Great use of the joystick & ribbon controller !

A bit too "busy" for my taste...I'm a Dave Gilmour (Pink Floyd) fan (where each note weighs ten pounds) but, the playing is very good and it almost sounds like a guitarist.

Ian

I agree, Ian. He ain't no Don Mason.

Gary

Fellas obviously not Nursing Home material "YET"..lol..
but, Your missing the point,....this KORG Pa3x lead guitar sounds amazing ....just close your eyes,I just loved this demo so awesome, this guy can play guitar licks BIG TIME on KB!... I wish I could play LEAD guitar on Kb like that.
Just give me SLASH, Angus Young, David Navaro, Orianthi,
Jimi Hendrix,Eddie Van Halen,Stevie Ray Vaughan, any day!

It's good Donny, but I'm afraid I've heard far better guitar emulation on both synths and arrangers.

The demo guy has okay technique, but no feeling whatsoever...that's mainly what's missing, in my opinion...real expression.

I would never mistake that demo for a guitar being played, eyes open, or closed.


Gary, DonM has a great expressive guitar technique, and now sounds even better (in my opinion) on his new Yamaha PSR-S950.


Ian

Didn't know Don M is a rock guitar player?..Of course there is alway something better but sadly until I hear a 950 or any Yamaha arranger sound as Live as a Korg....I'll just have to disagree. I have told Don many times....I think he sounds better on the Korg Pa3x.....same goes for uncle Dave......but hey....what do I know?

@1. You are joking right!! Post up em up then so we can all hear a difference...I have heard a LOT worse including very amateurish attempts by a few on this forum... ( maybe even you IM )


@2. Maybe with acoustic and country guitar licks, but they are are quite basic for the most part..I have never heard DM getting stuck into anything remotely like this....I see you still manage to turn any thread into a Yamaha promo though

Sorry Dennis...these days, I only play for pay.

I do however, still think the Korg demo was rather soulless (the guitar sound was okay)...of course, my opinion, and I still think DonM's guitar playing/emulation is far more tasteful, and realistic, although he covers a different genre.

Of course, DonM can work his skills with any arranger....I just think he sounds better on the Yamaha PSR-S950.

Ian

fair enough Ian... as for the "soul-less" comment - yep, I agree with that in places...but the guy has good "keys" technique I think.

And I agree also that DM playing guitar emulations in his zone, is very good...

Btw I meant the Youtube (or other sourced) demos - not you actually playing...although you do seem keen to often ask others to do just that...but each to their own I suppose...

I watched their other YouTube videos. The style guitar sounds and the sound he plays sounds to me like upgraded distorted guitar samples... Not stock sounds. They have a video about a sampling session they did.

I agree that it not ready for the retirement homes... Yet!! Give it 15 more years!!

Yes, Dennis, but I'm sure you are aware of the old expression. "Never let your technique get in the way of your playing."

Actually, I have rarely, if ever, asked anyone to post their playing, without the option of sending it to me personally if posting here is not of their choosing.

I have had lots of great performances sent to me by many of SZ's membership, both instrumentally and vocal & instrumental (Donny sent me some great stuff, for example...performed with his Yamaha PSR-S910 )...I suppose no one likes to be put under any pressure to post in a public forum, even if their chops are beyond reproach.

Have you ever posted any of your work here, Dennis?

I have posted a few times (once during the little jam session Cassp had put together here on SZ), but not recently. Too busy with moving and getting settled lately to get into a mindset for recording.

Ian

No Ian I don't usually post much in the way of playing - but then I don't ask for anyone to post, UNLESS I see someone asking for others to do and then I will make a comment - and only in the spirit of a fair go...nothing personal is meant.

I do stand corrected in that you do most times ask for it to be private communication - that is true

Yep technique makes a great technician, but not a great player. My comment was only directed at his technique and the use of pitch stick and ribbon - very adept. I have not really seen too many that are much better than this, hence my original post..

I am considering some posts of both original work and covers (interpretive) on either my Youtube channel or maybe Sound Cloud or Facebook...but all the copyright hoopla drives me nuts...even if the song is really nothing like the original...That is the main reason I have not pursued it further than an idea

Dennis

It will be good to see and hear your work Dennis...it is a big (at least for me) step to post on YouTube, but I may take a serious shot at it this year, once I'm settled in.

I rarely play or record a song exactly as it was written, although I can if I wish (within reason, of course)...I just prefer to put my own stamp on it, even if it isn't my tune...that's why the arranger keyboard has appealed to me so much, over a workstation. It (the arranger) just gives so many options on how to play a tune, and they are so immediate, and that latter part appeals to a lazy guy like me.

I love improvising using the styles, and they are terrific for doing quick soundtracks for videos...I'm sure they appeal to songwriters, like yourself, in the same way.

