Synthesizers, keyboards, and their use since 1910

Synthesizers and keyboards are the cornerstone of electronic music. The development of electronic music can be traced in parallel to the development of synths, and vice versa new ideas in music often originated in the developments in technology. You will need to be able to recognise some of the synthesizers, particularly the more vintage, in your listening exam.

Theremin

On you tube, search for Bill Bailey and the Theremin of which you will see a rendition of the Jellyfish with Bill Bailey performing. The theremin is not a keyboard

instrument, but is played by moving one of your two hands near the aerials. It is extremely difficult to play, and has a very pure sound with portamento due to the playing technique, as well as heavy vibrato.

Ondes Martenot

The ondes Martenot is a keyboard

instrument that can make sounds like the Theremin by using a ribbon under the keyboard. It has a noticeable attack and

sounds like a trumpet. Listen to Radioheads How to Disappear Completely from 2:58 to 3:30 for an example.

Hammond B-3 Organ (1954)

Originally as a

invented low-cost

alternative to the pipe organ, the B-3

Hammond

became widely used in many pop music genres from the

1960s onwards. This tonewheel, drawbar organ is often played through a rotating Leslie speaker the rotation speed can be altered, giving a chorus/phasing/tremolo effect Listen to Deep Purple/Emerson, Lake & Palmer.

Rhodes Piano (1965)

This produces a sound like a bell and a vibraphone. It is often played through effects pedals to produce a variety of effects similar to that of an electric guitar. A very similar (but slightly harsher) sound is produced by its main competitor, the Wurlitzer electric piano

Listen to Herbie Hancock/Miles Davis Bitches Brew

Hohner Clavinet (1968)

The clavinet is an amplified clavichord and became

synonymous with the sound of funk. Stevie Wonders Superstition

Minimoog (1969)

A more portable version of the Moog modular synth, bringing the classic analogue synth sounds to the mainstream music industry. The cutting lead synth slides are

instantly recognisable. It is a monophonic synth. Listen to Jeff Beck Led Boots. From 2:13 to the end of the track, Jan Hammer

demonstrates how the cutting sound of the Minimoog, along with use of the pitchend wheel, allows it to compete with the lead guitar.

Sequential Circuits Prophet-5 (1977)

polyphonic synth

analogue

capable of playing five notes at once. It was capable of producing a range of sounds, but retains distinctly analogue characteristics.

Paul McCartneys Wonderful Christmas Time features Prophet-5 throughout, with the opening riff making use of its polyphony.

Roland Jupiter-8 (JP-8) (1981)

An analogue synth capable of 8note polyphony Listen to Queens Radio Ga-Ga this features the JP-8 on the arpeggiated bass line after the drum intro.

Roland TB-303 (1982)

The

TB-303

was

originally

produced for musicians to jam along to, featuring a basic sequencer. It was largely

ignored on its release, but

demand soared after it was embraced by the dance music fraternity. It generates a bass synth timbre with a distinctly squelchy sound and is synonymous with the sound of acid house. The resonant filter gives the unit its distinctive sound.

Listen to Phutures Acid Trax this features the TB-303, demonstrating the use of the filter to create sonic interest.

Yamaha DX-7 (1983)

The DX-7 was the first commercially successful digital synth. It used FM (frequency modulation) synthesis to generate a wide range of timbres. As this synth is capable of producing a wide range of timbres, it was used by many artists to emulate other instruments, such as bells, electric pianos and brass instruments. It has a distinctly electronic sound and is widely used on many 1980s Brian avid use

recordings. Eno was an user, making of his

programming skills to produce interesting sounds that added sonic interest to many of his productions

Korg M1 (1988)

The introduction of the M1 caused the end to use of the DX-7 an other early digital synths, largely because of its ability to layer a wide range of sounds and its on-board sequencer. It is heard in a vast range of late 80s and early 90s pop music. Most of the available sounds were much more realistic because it was a sampling synthesizer. However, they still sound artificial compared to the sounds we have today.

After the 1990s, so many synths could produce such a vast array of sounds, you cant always tell one from the other. You would not be asked to be able to recognise a modern synth.

Glossary

Drawbar controls used to mix the waveform ratios in a tonewheel organ such as the Hammond. Portamento - gliding between two notes Leslie speaker a rotating speaker within an enclosure. Most often used in conjunction with the Hammond organ, which creates a phaser-like effect by means of the Doppler effect. Tonewheel a series of disks rotated by a motor in proximity to an electromagnetic pickup. Vibrato - vibration of a note

modular synth a synthesizer (usually analogue) made up of separate sections (such as oscillators, filters and envelope generators) that are linked together by signal cables. Monophonic a word to describe a musical texture in which there is only one part. Another definition is a synthesizer capable of playing only one note at a time. Arpeggiated a chord whose notes are played in succession is arpeggiated. On many synths an arpeggiator can be set to sound notes that are held down simultaneously in a particular scale or pattern. Polyphonic a word used to describe a musical texture in which two or more musical strands are heard simultaneously. Another definition is a synthesizer capable of playing more than one note at a time. resonant filter refers to the bandwidth of frequencies allowed to pass or the level of amplification of the cut-off frequency. frequency modulation where the frequency of a carrier signal is varied in accordance with a modulating signal. In audio, the carrier and the modulating signal are both in the audible frequency range, creating a complex waveform.

Listening Questions

Name each keyboard instrument in these tracks:

1. The Beach Boys Good Vibrations 2. Radiohead The National Anthem 3. Walter Carlos Switched-On Bach 4. A-Ha Take On Me 5. Queen I want to Break Free 6. Tubular Bells 2 7. Whitney Houston Greatest Love of All 8. Spanky Acid Bass 9. John Paul Jones Custard Pie 10. Queen Youre My Best Friend