Using several different styles in the same song.

[YammyFan]

https://app.box.com/s/gcl5wrlibahfjg9nyoouvkgb9lv3my5b
I played this song on my PSR 970 using several different styles. I thought it sounded OK but when I played it in front of a couple of friends their opinion ranged from  "That's a mess" to what on earth are you playing" to "That's Quite good, and would be OK with a bit more work" I am posting it here in the hope  of getting an honest opinion, although I realize that most members are too polite to  comment adversely. I would love to see public comment or a personal message or an email. Thanks.

[mikf]

The arranger offers so many possibilities on voices, styles, effects, that it is easy to get carried away and overuse them. Really good players and experienced musicians can of course tap into all the resources of these keyboards and produce great results. But it doesn't work the other way round, ie chopping and changing voices and styles will not by itself make a great result.
Mike

[vbdx66]

Hi,

Your arrangement seems a bit confused to me.

If I were you, I'd work on the right hand melody alone with the metronome until the rhythm is as perfect as possible. Then I'd play the melody over the left-hand harmony without the rhythm to check that the harmony is correct (it might help if you have a lead sheet with the chords already written for you). If there are chords you don't know, simplify them and/or play them on their own until you're completely at ease with your left hand.

Only when all this is working seamlessly would I try to devise a full-blown arrangement for the song and I'd keep it as simple as possible: only two different voices for the right hand melody (organ and flute or whatever - something classical anyway), only one style but of course, you can use the variations.
I'd try several styles out to choose the one that best fits the song.

The song is in 4/4 so I'd choose one style with that meter. Since it is a religious tune, you might want to look at styles which are meant for organ, choir or flute as the main voice (these are just examples) but don't choose something too fancy because the melody of the song is already intricate. I'd avoid all swing styles since this tune is meant to be played straight.

If you want to layer voices, I'd play it safe and use very discreet strings or something akind. The layer voice is meant to help the support the harmony and leave space for the melody, not to drown it. It has to remain in the background.

Maybe some other forum members could suggest an appropriate style for this song?

Hope this helps,

Vinciane

[panos]

Hi YammyFan,
You can use the assembly function of the style creator to combine parts and make a style for your performance,
plus the usage of Registration buttons in case the 4 variations of the style are not enough.

Of course, moving from one variation to another,
or from one on style to another(by using a registration), they are always have to share common elements of the orchestration otherwise,
you will get the filling either that one orchestra/band stopped to play and a new one is starting
or the song has ended all of a sudden and a new song is stating.

The parts of a style that almost never much are those from different rhythms.
For example, you cannot combine a 12/8 style part with a 6/8 style part and then with a 4/4 style part. They will not much.
The kind of rhythm and the scale that he will start, are the two basic things that a composer is choosing from the very first notes that he is playing when he is composing.

Also keep in mind that the "fill ins" are always helpful to move from one part to another.
Even these one or two seconds of the fill in,
are enough to "prepare" the listener that something is about to change and that could be the entrance of a new organ or the changing of the tempo etc.

[travlin-easy]

Though a bit cluttered, not at all bad, but what you really to work on in the transitioning between styles. This, of course, can be done with registrations.

Good luck,

Gary