One of the best guitar emulations I ever heard was done on an old DX-7 (Mk 1) by a guy in Gordon Lightfoot's band when they played here in Cape Breton nearly 20 years ago. The guy played all the pedal steel guitar parts in Gord's tunes with that keyboard, and it was amazing...there was no actual pedal steel player. He had a Roland Juno-60 as well, that he used for string ensemble parts, but, it was his amazing technique AND playing style emulating the steel that impressed me (and several other musos with me) so much.

I think that's the way it is for DonM...he has the technique but it doesn't hamper his playing, and like I said, he could make almost any arranger guitar sound realistic...I hope he's reading this and sends me the money for these plugs...ha ha!


Ian

I have to disagree. While that 80s rock guitar sound may seem busy and lacking in expression to you that is more a matter of personal taste. It certainly is one of the better keyboard lead guitar emulations I have heard. I don't know what sounded "unrealistic" to you. I play with a guitarist that uses a Floyd Rose tremelo system and there was nothing about those bends and VanHalenesque finger tapping style that he can't perform on a guitar. It sure isn't supposed to be emulating Dave Gilmour's style, that comparison is just silly.

Hey, Nigel, that's what makes this forum so cool...of course we all do not have to agree.

What sounded "unrealistic" to me was the complete lack of "soul" and also the playing had very few, if any, breathing spaces...all flash technique and very little feeling.

My idea of great guitar soloing follows more in the Clapton, Harrison, Gilmour style, where they actually played a solo (even with extremely fast runs) that was like a story with a beginning, a theme, a high point and an ending...this guy was just being "wordy"....nothing more.

Like you, I have performed with some excellent guitar players.

This is just "guitar babble", and fakey at that....again, in my opinion.

Hendrix and others mentioned above, made their solos a story...this guy should listen to more good guitar playing.

Ian

Thankyou Nigel....coming from
a respected pro guitar player as yourself I certainly agree with you also.

But isn't that typical of the style he was emulating?
You seem to be criticizing the solo itself rather than the keyboard emulation. That is what that this thread is about ... isn't it? If you heard a real guitarist play the same notes I am guessing you would make the same criticism.

It's a bit too many notes for me but I thought it sounded pretty amazing. It's hard to have much soul when you're playing that fast. He's got some chops. I wonder if he is a guitar player.

The basic guitar sound was fine, Nigel, as I had said earlier, and because most of today's arrangers have one equally as good, the solo, having rambled on so much without taking any definite direction, and, with virtually no breathing spaces whatsoever, had me losing interest rather quickly.

In other words, the sound itself wasn't special(or unique)enough to hold my attention without it also saying something interesting, and it failed to do the latter, again, in my opinion.

That's the best way I can explain it.

Ian

I can't seem to find that sound on my PA3X, but it does have some excellent distortion and overdrive guitars in it. This sound may be a sample or an edit of one of the guitar sounds.
The joystick, ribbon and DNC buttons can really add realism to the licks. As you all know that kind of Rock isn't really in my usual repertoire, however, I don't believe it would be that hard to do if a person were into that genre.
I am truly honored that some of my peers here seem to think I'm good at guitar emulation. I suppose if you do it five nights a week for 40 years you can better at it!

I do believe the PSR S950 has far better guitar sounds out of the box than the Korg. I also know you can edit the Korg sounds to reach that level, or surpass it, but I'm pretty lazy when it comes to editing voices.
I am torn between the Yamaha and the Korg. I suppose that's why I haven't tried very hard to sell either of them. I may decide by accepting the first good offer I get, regardless of which keyboard. Either will suit my audiences just as well as the other. It's just about comfort level for ME.
I enjoy the controls, vocal processing, drums, Songbook, touch screen, chord sequencer, foot controller, and many of the sounds on the Korg and i hate to give all that up. However I sure like the guitar sounds on the 950. Plus it has a couple of wonderful Pedal Steel Guitars. The Korg has nothing close, but I'm trying to make one on it. I also like the very light, organ-like key touch and the light weight. The Korg sort of balances out the small weight difference by being smaller in size than the 950 though.
I had misplaced my Kodak video camera, but found it again yesterday, beneath the pile on my desk. I will try to make a short video of each and if I like the results will post them. Next time it gets too cold for golf or fishing that is!
I think there are no bad choices in arrangers these days.
DonM

This is one of the best EVH type keyboard emulations I have ever heard, and anyone saying anything different hasn't a shred of rock left in their bodies!

Whether you prefer the REAL Clapton to Eddie Van Halen, or would like Wes Montgomery over Steve Vai any day, what you are critiquing is the MUSIC, not the keyboardist's emulation of it. This is as good as it gets, and I am utterly convinced there isn't one person here capable of shining this guy's shoes at this particular style.

Shame on you... Sometimes the pathetic 'brand wars' idiocy on this forum blind you to talent. I can only imagine how fulsome the praise of this would be were it performed on a Yamaha, or a Roland. Take those stupid blinkers off, guys, and get back to what's really important....

