www.shortscale.org

Freddy V-C

I've had an idea for making drones when playing keyboard. I think I'm gonna buy a couple of capos, the kind that clip straight on without any adjustment like this...

...and then use them to clamp down certain keys on my keyboard. I've tried lodging a plectrum between the keys, and it works pretty well, but the plectrum does slip out occasionally. Capos would probably be a more costly solution, but I'm thinking they'll probably do a better job.

Surely this must have been done before? Somebody please tell me why it's a bad idea.
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Zack · . Joined: 09 Nov 2008 Posts: 700 Location: Chicago

I don't see why it wouldn't work, other than the capo not having enough grip / area to grip.

Not interested in trying loopers, a delay or a freeze on the keyboard?

Bacchus · Posted: Sun Oct 04, 2015 11:25 pm Post subject:

Would weights be an easier/cheaper/more movable solution? Like, fishing weights or something?
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Thomas · . Joined: 09 Oct 2008 Posts: 3297 Location: Glasgow, UK

Check if your keyboard has a hold key function Freddy.

stewart · Posted: Mon Oct 05, 2015 10:14 am Post subject:

Keith Emerson did it with knives, but he's a prick.
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Jagtornado · . Joined: 16 Jun 2015 Posts: 167

There must be an easier way to do this What about small stickers with the notes on them attached to the keys

Bacchus · Posted: Mon Oct 05, 2015 10:27 am Post subject:

Actually yeah, strips of tape.
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Fakir Mustache · . Joined: 25 Sep 2013 Posts: 4089

I've seen kink do it on youtube with tape.

You could also get an AS-606: lank

NickD · Posted: Mon Oct 05, 2015 11:47 am Post subject:

What about something like this?

Freddy V-C · Posted: Mon Oct 05, 2015 9:12 pm Post subject:

I've been experimenting with plectrums and tape already. Literally 'clamping' the keys down with a capo seemed like a more reliable solution. Anyway, I bought one today and it didn't work out how I expected. So there's a tenner down the drain, ha... Sticking with tape for the time being, I reckon. A debit card works pretty well too, but that definitely isn't very sensible. My keyboard definitely doesn't have a hold function. It's a Yamaha PSR-210 which I picked up for £10 at Cash Converters.

Thanks for finding my new avatar, Nick.
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Concretebadger · Posted: Mon Oct 05, 2015 9:31 pm Post subject:

The best solution I can think of as a fellow charity shop keyboard owner involves the head of a toffee hammer (or something similarly compact and heavy) and some blu-tac. Laughing

I understand what you're trying to do here, but I got around it by overdubbing and trying not to think about how I'd recreate it live with only one pair of hands. I'd probably use an EXH Freeze, if it came to it.

robroe · Posted: Mon Oct 05, 2015 9:39 pm Post subject:

i am not a memeber of this shit club.

Nick · Posted: Mon Oct 05, 2015 9:56 pm Post subject:

Are you just droning a keyboard to play guitar over? Or droning it for more keys over it? If it's the former, either get a keyboard with a latch or hold mode, or use a latching footswitch in place of a sustain pedal.

If you need more keys over your droned notes, the ehx freeze works great.

Brandon W · Posted: Mon Oct 05, 2015 9:58 pm Post subject:

howdo3313 · . Joined: 17 Aug 2015 Posts: 35 Location: Toronto, Canada.

There was a band I worked with called The Reason...their keys/guitar guy did that on one of his synths for a tune.
Smile

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dub · . Joined: 20 Aug 2008 Posts: 1582 Location: WGTN, Aotearoa

The classic:

half a wooden clothes-peg

Doog · Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2015 8:34 am Post subject:

Doog · Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2015 8:36 am Post subject:

I wonder if there's a cheap MIDI controller version of these?

edit: cheap-ISH!

http://www.juno.co.uk/products/keith-mcmillen-12-step-polyphonic-midi-foot/548434-01//?currency=GBP&flt=1&gclid=CjwKEAjw1_KwBRDEz_WvncL4jGwSJAAEym0d2_G_OT-Wm0VuVB2psdkiX4y1Mv-NYTgCz65XXzq3tBoCWp7w_wcB
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Bacchus · Posted: Tue Oct 13, 2015 8:45 am Post subject:

Someone has made one from an old keyboard. Cool:

http://www.instructables.com/id/Easy-MIDI-Bass-Pedals-from-your-old-MIDI-keyboard/
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