what is trip-hop?

the styles of trip-hop

essentials

essential recordings

chord progressions

tips and tricks

triphoppin radio

links

contact me

Trip-hop essentials (for producers/musicians)

01 pianos 02 virtual pianos 03 synths 04 VSTs 05 sequencers 06 sample CDs 07 mics/efx

PIANOS

When it comes to pianos, nothing is more common in trip-hop than the Fender Rhodes Mark I Stage 73 electric piano. It is THE preferred sound. The Rhodes has been used in popular music for decades. The sound coming from it is just unbelievably beautiful, and versatlie. The Rhodes can be heard on most notably, Portishead's masterpiece "Roads" (the name is a play on words, and a reference to the piano), a beautiful Rhodes line with a heavy tremolo effect applied to it. It is also heavily used by Morcheeba, especially on their first two albums. It is heard EVERYWHERE else... in some way or another, entire albums or single songs, the Rhodes always makes its presence known. Going price - $450 (used)

Also used as frequently as the Rhodes, is the Wurlitzer 200A electric piano. Lovingly nicknamed the "Wurly", the Wurlitzer 200A electric piano has been around just as long as the Fender Rhodes, and is heard in earlier recordings from Ray Charles, Stevie Wonder, Queen (especially the song "You're My Best Friend"), Supertramp, and much more. The sound can vary from soft and warm, to biting and "rockin'". Included is a tremolo knob for that trippy, retro-influenced sound. The Wurly can be heard most clearly on Portishead's song "Undenied" (the main line that goes throughout the song, and kicks the song off). Used most frequently by Portishead and Morcheeba (before Skye left the group), but also used by countless newer indie artists including The Working Title and Rob Dickinson of Catherine Wheel, the Wurly is loved by basically everyone, and has an absolutely identifiable, unique sound. Going price - $500 (used)

hear it in action!
( by Frederik "Figge" von Wachenfeldt)

here some more (with trippy beat, and other accompaniment)
(by Martin Kaufmann)

And of course, you can never go wrong with the sound of a traditional grand piano. Pianos in general (electric and acoustic grands) are a staple in trip-hop music. There's just something about the sound of a piano that lends itself to so many styles: classical, jazz, rock, blues, world, and ambient.... all styles that present themselves in trip-hop, in one way or another.