Here's Some Fundamental Keyboard Skills Every Producer Should Know

Understanding the basics of keyboard playing needn't be scary even if you've never had format training. In this quick video, Matt Vanacoro explains how to play major scales.  

Not everyone is a virtuoso keyboard player, but a decent knowledge of the keys is fairly essential to help you get the most out of modern DAWs and software instruments. In this short video from the course Keyboard Techniques 101: Keyboard Techniques for Producers, keyboard ace Matt Vanacoro shows you some of the fundemantal techniques that will really help you on your musical journey. 

Matt breaks down the basics of major scales in this video, explaining how the notes are laid out, what an octave is and how tones and semitones are divided. He covers basic finger techniques for playing simple major scales and how to cross over at the correct point to complete the octave without getting your fingers tangled up. Check out the rest of the videos in this course for a complete guide to keyboard skills specifically for music producers.  

Watch the full course Keyboard Techniques 101: Keyboard Techniques for Producers in the Ask.Audio Academy | macProVideo | Ask.Video

Keyboard Techniques 101: Keyboard Techniques for Producers

There is no better way to improve your music productions than to develop basic keyboard skills. Of course you don’t need to be a virtuoso to produce music, but having some keyboard techniques and musicianship is very important. Even if you never played a keyboard before, or if you’re paranoid at the thought of learning chords and scales, have no fear. Matt Vanacoro is here to show you how easy it can be to learn to play the keys. No sight-reading necessary!

Matt starts by explaining the importance of having a comfortable keyboard setup and a good posture when playing. As he says, playing long hours with a bad posture is a recipe for disaster for your body! He then reveals, in very simple terms, the music theory concepts that every producer should know. You learn how to build and play major and minor scales, and you discover how to integrate those scary black notes (also called accidentals, or sharps and flats) in your playing. Next, Matt shows you how to build and play chords, and he explains the difference between major, minor, diminished and augmented chords. You learn to play with both hands, by playing chords and bass lines with your left hand. Matt also demystifies other important music theory concepts such as the circle of fifths, suspended chords, inversions, intervals, arpeggios and how to integrate all this in your playing... and in your music productions.

Learning basic keyboard techniques and music theory doesn’t have to be scary! Watch this course, and start to get more use of that keyboard in your studio. This course is perfect for electronic music producers... EDM, Hip Hop, Pop and more!

Watch the full course Keyboard Techniques 101: Keyboard Techniques for Producers in the Ask.Audio Academy | macProVideo | Ask.Video

Hollin Jones was classically trained as a piano player but found the lure of blues and jazz too much to resist. Graduating from bands to composition then production, he relishes the chance to play anything with keys. A sometime lecturer in videographics, music production and photography post production, Hollin has been a freelance w... Read More

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