Tone Bending On Synthesizers

[Hornbein]

I usually think that bending notes on a synthesizer sounds terrible. Why is it so much worse than with a guitar? Partly it is because guitar players put a lot more effort into their note bending. Or at least some do. Eric Clapton said getting his vibrato and note bends just right, copying the blues masters, was the single most challenging thing for him. Partly it is because many keyboards have lousy tone bending gear. They often have non-linear bending patterns -- bad idea. The third thing is that the tone should get louder and more trebly as the note goes sharp to get that wailing passionate sound. It can't be that hard to do that. Hah! The manufacturers should hire me as a consultant.

Occasionally I do hear a style I like. Such as this.



Nice! But it just isn't in the same league as this.



You hear me Roland, Korg, and Yamaha? I'm available...

 

[Hornbein]

I woke up this morning and finally figured out how to get a good tone bend out of my keyboard. The main problem is that its bend is non-linear (ugh!) around the neutral/middle position. So... avoid the nasty middle region. Instead play with the pitch wheel all the way down. This lowers the pitch by a whole step, so play the keyboard a whole step higher and the two modifications cancel. Then you can get a nice vibrato and upward bend, similar to what one gets on a guitar.

Electric guitarists will often fret a note one or two half steps lower then bend up to it. The same can be done on a keyboard.

Problem solved!

 

[BWV]

Herbie pioneered it and always sounded good

 

[Hornbein]

This guy gets a better pitch bend out of a fan than any of those synthesizer wheels.