Like them hate them; Do you use them why or why not.


I use a 6 pedal unit on my Genesys.
I have it to do 1. fill to self, 2. fill to next variation, 3. fill to previous variation, 4. start/stop 5. vocal harmony on/off and 6. punch in for recording.

I think pedals are a good tool that frees up my LH for other things.



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I have shortened my ID to TTG

I use no pedals at all.More junk to carry and setup. the finger is faster then the foot.

[This message has been edited by Dnj (edited 09-26-2010).]

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Dnj:
[B]I use no pedals at all.More junk to carry and setup. the finger is faster then the foot.

Amen to that!

Joe

I generally just use a sustain pedal, and sometimes a volume pedal, which is used for pitch bending and, yes, volume.

Ian

Footpedals are becomming more and more important because one can use them to switch articulations and add effects...

I use 2 sustain pedals an expression pedal and : http://line6.com/footcontrollers/fbvexpressmkii.html

PErsonally i prefer using my feet mote and more to add expression to my solo sound. that way i can keep my hands at the keys while adding lovely effects to my sound.

O, I neglected to say that I use a sustain pedal by my RF. The other 6 pedals are used by my LF.
It is not just a question of speed (although the foot pedal does have that advantage), but it frees up my LH and RH to do other things while the fill is being activated. Also, because I program my owned styles, I have the fills to do different thing so I need me LH to stay on the keyboard to play chords.
There is no right or wrong way if you use or don’t use pedals. It just would be interesting to see how other persons use their pedals.


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I have shortened my ID to TTG

It's also difficult using pedals if you stand while playing.

Ian

Use of the Expression Pedal can make uite a difference when playing Hammond Organ patches.

Can add critical *animation* to the performance, something that every Hammond player worth anything does.

Try increasing Expression volume when moving upscale, decreasing when moving downwards. This is especially useful when attempting to duplicate the Jimmy Smith/Joey D. thang.

For certain styles, such as Afro Gospel of an earlier period, even some of the earlier Jazz Organ players, pumping the Expression Pedal in time to the beat (not all the way up and down, but a little bit) can be of good use. Don't overdo it.

Because of typical organs having no key vellocity (every note sounds just as hard) Organ players use an Expression pedal to bring depth and expression to the organ sound. This gives a totally different effect then using key sensitivity for volume.

I tought everyone allways used the expression pedal when playing organ sounds, to me its the same as using a Dämper pedal when playing piano sounds.

Thats the reason i allways sit when playing...

The Expression pedal and sustain pedal are must for me...Piano without a sustain doesn't work..and I need/use the expression pedal to bring in /out my "color" sound..Performing without these pedals..makes a big difference to me..

BTW: I always stand... ..I keep both pedals to my right...I always have a leg to stand on..

I use the volume/expression pedal for organ, brass and strings, accordion...damper/sustain is a must for piano/e.piano as well, although it is handy for other patches, to let a Sax ,or other sound, fade out naturally, for instance.

I play seated as well...far more comfortable...bench and keyboard at the proper distance to make it easy on the wrists.

Ian

Brian, as an example I set up my sounds..maybe a bass on the left hand and a piano on the right hand...and my "color" sound ..say organ or brass...is controlled by the expression pedal..
When I need the "color" sound to come in over the piano...just press down on the expression pedal...I can also use the expression pedal to change the sound say a guitar when the pedal is up, and strings when it is down..All this is adjustable on your E-60 too..
.

Great idea, Fran, and something I don't use enough.

On my PSR-S910, I can also have the volume pedal control mod wheel functions, and use it to sweep the filter in the great synth sounds that were taken from the Motif.

But, bringing in the "color" sound is something I'm going to do more of...thanks for the reminder.

Ian

I cann't wait for Diki's take on this one.

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I have shortened my ID to TTG

TTG
I use 6 button pedals on my G70 and KN7000 in a similar fashion as you. I set up variations in style and instrument, then pedal through them.

On the Nord, I use an expression pedal and my Ventilator.

My vArranger and Kurzweil need just a volume pedal.
Bernie

I use EVERYTHING I can... FC-7 multi-switch, two sustains (for independent upper and lower) and expression pedal... Most of the time, I don't have to touch the front panel.

The finger is faster than the foot, unless it's got something MORE important to do... like PLAY, for instance!

I use a 13 note Solton pedalboard and assign as much as I can to that (stop, start, leslie speed, sustain, breaks, intros, etc). I also use a volume/expression pedal with two ins to control the arranger and volume on a 2nd keyboard (SH-201, GW-7, etc.)-sort of an old two manual B-3 habit.

I have a 7 pedal Solton board I got from Don with a Midjay, but find myself running out of pedals.

the 13 note board tucks into a special pocket on the bag, which was designed for the MS-60, and fits the SD-5. It was secured from Petosa music in Seattle-at one time the primary source for Solton modules and related accordion equipment.


Russ

Diki, do you stand when playing, or are you seated?

If both, what predominates?

Ian

I used to play standing for all live gigs, and also for basic duo stuff, but once I got the extensive foot controls for automatic use, I started to sit... It coincided with some knee issues from the twist you have to do to run a couple of sustains and stand, and playing that way for eight hours a day or more!

So now, I've got lazy and sit 100%..! Mind you, at my height, not too many can tell if I am standing up or sitting down anyway! My keyboard height only changes a couple of inches for either.

I simply like to keep a very busy LH, I feel guilty relegating it to simple chord shapes every few beats and button pushing... I have always felt that, If I COULD play a part, I SHOULD play the part, so that makes leaving my LH free for a lot of button pushing a guilty pleasure! So I'm MUCH more likely to be trying to do a good comp with my LH and leads with my right than letting the machine comp for me.

Add to that a LOT of LH bass work, and you rarely find time from playing the LH bass to go push Variation and Fill buttons. A foot controller simply make more sense for ME... But if your playing style is just chord input and RH solos, then there's PLENTY of time to hit the buttons.

Back in the organ days, we would hit thirteen or more switches with our feet to play an entire bassline! I just don't see what the problem is, hitting a measly seven or so on just part boundaries!

I did a lot of pedal playing, especially when teaching Electone at the higher levels...then, 13 was not enough.

You have to realize that we all have preferences, from using a whole bunch of switches/pedals, to using none at all.

Doesn't make either, or any preference the "right one"...the right setup is the one that works for you.

I could manage with just a sustain pedal if I had to, and I always carry a spare.

Ian

There are some that manage without even that!

I've never said mine is the 'right way'. It just works for how I play. Trouble starts with many players not really understanding that someone COULD really need all those buttons at your feet. I mean, if THEY play simple RH solo LH chord input, how would they ever know that more MIGHT be needed?

You could tell them.