Well, it’s really your choice (as an arranger keyboard player ) to determine ‘how much’ you allow the auto accomp stuff to take over. In arranger keyboard playing, ‘you’ are in control of how much auto accomp goes on. When I perform, I only use the auto accomp to supply the basic ryhthm section (drums and bass ) to backup my live keyboard playing & singing. I like to play the keyboard pretty much the same as if I were playing with a real live band combo. The auto accompaniment keyboard offers the performance flexibility not possible when playing along with a pre-arranged midi sequence.



Uncle Dave, I’m rather surprised hearing this from you, the senior seasoned ‘arranger’ keyboard player here. I thought the primary purpose of this forum and of arranger keyboard playing is to learn how to master all that you are complaining about here. I always found it odd that you don’t use one of the key features of an arranger KB: ‘Registration Memory’ & ‘Registration Sequence’. These were designed to eliminate all the button & foot pedal pushing you are complaining about, yet allow you the flexibility to add fills, change the harmonic chord progression, modulate (change key) , take extral chorus’ (if and when the audience energy calls for another chorus) , etc. and do this all ‘on the fly’ as well. This type of spontaneous live performance playing is just not possible when you are ‘locked in’ to playing along with a ‘pre-arranged’ karaoke like backup sequence.



Playing along with sequences has its place for certain cover tunes which demand it, but I still prefer the flexibility of live performance spontaniety that arranger keyboard style playing provides. The drums and bass may not be perfect on all the time, but the focus of the audience is on (hopefully) my playing & singing. The backup parts are there for just that: backup. I personally (on the PSR2000) haven’t encountered many problems with drum fills and bass lines not syncing up or sounding inappropriate. Drums & bass fills sounding right are partly dependant on triggering the fill button at the correct time.



I agree that playing solo piano or with with just a left hand walking bass) on a few tunes provides a refreshing constrast in a one man show, but I think arranger style keyboard playing is an important element which contributes to a successful one man band act because it provides a satisfying backup rhythm section which audiences appreciate. I think it’s more important that we learn to master the unique skills of arranger keyboard playing. The amount of auto accomp used is a delicate balance. It’s our job to determine how much auto accomp to use, and just not allow it to overtake our live playing & singing. Music is like cooking: a delicate balance of robust flavors, subtle seasoning, and textures. Uncle Dave, I fully appreciate and understand your need to getting back to playing a non arranger KB now, and I apolopgize if I was beginning to sound a little preachy, but I’m an avid defender of arranger keyboards and I’d hate to see you abandon arranger keyboards now. I think you really need to reconsider exploring how arranger keyboard playng might work for you. - Scott