Guitar chords for keyboard players

  • Thread starter Thread starter RKB
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RKB

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I want my sampled guitar chords to sound as real as possible. As a keyboardist, I can arrange the notes in a chord any way I want. But I realize that because of a 6-string limit, guitar chords are pretty structured and consistent.

Does anyone know where I can get a chart or something that will show me what 6 notes are played for any given guitar chord?
 
ya go to www.guitarists.net and look for their chord generator. they have a cool little java app that shows the desired chord with several different voicings, it is really cool and helpful.
 
The two most common barre chord voicing are:
root-fifth-octave-third-fifth-octave (the "E" voicing)
and
root-fifth-octave-third-fifth (the "A" voicing)
 
And don't forget to "roll" your hand across the keys. (Guitarists don't hit all six strings at the same moment)

You can easily simulate a strum that way....
 
RKB

For many years I tried various samplers, synths, software, etc. trying to get guitar chops out of a keyboard. Even though I had some basic guitar chops, I wanted to stay in the MIDI environment and I wanted to avoid buying guitars, amps, mic'ing amps, etc. etc. etc.

I came to the conclusion - it simply can't be done well! While you can get realistic solos, and even single pickin' (even power chords - to a limited degree) but trying to get realistic rhythem guitar riffs on keys is not a realistic goal.

A simple open E chord on a guitar covers over 2 octaves (very wide voiceing on a keyboard) and trying to get "strums" or "muted strums" is a trick not designed for keys. (The site minofifa suggests looks like it could be of help to you).

After much effort and expense (on sample libraries, etc) I finally started to spend an hour or two a day to get my guitar chops to a point that I could play the parts. It was much work, but satisfying (more satisfaction than loops and samples that never sounded quite right).

Naturally, I now spend money on guitars and amps instead of sample libraries, and I have yet another instrument to continuously learn - but I never claimed this was a good plan :D
 
When I got my Yamaha SW1000XG card some years ago, it included a sample MIDI file with a flamenco guitar performance that was jaw-dropping. I could tell it was synth, but then I play classical guitar. A layperson would have been easily fooled. I recall it used at least 8 patches, including fret noise, fingernails, etc.

Another thing to consider is that the timing of the notes in a strummed chord has to vary between downstrokes (low to high) and upstrokes (high to low) to sound realistic.

Also, when guitarists change chords when eighth-note strumming, there is frequently a 'scratch' chord that is really muted open strings or a partial chord formation as the guitarist moves his fingers to the next chord. It becomes part of the sound of the guitar.
 
I must concur with mikeh. I've yet to hear MIDI or sampled guitar done well. I've tried, but I just don't get the same results. I've run guitar samples through my POD, even an amp, used the right voicings, etc. Just doesn't sound right. The attack is all wrong, and the notes don't blend like a real guitar. (of course I'm talking electric).

What kind of music are you doing?
 
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