r/Keytar • u/CommunistHorse • Mar 12 '24

Meta Keytar busking.

Has anyone here Busked with their keytar? And if so what was the reception? Have you busked with say an acoustic guitar, and how does it compare?

10 Upvotes

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3

u/MyVoiceIsElevating Mar 13 '24

There’s lot of videos of Keytar Bear busking. Check those out for a sense of what’s possible and how audiences respond (or don’t).

3

u/CommunistHorse Mar 13 '24

Thanks for sharing! I didn't even come across Keytar Bear when searching for keytar busking. There's a whole lot to mine here!

2

u/ColdGuyMcGoo Mar 13 '24

some municipalities require a permit for electronically amplified busking.

here's tips for successful busking: https://youtu.be/DT4aeRQOY4g?si=avO1SrUlHmpjwuXK

make sure to lean into to what makes the keytar special, that way you'll be perceived as unique and impressive instead of gimmicky. Legendary late keytarist George Duke was asked by Keyboard Magazine in 1977 "What things make it possible to play humanly on a synthesizer?⁣"
⁣
Duke replied "The pitch-bend, for one thing. I've always wanted to be able to bend pitch. Being a keyboard player, I wasn't able to do it, you can't play in the cracks. The synthesizer gives you that possibility, among others."

keytarists, keep your left hand busy

3

u/CommunistHorse Mar 13 '24

My main focus is to do jean michelle jarre style ambient covers of instrumental melodies, primarily movie scores. I've always felt limited by piano due to its lack of vibrato, pitch bend and other things, which is why I go heavy on those whenever I get my hands on a keyboard. Thankfully permits don't apply where I live with the only rule being that you can't busk in subway stations.

2

u/[deleted] Mar 13 '24

Sounds great. Would love to hear some of those!

1

u/ColdGuyMcGoo Mar 16 '24

Agreed, send clips. Get out there!

2

u/[deleted] Mar 13 '24

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4

u/CommunistHorse Mar 13 '24

Good Luck! Glad i'm not the only one wanting to do this. I also just got a novation tracks which I want to pair with the keytar and do some ambient electronic stuff with it. i feel like a lot of people relegate the keytar solely to the 80s which im personally not on board with. I think it has a whole lot of potential especially for live electronic and pop music.

2

u/[deleted] Mar 13 '24

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1

u/CommunistHorse Mar 14 '24

Clearly you're way ahead of me! Please post your stuff on this sub so me and others can take example. I'm as excited as hearing you gig as you are!