I have always made song specific registrations to choose from while doing a program. I read and play by ear fairly well, and have many songs memorized

The problem I have is playing a request for a song not in my playlists. Most times I know the song in my head, and, could knock it satisfactorily but for the style. I might know it is a medium Rumba e.g., but would look unprofessional to fiddle around finding it. I usually say I will try and work it in.

It was easier when I played accordian many years ago and unfortunately, am not good enough on piano. I read that some of you have sort of templates in a folder for different styles.

I would like to know how some of you handle this.

Bernie

As you stated, some of us have a number of styles for different genres set up that we can go to in a hurry ... even if it is not the 'perfect' match for the particular song, usually it is something that will be pretty close ...

Or, if it is a gig where you will be taking an intermission, try to set it up then ...

And if it really impossible to do, well, I feel we can't be expected to play every song ever written on a moments notice ...

You must have a complete knowledge of your arranger and know where every style resides and what it sounds like. Of course this is not totally possible but you can get close.
I make a point to try to do every request unless it is not suitable for my abilities or taste. If I can't do it and want to do it I will promise to learn it for the next time they come.
Sometimes I will play an Mp3 of it when I take a break, if the song is appropriate for the venue.
One suggestion-never apologize if you try it and don't think it is perfect. Normally, they will hear the tag or chorus, identify with it and be happy. They aren't paying THAT much attention.
I do have generic Songbook entries for most style setups. They include slow 6/8, slow 4\4, 2/4 country, shuffle, Latin, swing, big band, rock & roll, etc.

I have & use my "EASY 40" (old Roland term ;-)) styles that are custom tweaked to do almost anything requested...

What Don Mason said!

Over the years, like DonM, I've had thousands upon thousands of requests. For the most part, I know the song, and more often than not, I have the information stored in my Music Finder Directory, and the lyrics are stored within the PC, so it's rarely a problem.

Don said, "They aren't paying THAT much attention - he's right. I've had folks request a song, I tell them I will do it right after the one I've already cued, then play the requested song, only to have them come up later and ask me when I was gonna play their request. WHAT? Are you shittin' me? Yep, happens all the time, even when I nail the song perfectly using a 3rd party style specifically for that song. Drives me nuts!

As for knowing all the styles in my keyboard, yep, I know them, plus a lot of third-party styles that are stored on my USB drive. It's pretty rare that I have to tell them I do not know the song. Some, however, I just won't play, and I tell the requesting person that I've never done the song and don't feel comfortable with it. It's never been a problem.

My Music Finder Directory has been updated several times, and each time I post it on the PSR-Tutorial site for Yamaha arranger keyboard owners to download. The last one I posted had just under 800 songs in it and has been downloaded many, many times. Additionally, I posted a link to a folder with all the 3rd party styles associated with the MFD so there were be no problems with song selections containing no style information.

Bernie, this is something that just takes many years to put together, but eventually, it will all gel and you won't even blink the next time someone requests a song.

Good luck,

Gary

Each one of you has brought something to the table I can use. I appreciate the help from a group that has many years of experience ""in the trenches", as Donny would say.

There is nothing to do but to do it.

Somewhat related is this ... One thing I started doing recently is making lists that involve using Registrations (that are for specific songs), for OTHER songs. I have been able to add hundreds more songs to my "ready-to-play-in-an-instant" repertoire by noting on that song sheet (its PDF file), that the Registration for "such-n-such other song", will work for this song.

For example, let's say I have maybe ~40 Ballads that use one of the many "8beat Ballad" type styles. I have Registrations for each of these ~40 songs. But I know (or have music/charts for) another ~30 Ballads let's say. I make a note at the top of the page for each the "30 more ballads", saying, effectively "Use Registration from such-n-such other song; it works for this song too".

I then did this for LAtins (Bossa/Rhumba), 6/8 tunes, marches, rock'n'roll tunes, pop/disco tunes, show tunes, on and on. Lots of songs are similar enough to others, that you can "share" a Registration for use on several songs. For each category, I have say ~25-40 Registrations, so even re-using them, I give the audience plenty of variety in sound/style etc.

I have done this for about 300 songs so far, so that I have ~300 more songs ready-to-play, without having to make 300 more registrations. It's not a perfect system, but it was a quick way to have hundreds more songs "Ready to play" w/o having to do any more Registration work.

I even added MIDI data to each such song, so that it automatically calls up the "alternate" Registration for me, so I'm ready to play as soon as I load up that song on my iPad (using unrealBook in my case). It just calls up the "alternative" Registration I chose before, and re-sets the Tempo via MIDI if needed, then I'm ready to play.

-Jim
If anyone wants an example of this, I could send you an XLS (Excel) file where I organized some of this, to give an idea of how I "re-use" Registrations for alternative songs.

-Jim

Hi Bernie,
Not that I perform or would ever get a request, I do find I use some styles way more than others, even in the same genre. I simplified. mine by removing the odd track that got in the way. I found with some of my pa800 styles they were too busy. If I dumbed them down they suited more songs. Maybe if you had a few basic styles to call upon in emergencies,
Just a thought.

Hey Rikki it has been a while. Always great to see you drop in. Hope life is going well for you and hubby.