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Get Alicia’s Electric Keys

What is the Yamaha CP-70 keyboard?

In the mid-1970s, a need arose for a touring instrument that could capture the sound and feel of a grand piano with added portable capabilities. The Yamaha CP-70 was built in 1976 as a solution to this problem.

Though it followed in the footsteps of a few other electric pianos, this Yamaha electric piano still pioneered a sound as it aimed to retain some of the timbres of a traditional piano. Unlike traditional pianos though, the CP-70 lacks a soundboard and uses shorter strings with pickups similar to a guitar’s. It also has its own built-in pre-amp.

As the instrument was designed for touring musicians, the CP-70 features detachable legs and a split design – meaning it can be broken down quickly while on the road. The build of the CP-70 gives the instrument a unique sound of a bell-like tone and a slightly metallic sustain.

The piano’s portability and built-in pickup system that could be plugged directly into a sound rig made it a trendy choice among popular musicians at the time, but its iconic sound has also been immortalized in many legendary studio recordings.

Who has used the Yamaha CP-70 keyboard?

Since its release in 1976, the CP-70 has been a favorite electric keyboard of artists from across the genre spectrum. A few of these musicians include Alicia Keys, Peter Gabriel, Toto, and Phil Collins, who, among many others, all use the keyboard’s signature sound in their songwriting. Listing all the users of the CP-70 is a mammoth task, as the keyboard’s distinctive sound has graced countless albums.

The use of the Yamaha CP-70 sound in so many recordings is what makes the keyboard an all-time classic electronic instrument, standing amongst legendary synthesizers like the Minimoog and drum machines like the Roland TR-909.

10 best songs featuring the Yamaha CP-70 Keyboard

With our historical context and understanding of the instrument out of the way, let’s take a look at some of the best songs of all time that feature the iconic and distinctive Yamaha CP-70 sound. It’s always difficult to narrow down a list like this, but here is our pick for the 10 best songs featuring the Yamaha CP-70.

1. “Girl On Fire” by Alicia Keys

It’s only natural that Alicia Keys would be first on this list. In “Girl On Fire,” she uses the Yamaha CP-70 to craft a powerful, emotive backdrop to her intense vocal performance. The piano’s unique tone enriches her modern R&B vibe, perfectly complementing Keys’ belting vocals. The Yamaha CP-70 sound adds depth and warmth to create a well-rounded production.

Advances in technology have made beatmatching easier. Use Traktor’s Sync function to match the tempo of two tracks together. For Sync to beatmatch perfectly, the beat grids on each track must be set correctly. If your tracks fluctuate in tempo, Traktor Pro 4 features new flexible beat grids so that any two songs can be beat-matched together.

7. Placing a mix

Placing a mix is about blending the tracks exactly where you want to transition. Most dance records have similar song structures; learning where to mix tracks together can become an intuitive process if you study their arrangements. A simple example of placing a mix is the intro to outro mix. Dance tracks (at the least extended versions) usually have a percussive intro and outro. When the percussive outro of track one begins to play, mix in the second track. Once you master this mix placement, you can work on tighter types of mixes.

8. Phrase mixing

Phrase mixing is the art of using the song structure of each track to create a smooth-sounding, professional mix. A phrase is a short section of music, generally eight to sixteen bars in length. Prepare your tracks by marking the phrases using cue points on your tracks in Traktor Pro 4. Cue up the incoming track so its first beat begins at the start of a phrase, and start the mix at the beginning of a phrase in the track that’s playing. If you get it right, the musical timeline in both tracks should line up nicely.

To learn more about counting music, check out our beginner DJ guide here.

9. Try different types of transitions

A DJ transition is the technique of changing from one song to the next while maintaining the steady beat of the music’s rhythm. The type of transitions you use in your sets will depend on the style of music you play. A few common transitions include the fade, the cut, and the bass swap transition. Master these transitions to start out, and you’ll be well on your way to creating interesting mixes!

10. Harmonic mixing

One of the best techniques that a DJ can learn is harmonic mixing. Harmonic mixing means mixing together tracks in compatible keys. Each track has been composed in a certain key and will sound good mixed with certain tracks but clash with others. Harmonic mixing allows DJs to mix together music that has melodic elements and create live remixes using vocal and instrumental stems. You don’t need to be a music theory master to use harmonic mixing, as Traktor Pro 4 and programs like Mixed In Key have built-in numeric systems to simplify this technique.