MUSIC..!

If you can't appreciate the skill in this because you have lost the ability to rock on, and are gaily waltzing down the over-50 path, you need to up that testosterone dosage!

Rock on!

Don't need 'em... still got my rock 'nads intact, thank you very much!

I grew up with Led Zeppelin, Deep Purple, and for all my appreciation of jazz, or reggae, or classical music, I still get the thrill when I hear great rock. Makes me want to fire up the B, crank the Leslies to overdrive, and open up a can of whup-ass!

Losing the 'rock' in your life is like losing interest in pretty girls. A very bad sign!

Hey, I love rock music (in all it's forms) as well, or more than the next person, and I still play my fair share of it.

However, in all genres of music, including Rock (maybe especially Rock), technique without musicality lacks soul. This demo has a fine guitar sound but, in my opinion, the solo has too much technique, and not enough musicality.

I admire and acknowledge great technique, but I somehow expect it to be in the service of a musical vision.

The great soloists(guitar and otherwise) are simply great musical story tellers....they keep it interesting, and that's what sets their music apart from those who haven't learned that aspect of the craft yet.

AND...Let's try to have differences of opinion without resorting to direct and/or indirect insults.

Play nice, please. There's no need of being rude and mean just because you don't understand, or agree with, another person's equally valid opinion.

Ian

"If you can't appreciate the skill in this because you have lost the ability to rock on, and are gaily waltzing down the over-50 path, you need to up that testosterone dosage!"

I've been sitting here for the past hour trying to emulate this guy and it's way harder than it looks. I can play that fast, and I can work the controllers, but I can't get a feel for WHAT to play. It's because I'm not a rocker, unless you call Check Berry a rocker! when I get to going too fast I lose the feeling. I sure do like Eddie's ex-wife though.
I'm gonna stick to oldies and blues and country! I'm getting into Zak Brown Band stuff.
DonM

As I have already pointed out this thread is ALL about technique and not whether or not the musical style appeals to your own taste or not.

If someone posted a clip of someone emulating Metallica most members here would not appreciate it it musically ... and although that is not my favorite style if the performer could pull it off successfully on a keyboard I would still admire their technique.

Once again this thread is simply about technique and not musical style. If anyone here can provide a better example of emulating Van Halen type guitar playing I would be pleased to hear it.

I understand that, Nigel.

Thanks.

Ian

Actually one of my favorite keyboard guitar emulations is from 6 years ago, Voodoo Chile using the RealStrat Windows software from Musiclab.



If you haven't heard of RealGuitar/RealStrat software here is a tutorial that shows some available features.


And now in a country flavor


They also have RealLPC for Les Paul Custom emulation

Wow, that Jeff Abbott in your post above, Nigel, is amazing. (And his rig and software.) Some examples are not that real but many are fab.

I'm not that much into '80's speedo guitar, but I was pretty impressed with that demo. It sounded realistic to me. I would like one of those ribbon controllers on my Yamaha.

I grew up playing the guitar, and I love emulating guitar sounds on my keyboard. I think I'm experimenting with some stuff that's not as fast as this demo but also technically impressive - and more tasteful IMO. I'll post something within the next couple of weeks. I don't record myself as much as I should.

I watched my son's fingers flying across the frets for a years, a time when he was the lead guitarist in a Grunge band. He was right up there with the top players in the nation, IMO, and his band went on a national tour. About the 10th day of the tour, friction between a couple players broke out, he had the driver stop the bus, he got off, somewhere outside Atlanta, GA, and hitch-hiked home. I guess my point is, while I was not enamored with the Grunge style of music, required incredible talent and musical ability. When I listened to the demo, it was in many ways similar to my son's style of playing.

Now I'm an old codger, enjoy good guitar playing/picking, and for me Les Paul, The Ventures, Chet Atkins, and many others of that era, were my guitar heroes. I made a few dollars when I was much, much younger by playing a guitar and singing to a crowd of drunks in a smoke-filled, hillbilly bar. So for me, the demo really didn't impress me musically. Granted, the person has a lot of skill emulating the guitar on his arranger keyboard, but personally, I enjoyed watching Don Mason perform at lot more than the demo.

Just my opinion,

Gary

Nigel.....OMG!!!!!!! that was INCREDIBLE watching these guys play.

ZZ Top demo was the best I've ever seen.. Sorry, Don!

When I open a post and see a box outlined with white lines and a red “X” in the top left corner – and it will not open:
What am I missing?

Thanks, John C.

Which post are you seeing that in?

Nigel, In the first post of this thread. You also posted four of the same in this thread.

John C.

PS, Nigel all is well with my logging in, it was my computer which was at fault.

hmmmm for some reeason your computer isn't able to display the embedded Youtube clips ... but I don't know why that would be. It must be some setting on your PC because the rest of us can see them.

Are able to see Youtube clips normally?