#1 request ? ....I would personally never use the chord sequencer for my style of playing just like I would never use a multi control pedal or Vol pedal I have no need for them except a Voc harmony sw pedal theres nothing faster then my fingers for split second changes........
we all play/sing differently....there is no right or wrong...
The Chord Sequencer might be useful for some as would be many other features that someone feels important to them .....
but the next person would never use at all....here lies a big problem.....what I would love to see in the future would be an arranger with the option to buy /install & remove/ exchangeable features to suit the player at his discretion to be installed or removed to make each arranger
KB "HIS OWN"................seems everyone wants all these improvements that will probably be a miracle to ever be included in an all in one unit....& if so it would cost much more then 99% of average players are willing to purchase.....what these KBs already can do at this time is a miracle in itself compared to just a few short years ago...



[This message has been edited by Dnj (edited 12-22-2006).]

Sorry, Donny, but have you ever used the Roland Chord Sequencer? It really IS hard to realize how useful it can be until you have used one for a while.....

When we all say 'my style of playing'. despite how different it can be, one thing in common for most arranger players is that we are forced into playing (I don't count hitting the right chord at the right time 'playing' - that's just an input source for the arranger's brain!) with ONE hand! This is SO different from truly playing keyboards.... two-handed arpeggios - forget about it. Two handed funky syncopation licks - forget about it. Extensive use of the bender - forget about it. Etc., etc..

All of these are legitimate techniques that you are expected to do as a keyboard player. But buy an arranger, and you might as well lop off your left arm, for all the PLAYING it's going to do.....

There's a very easy way for you all to check this out.... Use your arranger's sequencer to record just the accompaniment for a favorite tune, for at least a couple of verses and choruses. Now play it back, and play over the top of it using two hands.... either a whole keyboard piano, or a split with a solo sound and a nice comp in the left, whatever you feel like. Unless you have NEVER played anything other than an arranger, you are going to sound better, and re-familiarize yourself with playing techniques you may have forgotten since your left hand got tied down.

Now imagine that you can do this any time you want, and STILL not have to give up the freedom of arranger play and use SMFs....... DON'T let the mechanics of chord triggering make you forget how to play well with BOTH hands..... DEMAND a chord sequencer from your manufacturer, and watch how much better you play and sound.......

Diki I respect your opinions....but I cannot agree with you.....and btw I used to own & perform with a a G1000 and I'm very familiar with the CSeq.....have a wonderful holiday...I would also love to know the real reason Roland dropped this feature form their units also?

For us style nuts, I'd like to see Yamaha, and the others as well, collaborate with PG Music to make available for arranger keyboards the tons of Band-In-A-Box styles ---tweaked for the correct voices, with multipads and all the rest, ready to go.

Donny, same here, always like to hear everybody's views, even if I sometimes disagree (who, me?!!).

No criticism, everybody uses these things differently, but I'm just curious as to what 'style' you play in where the Chord Sequencer WOULDN'T be a help? Just want to know, that's all......

Seeing as everyone has made wonderful (and sometimes innovative) suggestions so far, I'd just like to add something more basic.

It would be great if ALL the manufacturers gave us more options keys wise.

By this I mean:

61, 76 AND 88 key options on (almost) ALL of their keyboards ACROSS THE RANGE...

AND

a choice of Non weighted/Semi weighted/Fully weighted action!

Alright - maybe impractical - but dang - a LITTLE more flexibility would be nice!

eg if the Tyros 2 had 76 keys - THEN - I could take it seriously.

(I realise this is just MY personal wish and many folks do just fine with only 61 keys - I know, I know!)

To me the chord seq makes me a slave to the style pattern that's recorded as is a SMF....I like to play free style....with mostly a power right hand lead solo & accompaniment to my left hand chords........as I am a Singer first and my playing Only backs my vocals...but if it works for who ever uses it so be it....its just not my cup of tea.

Not quite sure I understand you there, Donny. Are you saying you vary the chords a lot in the second verse/chorus, or you don't like being a slave to the 'style' of the song?

The G1000's C/Seq had an option where it only recorded the changes, NOT the style, NOT the fills, NOT the variation or tempo or ANYTHING..... just the chords.....

Did you ever try it that way, or did it always play the fills and variation changes for you? If so, I can understand your viewpoint. I still want to control the arranger aspects, I just hate having to repeat playing a set of changes I'm going to repeat.

Anyway, moot point because even Roland have given up trying to make players understand how useful this is (and they tried for over ten years!)

Lets just hope they try again.......

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all.........

I have no objection to having the CS onboard ....if its useful for some its worth it....having many features lets us pick & choose the right combination to make our music sound the best it can be no matter how we do it....bottom line when you close you eyes is what it sounds like plain & simple, how its done is the beauty of playing an instrument...what it sounds like is the magic we make using the instrument which is an extension of our inner soul....

Enjoy the Holidays, Stay safe, Make Music....& be happy!!

I imagine the usefulness of a feature is in proportion to the user's ability to use it.... If you can't (or don't) play in a very two-fisted style, you are not going to need something to help free up your left hand.

But if you do.....