KEYS
BEYOND THE NOTES // CHOOSING THE RIGHT KEYS SOUNDS | David Pfaltzgraff
Modern worship keys players sometimes get the short end of the stick . We ’ re told “ just play a pad ” or just “ play piano chords on the downbeats ”.
But as a keyboardist in a worship team , you don ’ t have to be just a checked box . You can be an artist , a painter using a palette filled with tones that range from big , bold and powerful , to soft , warm , and ethereal .
The keys can be your brushes , and the sounds you choose can paint an audible picture that enhances the meaning and message behind each song you play . Each performance is a blank canvas , and your job is to fill it with color .
Choosing the right sounds to use at the right time for the right song is just as important to the overall impact of your role as the notes you play . So , let ’ s explore how to choose the right piano , pad , and textures and get to painting .
THE RIGHT PIANO Pianos are foundational to most modern worship songs . They can drive a song forward with bright attack and powerful sustain , or they can softly establish a worshipful atmosphere with gentle dynamics . But no two piano sounds are alike . A grand piano can handle anthemic ballads and soft , gentle moments of reflection alike , and is the most versatile choice for many contexts . An upright piano , on the other hand , often has a more intimate , warm sound , perfect for quieter , more reflective moments .
Electric pianos bring a different flavor altogether . From the unmistakable bell-like chime of a Rhodes to the crunchy , percussive attack of a Wurlitzer , electric pianos bring something to a song that an acoustic piano never could .
But grands and uprights are really just the start . Felt pianos are often used in modern worship , providing a soft , delicate tone , adding an intimate touch to softer songs or ballads . These tones can be particularly effective in quiet moments of reflection or during a spoken message . Recent years have also seen a new and renewed interest in the digital and FM-style piano sounds of the late 80s and early 90s , with the MKS-20 , DX7 , and M1 flavors of digital pianos and EPs popping up all over the place once again .
By understanding the characteristics of these different piano sounds , you can choose the right one to support the mood and emotion of each song in your set . Many of these piano styles can be found in modern hardware keyboards and can be found or purchased to suit most software-based rigs as well .
THE RIGHT PAD The most common direct companion to pianos , pads often define the atmosphere and sense of space in a song and provide dynamic range across the frequency spectrum . They can fill in the sonic space around other instruments , create a sense of depth and texture , and often are purposefully voiced to support the emotional content of the melody and lyrics .
Big , bright pads can give a song a sense of power and intensity , useful for anthemic worship songs where the band will build up to similar heights . Warm , lush pads sit further back in the mix , and provide a subtle foundation for additional keys layers and other instruments . Darker pads can ground a song or moment if used effectively , while shimmery pads are able to cut through high guitar parts and cymbals
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