I’ve only just started the beginner lessons, and I have to say this has immediately improved my finger drumming.
I’m primarily a keyboard player (usually found behind a Juno 106 or a Rhodes), and I’ve always found standard MIDI drum mapping frustrating. Reducing the kit to the basic elements from the intro videos, the standard GM map looks like this:
36 C2 Bass Drum
37
38 D2 Snare
39
40 E2
41 F2 Low Tom
42 Closed Hat
43 G2
44
45 A2
46 Open Hat
47 B2 Mid Tom
48 C3 High Tom
49 Crash Cymbal
While this works for basic input, it’s not ergonomic for “performance” drumming. Based on Robert’s 16-pad layout, I’ve re-mapped my keyboard to this:
36 C2 Bass Drum
37 Cymbal
38 D2 Bass Drum
39 Clap
40 E2 Snare Drum
41 F2 Snare Drum
42 Closed Hat
43 G2 Low Tom
44 Closed Hat
45 A2 Mid Tom
46 Open Hat
47 B2 High Tom
The “Octave Mirror” Strategy I repeat this exact pattern across every octave. This means I never have to overlap my hands and I can access every sound with either hand. Having multiple keys for the same sound is a game-changer; having hats an octave apart makes that “back-and-forth lift” Robert describes very natural for a keyboardist.
Why not just use pads? I tried these lessons on an MPC One+, but as a keyboardist, it felt “off” for two reasons:
The Action: My muscles expect a certain “throw” or travel distance before impact. Pads have almost now travel which messes with my velocity control and timing.
The “Hover”: I naturally want to rest my fingers on the surface (like home row on a piano). On sensitive pads, this creates accidental ghost notes. On a keyboard, I can rest my fingers on the keys without triggering them.
I’m curious if any other keyboard players here have settled on a specific map that they find works for Robert’s more advanced lessons?
Wooo, very interesting! Yeah, it makes sense to do something similar with keys where you double certain notes. I can actually see how this gets you in the same spot as with 2 pad controllers (something people are doing already). I think the only thing the keyboard has that works a little against drumming is the travel of the key vs a direct hit on a pad, but it is actually not that different.
Check out this thread, where I put two xjam pads together—one for each hand. It’s what I use now, and though I’m only 10 months in, this feels like a super solid setup, and I can’t imagine going back to a single 4x4 grid. Also a piano player, so perhaps there’s something to that as well.
To more directly answer your question (as a keyboard player), I’ve settled on a hybrid of the FGDP map, which as I understand it, is really Robert’s map with a few modifications, which as I understand it, is someone else’s map with a few modifications (according to a video of Robert’s).
I’ve had no problem whatsoever following Robert’s lessons with my mapping or the FGDP one.
I can relate to wanting to rest your hands on the pads, but my guess in the long run wrt to your velocity point, is that your body would contextually learn which velocity was right, depending on setting. Get the pads, when you can.
Okay. I spent a weekend in a cabin out in the snow with only my MPC One Plus. I got used to the pads, and I have to say pads are nice.
I think the problem I was having before, with the pads was less about me being a keyboard player and more about the shelf I had my MPC on. There are other threads where people have pointed this out, but I didn’t realize it was so critical. You really need a rock solid surface for your controller.
In the cabin, I had a thick wooden table. At home, I had my MPC on a rack mounted shelf.
Right now, I still prefer the keys - the travel isn’t an issue for me, but maybe it will be. I’ll keep practicing with both.
Two things that have worked really well for me because I’m constantly on my couch are cutting boards and plastic trays. Cutting boards work the best, but the plastic trays are so much lighter and therefor more comfortable and portable. I mean those trays from a cafeteria that are really hard, btw. If I get the balance right on my lap, a plastic tray works like a charm (all of the notes sound as they should, and no power from my finger strike leaks through the midi device into my lap).
-David
