Synthesizers and Keyboards
Transcript of Synthesizers and Keyboards
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Synthesizers, keyboards, and their use since 1910
Synthesizers and keyboards are the cornerstone of electronic music. The
development of electronic music can be traced in parallel to the development
of synths, and vice versa new ideas in music often originated in the
developments in technology. You will need to be able to recognise some of
the synthesizers, particularly the more vintage, in your listening exam.
Theremin
On you tube, search for Bill Bailey and
the Theremin of which you will see a
rendition of the Jellyfish with Bill Bailey
performing.
The theremin is not a keyboard
instrument, but is played by moving one
of your two hands near the aerials. It is
extremely difficult to play, and has a very
pure sound with portamento due to the playing technique, as well as heavy
vibrato.
Ondes Martenot
The ondes Martenot
is a keyboard
instrument that can
make sounds like the
Theremin by using a ribbon under the keyboard. It has a noticeable attack and
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sounds like a trumpet. Listen to Radioheads How to Disappear Completely
from 2:58 to 3:30 for an example.
Hammond B-3 Organ (1954)
Originally invented
as a low-cost
alternative to the
pipe organ, the
Hammond B-3
became widely used
in many pop music
genres from the
1960s onwards. This tonewheel, drawbar organ is often played through a
rotating Leslie speaker the rotation speed can be altered, giving a
chorus/phasing/tremolo effect
Listen to Deep Purple/Emerson, Lake & Palmer.
Rhodes Piano (1965)
This produces a sound like a bell and a
vibraphone. It is often played through
effects pedals to produce a variety of
effects similar to that of an electric
guitar. A very similar (but slightly
harsher) sound is produced by its main
competitor, the Wurlitzer electric piano
Listen to Herbie Hancock/Miles Davis Bitches Brew
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Hohner Clavinet (1968)
The clavinet is an amplified
clavichord and became
synonymous with the sound of
funk.
Stevie Wonders Superstition
Minimoog (1969)
A more portable version of the Moog modular synth, bringing the classic
analogue synth sounds to the mainstream music industry. The cutting lead
synth slides are
instantly recognisable.
It is a monophonic
synth.
Listen to Jeff Beck Led
Boots. From 2:13 to
the end of the track,
Jan Hammer
demonstrates how the
cutting sound of the Minimoog, along with use of the pitchend wheel,
allows it to compete with the lead guitar.
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Sequential Circuits Prophet-5 (1977)
A polyphonic
analogue synth
capable of playing
five notes at once.
It was capable of
producing a range of sounds, but retains distinctly analogue characteristics.
Paul McCartneys Wonderful Christmas Time features Prophet-5 throughout,
with the opening riff making use of its polyphony.
Roland Jupiter-8 (JP-8) (1981)
An analogue synth capable of 8-
note polyphony
Listen to Queens Radio Ga-Ga
this features the JP-8 on the
arpeggiated bass line after the
drum intro.
Roland TB-303 (1982)
The TB-303 was originally
produced for musicians to jam
along to, featuring a basic
sequencer. It was largely
ignored on its release, but
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demand soared after it was embraced by the dance music fraternity. It
generates a bass synth timbre with a distinctly squelchy sound and is
synonymous with the sound of acid house. The resonant filter gives the unit
its distinctive sound.
Listen to Phutures Acid Trax this features the TB-303, demonstrating the
use of the filter to create sonic interest.
Yamaha DX-7 (1983)
The DX-7 was the first commercially successful digital synth. It used FM
(frequency modulation) synthesis to generate a wide range of timbres.
As this synth is capable of producing a wide range of timbres, it was used by
many artists to emulate other instruments, such as bells, electric pianos and
brass instruments. It has a distinctly electronic sound and is widely used on
many 1980s
recordings. Brian
Eno was an avid
user, making use
of his
programming skills to produce interesting sounds that added sonic interest to
many of his productions
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Korg M1 (1988)
The introduction of the M1
caused the end to use of the
DX-7 an other early digital
synths, largely because of its ability to layer a wide range of sounds and its
on-board sequencer. It is heard in a vast range of late 80s and early 90s pop
music. Most of the available sounds were much more realistic because it was
a sampling synthesizer. However, they still sound artificial compared to the
sounds we have today.
After the 1990s, so many synths could produce such a vast array of sounds,
you cant always tell one from the other. You would not be asked to be able to
recognise a modern synth.
Glossary
Drawbar controls used to mix the waveform ratios in a tonewheel organ
such as the Hammond.
Portamento - gliding between two notes
Leslie speaker a rotating speaker within an enclosure. Most often used in
conjunction with the Hammond organ, which creates a phaser-like effect by
means of the Doppler effect.
Tonewheel a series of disks rotated by a motor in proximity to an
electromagnetic pickup.
Vibrato - vibration of a note
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modular synth a synthesizer (usually analogue) made up of separate
sections (such as oscillators, filters and envelope generators) that are linked
together by signal cables.
Monophonic
a word to describe a musical texture in which there is only one
part. Another definition is a synthesizer capable of playing only one note at a
time.
Arpeggiated a chord whose notes are played in succession is arpeggiated.
On many synths an arpeggiator can be set to sound notes that are held down
simultaneously in a particular scale or pattern.
Polyphonic
a word used to describe a musical texture in which two or more
musical strands are heard simultaneously. Another definition is a synthesizer
capable of playing more than one note at a time.
resonant filterrefers to the bandwidth of frequencies allowed to pass or the
level of amplification of the cut-off frequency.
frequency modulation where the frequency of a carrier signal is varied in
accordance with a modulating signal. In audio, the carrier and the modulating
signal are both in the audible frequency range, creating a complex waveform.
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Listening Questions
Name each keyboard instrument in these tracks:
1. The Beach Boys Good Vibrations2. Radiohead The National Anthem3. Walter Carlos Switched-On Bach4. A-HaTake On Me5. QueenI want to Break Free6. Tubular Bells 27. Whitney Houston Greatest Love of All8. Spanky Acid Bass9. John Paul Jones Custard Pie10.Queen Youre My Best Friend