Yamaha EZ-EG Demo Tune

[SecondSkin]

Check it out here.

I have made no effort at musicianship (I make house music - I'm not supposed to be a musician ). Oh, and the bass is overmixed because I overcompensated for the mpeg compression.

With the exception of the drum loop, all tracks were composed via midi with the Yamaha EZ-EG midi controller. Trust me, there's no way I could play this stuff on my keys!!!

What I have attempted to do is to include every possible guitar cliche to see how it would sound with midi instruments. I think I got nearly everything in there -- hammer-ons, pull-offs, chords, scales, tremelo bar, slides -- everything but string bends (probably should have thrown a trill or 2 in there also). I left all the stray notes in there (and there are quite a few) so you could hear the tracks in the raw. Real guitarists will have better results. Anyway, judge for yourself.

All sounds are from Sampletank Free ( 4 string bass, Acoustic Guitar, Piano, Strings, and Brain Damage EG). I did not use any of the EZ-EG internal sounds (not sure why anyone would want to, but maybe I'll post separate demos of them if anyone wants). In any event, I'm having a blast with my new toy...and I finally learned how to play a blues scale!

Mark

[VicDiesel]

Your bass rhythm plays these 2 eighth notes on 3&. Now listen to how often the drum, the acoustic guitar, the piano, some electric guitars, all hit that same rhythm.

You should really try for some independence between the parts.

EDIT but that wasn't the point, I know.

V.

[Quakemazer]

Thanks for sharing the demo. Pretty cool may have to pick one of the EZ-AG's up soon. If nothing else just having a different controller could lead to inspiration during dry spells. On top of that my guitar playing dad could probably lay down some mighty fine licks with this thing. Sounds like fun! Later mang...

[vurt]

that is one cool piece of kit man
may have to add one now ive heard it in action

thanks for all the help regarding thsi

[bastien]

Where can I get an EZ-EG in the UK? I must have a whammy bar!

[SecondSkin]

You should really try for some independence between the parts.

EDIT but that wasn't the point, I know.
V.

Hey, thanks for the comments anyway. It is honestly flattering that you thought enough of it to bother. If it were to ever become a real song I would probably add a bridge with some rhythmic counterpoint (like emphasizing beat 1 instead of 3&).

It was fun making the track anyway, since it is so different from what I usually do. Also, playing the EZ-Eg with sampled guitars was an entertaining challenge (kinda like a video game) because it could have been done very easily with real guitars...

may have to add one now ive heard it in action

...but as a midi controller it actually works better with synth sounds that you can taylor to the way the controller performs (especially by turning up the velocity sensitivity so fretting notes isn't so noticible.)

[dusted william]

I know what I'm gonna buy next:)

dw

[kara]

This is a perfect example of the capabilities of the EZ guitars, which I own allso.

I play it for 6 months now and am very satisfied with it. Still, I saw something interresting in the original post. You talked about hammer ons and pull-offs. I know that hammer ons work with the EZ but I never managed to play pull ofs, I tought this didn't work, since a midi mote is only trigered when you hit a snare or push a fret.

So how do you play pull-offs ?


Rony

[virtual virtuoso]

So how do you play pull-offs ?

I got used to play a string first, then pull off. Is there any other way?

(edit: sorry, bucodi, I did not read yours properly, as you mentioned that already...)

tom

[kara]

I got used to play a string first, then pull off. Is there any other way?

tom

Yes I know that's how you do play on a real guitar but I was talking about the EZ.

I tought this didn't work, since a midi mote is only trigered when you hit a snare or push a fret.

Rony

[virtual virtuoso]

Yes I know that's how you do play on a real guitar but I was talking about the EZ.

Yeah I did not read properly

On a real guitar, however, you could start a trill (?) right away with pulling off - no use of your other hand. That will only work on the EZ whith exact timing but is really not the same as 'pulling off'.

Having played the EZ for about 9 months now (a bit less lately as I finally bought a cheap guitar and V-Amp 2 ) I have no problems with pulling off as long as I remember to always use the pick. Only problem is that I'm used to hammer on the next lower string - then of course it won't work anymore.

So I, too, am very much interested in getting to know if there's a different way. But I do not think so.

tom

[kara]

Having played the EZ for about 9 months now (a bit less lately as I finally bought a cheap guitar and V-Amp 2 ) ...
tom

If you want to sell it, I would be interested. I use mine live on stage and I'm looking out for a spare one.

Rony

[virtual virtuoso]

I just don't have the time to concentrate on two things - real and 'fake' guitar. Let alone the place around my desk to keep them both ready to be played.

EZ was a thing I had been looking for for years - so no chance I'd sell it (unless I'd be able to raise a fund to buy a Starr )

tom

[kara]

ok, thanks anyway Tom

Rony