PianoMonk Where's the sheet music? Did you play this from memory?

I decided that if I want to learn blues, I need to learn to play those from memory 🙂 Arguably "learning my lines" is taking me even longer than to master the lesson itself 😃

PianoMonk > Where are the cats?

They were around ^_^ But Simba enjoys lying on the Clavinova more, because there is no room for him on the e373. The kittens were actually singing in the background, but you didn't hear that because... (see below)

PianoMonk So, many questions.... Why did you decided to record the 373 over the Clavinova? The e373 sounds fine, even through the speakers, which is a bit of a surprise.

Very nice questions indeed 😃 I wanted a drum track, so the 373 won out this time. Also, it has a feature that the Clavinova doesn't have: a USB Type B to USB Type C connector. Which means I can connect the 373 directly to my S24 Ultra and use the Rec'n'Share app to record. I can't tell you how often I have had to abandon recordings on my Clavinova because there was some loud bang somewhere - or even because the pedal decided to make a huge clicking sound. I think that explains why the sound quality is so good, because it doesn't get picked up by tinny phone speakers, but it is using direct audio output.

PianoMonk I'm still thinking about the e383, but afraid I'd miss the hammer action.

Me too, and my previous lesson showed how much you have to adjust... WieWaldi called it "barking tones", but also some notes didn't sound at all because you have to be a lot more exact in your attack. Which I actually consider a good thing, because it shows much more ruthlessly where my playing is sloppy 🙂

But you are right, I wouldn't want this to be the only piano. I know the Clavinova is not quite at the same level as an actual acoustic, but it sure comes close... and I would really miss the action too if I were confined to just the keyboard.

            Sophia Oh, I didn't realize you recorded it from the usb. That's why I thought those speakers sounded so good. Doesn't the s24 have an audio input to go from Clav? I guess audio inputs are so 1990s.
            Anyway, after listening with headphones, you sound good. The panning from that electric piano preset is a little distracting, and the e373 does have that nice grand piano.

                Sophia Also, it has a feature that the Clavinova doesn't have: a USB Type B to USB Type C connector.

                According to the sound quality, it was kind of obvious you didn't use a microphone. No room atmosphere, no key noise, nothing. Sterile like my recordings. I just expected you to use a analogue signal like line-out or a headphone out and always wondered, why you don't do this on the Clavinova, too. Just forgot, your keyboard is similar equipped like mine:
                Only 1 headphone jack and USB-to-host for digital recording.

                Btw, nice pedal. Was this included at your bargain price? And what about the X-stand?

                    PianoMonk The panning from that electric piano preset is a little distracting,

                    Panning? Do you mean what I would call delay or echo effect? If so, it distractred me a little bit, too. Just imagine how good this sounded without that effect 😮

                        PianoMonk I guess audio inputs are so 1990s.

                        Haha yes and so is the Clavinova... it's probably 25 to 30 years old though I'm not sure how old EXACTLY - it came as a package deal together with a husband. And then remained unplayed for two decades. It has midi output but no audio out... so I record everything the hard way (just my phone mic) 😁

                        WieWaldi Btw, nice pedal. Was this included at your bargain price? And what about the X-stand?

                        Nope, neither! I got both the pedal and the stand from Amazon separately... and I see both have gone up in price since. Oh wait, no I got the package deal and I did indeed pay $73 (+tax).

                        WieWaldi Panning? Do you mean what I would call delay or echo effect?

                        Oh I missed that comment... what do you mean PianoMonk? What panning/delay/echo effect would that be?

                                I was considering to have a grown up pedal, too. But decided for the toy pedal + transport bag, because I want to have a small and lightweight package for travel. And when I decided, I thought: "Pedal? I'll never use it. So, why carrying extra weight for nothing? But if I really need a pedal, then I have one."

                                Edit: So you invested the savings of the discontinued model wisely 🤓

                                  WieWaldi So you invested the savings of the discontinued model wisely 🤓

                                  Yuppp!! Did I ever mention that pedals are my fascination? Ok, only a hundred times. But, it bears repeating: pedals are my fascination. Plus I figured that a keyboard might need replacing someday for a new/better model... but a stand and GOOD pedal are probably good for life 🤣

                                    Sophia A common feature on the original electric pianos, like Fender Rhodes, Wurlitzer 200, was a tremolo, similar to that on organs. Later on, when stereo was available, this tremolo could be oscillated from left to right to left, on and on, and with headphones it's very noticeable. This effect is called panning. Without seeing the e373, I would guess that preset has that effect turned on, but it's probably adjustable as to how much, speed, or even turn off.

                                    Your Clavinova doesn't have a headphone jack? I thought even the earliest models had one. If you discover that it does, that can be used to record audio. But, you'd still need that "stone aged" audio input on your phone, or whatever your recording on.

                                    By the way... most modern phones have pretty good microphones. So, nothing to do with the little speakers on the phone. My relatively old iphone SE has a microphone good enough to record bird songs from around our yard with surprising clarity. And, it also has the 3.5mm headphone/mic jack, which is one of the reason I still use it.

                                      Ahhh I see! Thank you for that. I was wondering if you were talking about a keyboard setting or my lack of playing skills, because either is equally conceivable 😃 I haven't even scratched the surface of all the bells and whistles of my e373; it could very well be possible to adjust it. Another thing that puzzles me is the lack of documentation on the built in features such as a list of all the sound banks. It does have a few manuals etc, but the documentation still leaves a lot of guessing!

