In Summary

Although many writers use keys as their main tool of choice to create with, a great many more might only have a guitar in the studio. Using one of the latest keyboard VIs, we show you how to get a great sounding part even if you don’t play keys…

Going Deeper

In the non-classical world, songwriters have long since relied on a small handful instruments to form their ideas, with guitar and keys perhaps the most used. The piano has a centuries-old place in composition. Revered for its broad dynamic abilities coupled with an enormous register, it has been used to pen everything from laid-bare ballads, to full symphonic masterpieces. The guitar also enjoys wide appeal as both a writing tool and a featured instrument, however it is intrinsically limited compared to the dynamic and harmonic latitude of its larger rival.

Lots of writing guitarists have used keyboard instruments to expand their palette, with the piano and its derivatives being the obvious choice. For those who don’t play, or without access to the sounds, getting great keys into the mix hasn’t always been easy.

Using Toontrack EZkeys 2

In the video, we use Toontrack’s EZkeys 2 virtual instrument (VI) to infuse a simple arrangement of drums, bass, and acoustic guitar with the extra dimension of electric piano. Thanks to its Bandmate tech, we show how guitarists can drop their part into EZkeys 2 for it to do exactly what a real player would do. By analysing incoming chords, Bandmate has the part down in a lot less time than it takes to pin an ad up at your local music shop…

The More The Merrier?

Many writing guitarists will know those times when their creations have felt like they’re missing something. Layers of guitars and synths can be the perfect background for many songs, but so often what is needed is the extra breadth that only keyboard instruments can bring. With piano right at the top of likely candidates, not only does a VI such as EZkeys 2 deliver the sounds, but also it can inject the right part as well. In our arrangement we load up a tasty EKX expansion to dust down some electric piano vibes that sound like they’ve just been wheeled in out the back of that old station wagon with as many dings and scuffs as its cargo. Getting the real thing with the right person still cannot be beaten, but at least you get to keep their fee if you’re using the next best thing…

A Word About This Article

As the Experts team considered how we could better help the community we thought that some of you are time poor and don’t have the time to read a long article or a watch a long video. We are going to be trying out articles that have the fast takeaway right at the start and then an opportunity to go deeper if you wish. Let us know if you like this idea in the comments.