back and fix it up someday.