                                      I'm pretty sure that the Clavinova has a headphone jack in the back. I'm rather stone aged myself though, so I'm happy to mount the phone on a tripod and record that way, hoping that no one coughs, sneezes, meows or bangs around too noisily.

                                      Have you decided on the e383 yet? 😋

                                        Sophia At this very moment, the e383 is on sale for $169 on Amazon, and Sweetwater, and Musician's Friend. So, it might be a perk from Yamaha. I've had a few pangs, and if I did buy it, I'd get it from Amazon, because of the free returns. SweetH2O and MF offer free returns on items that are either damaged or have a defect. Where Amazon will pay the return shipping if the buyer's expectations are not met, as long as that privilege in not abused. I'm just not sure if I want another instrument, or if it would help me to play any better.

                                        Page 68 of the e373 manual shows all of "voices", which I think is what Yamaha is calling the sound banks.

                                          Sophia I forgot to mention... that you played that lesson from memory is impressive, especially since you haven't been at this very long. Do you listen to blues? Maybe some old players (actually dead players, like Howlin' Wolf, Muddy Waters) that have some fine piano going on in the rhythm section? Early "John Mayall and The Bluesbreakers" albums has some great piano.

                                          I notice that you keep good time with your metronome, or drummer, which is good, technically speaking. But fiddling with the meter is part of what blues players do to carve out their take on a tune. All of the players I've ever played blues with liked to hit just before (push), or just after (pull) the beat. Push gives a sense of momentum; pull can have a laid back effect. I know you're just beginning these lessons, and offering up the idea of playing before or after beat one of a measure might sound counterproductive, but this is a way to liven up your licks.

                                              Thank you!!!! I really appreciate the help and suggestions ^_^ I grew up in a mostly classical household, so I'm not all that familiar with blues - though obviously I love it whereas I positively hate modern rock(us). I think I know what you're saying about pushing or pulling the beat... I'm too close to being a metronome myself, which is probably good if you're a speaking clock, but more than likely less useful in music 😅

                                              I must listen to more of your submissions and that of others who contributed blues/jazz here, to see what I can learn. Please keep offering your ideas/suggestions for improvements/kicks in the butt because I need all the help I can get 😃 When I get a little better, perhaps I should try to play along with the old Masters and see if I can get that laid back/momentum stuff in my fingers (brain) too 🙂

                                                Sophia You're welcome. It's much better to be able to play with a metronome, like you, and be able to work around it a bit, rather than not able to keep good time. So, you're off to a good start.
                                                My blues playing days are about 30-40 years behind me. And most of that was guitar. These days, I can't play as fast, and I get bored with the three chord form. Although, it's fun to revisit.

                                                  PianoMonk All of the players I've ever played blues with liked to hit just before (push), or just after (pull) the beat. Push gives a sense of momentum; pull can have a laid back effect.

                                                  Stu Harrison mentioned this pushing of notes, demoed it, and I instantly knew what he was talking about. Sometimes I happen to push a note and I think it sounds really cool. Unfortunately I can't reproduce it consistently. Never tried to pull a note, but good to know there is something and what for it is. Thank you.

                                                  @Sophia, I am back at my parents place until Sunday... This Casio - it isn't a piano. Feels like a toy. Good enough to learn a melody, learn new notes, but not to really practise something to make it sound lush. The pedal is a toy, but still I think the spring loaded action is the greater problem of both. Don't expect me to make progress the next days, but maybe I can try to play through the entire lesson without playing wrong notes here and there. This is what the Casio is good for: pressing the right keys, but not pressing them right.

                                                      Right, it's nice to get these things pointed out, otherwise we sound like a precision clock... ok... not a FAST clock, but still, not exactly the effect that we want in blues. Deep down inside I knew it, but it's nice to hear it all the same 😃

                                                      Have a good time WieWaldi! Enjoy your time with your parents! No rush to get the lesson done, it gets done when it gets done 😃 I haven't started mine yet... I have a flea up my bum to finalize the Chopin piece first. Plus my brain needs some time to recover from lesson 13 and make room for new memories... 💾

                                                        WieWaldi Stu is a great player, and does some fine demos. Playing ahead of, or behind, the beat is definitely a "feel thing", something to be used tastefully. In my very humble opinion.

                                                          Sophia Here's another tidbit....
                                                          With blues, and some jazz, written eighth notes together are often played as if they were a dotted eighth and a dotted sixteenth. Instead of da-da-da-da, all even, more like dee-da dee-da, long short but takes up the same amount of space in the bar. This is how you swing! Now add the push, pull, and you can really mess with the meter. But don't do this with Chopin. At least, not where someone might hear you doing it.

                                                            Sophia Here's what Jamey Aebersold has to say about the metronome:

                                                            And he knows a lot more about blues and jazz than I do.
                                                            If you aren't familiar with Jamey, his site: https://www.jazzbooks.com/ has Play-a-Long book/audio sets, as well as many jazz and blues theory books.

                                                                Thank you PianoMonk! ❤️ Such great advice all around.

                                                                PianoMonk If you aren't familiar with (...)

                                                                The things I am not familiar with when it comes to this type of music could fill up a quantum computer so trust me when I say that every little tidbit of information helps 😃

                                                                    Sophia You're welcome. I think artists, musicians, creative people in general should share ideas, or what works for them, or even some things that didn't.
                                                                    Here's an historical reference of my "blues cred", circa 1987:
                                                                    Link
                                                                    Not piano, but 16 bar form, three chords.