To get back to basics, a remix is a reinterpretation of a track using elements from the original as a foundation. In the simplest form of a live remix, DJs loop an instrumental section from one track and mix in a vocal and/or instrumentation from a second track, adding a fresh twist on the vocals.

The difference between a traditional remix and a live one is that the live remix is performed during a DJ set, while a traditional remix is created entirely in the studio. Live remixing is not just a fun way to get creative with your mix, crowds love it when they can connect to a track they recognize with a twist.

Tips for live remixing in your DJ set

1. Prep remixes to play

Taking the time to create a few remix ideas during a preparation session will help to improve your sets immensely. Start by creating one playlist of instrumental tracks. They could even all be in the same key. In a second playlist, compile together vocal tracks that work well with the instrumentals. Select these vocal tracks based on their key and tempo.

Get Alicia’s Electric Keys

What is the Yamaha CP-70 keyboard?

In the mid-1970s, a need arose for a touring instrument that could capture the sound and feel of a grand piano with added portable capabilities. The Yamaha CP-70 was built in 1976 as a solution to this problem.

Though it followed in the footsteps of a few other electric pianos, this Yamaha electric piano still pioneered a sound as it aimed to retain some of the timbres of a traditional piano. Unlike traditional pianos though, the CP-70 lacks a soundboard and uses shorter strings with pickups similar to a guitar’s. It also has its own built-in pre-amp.

As the instrument was designed for touring musicians, the CP-70 features detachable legs and a split design – meaning it can be broken down quickly while on the road. The build of the CP-70 gives the instrument a unique sound of a bell-like tone and a slightly metallic sustain.

The piano’s portability and built-in pickup system that could be plugged directly into a sound rig made it a trendy choice among popular musicians at the time, but its iconic sound has also been immortalized in many legendary studio recordings.

Who has used the Yamaha CP-70 keyboard?

Since its release in 1976, the CP-70 has been a favorite electric keyboard of artists from across the genre spectrum. A few of these musicians include Alicia Keys, Peter Gabriel, Toto, and Phil Collins, who, among many others, all use the keyboard’s signature sound in their songwriting. Listing all the users of the CP-70 is a mammoth task, as the keyboard’s distinctive sound has graced countless albums.

The use of the Yamaha CP-70 sound in so many recordings is what makes the keyboard an all-time classic electronic instrument, standing amongst legendary synthesizers like the Minimoog and drum machines like the Roland TR-909.

10 best songs featuring the Yamaha CP-70 Keyboard

With our historical context and understanding of the instrument out of the way, let’s take a look at some of the best songs of all time that feature the iconic and distinctive Yamaha CP-70 sound. It’s always difficult to narrow down a list like this, but here is our pick for the 10 best songs featuring the Yamaha CP-70.

1. “Girl On Fire” by Alicia Keys

It’s only natural that Alicia Keys would be first on this list. In “Girl On Fire,” she uses the Yamaha CP-70 to craft a powerful, emotive backdrop to her intense vocal performance. The piano’s unique tone enriches her modern R&B vibe, perfectly complementing Keys’ belting vocals. The Yamaha CP-70 sound adds depth and warmth to create a well-rounded production.

What is Alicia Keys known for?

Alicia is an multi-awarding winning artist known for her piano playing, vocals, and RnB, hip hop and classical music influences. She gained widespread fame with her 2001 album Songs in A Minor, and became a superstar thanks to the huge singles “Empire State of Mind” from 2009 and “Girl on Fire” from 2012.

How to create your own music with Alicia’s Electric Keys

You’ll learn how to create a song using Alicia’s Electric Keys. We’ll cover making a backing track with samples, composing chords, adding bass, making a melody, creating a counter-melody, organizing an arrangement, and mastering.

1. Making a backing track with samples

Let’s use some loops from Soul Magic Samples to begin our track. Start by setting your project tempo to 98 BPM.

5. Adjust your transition

You will need to determine the best type of transition to use to go from one track to the next. Depending on the phrases you selected, one type of transition may work better than another. For example, if you are transitioning from the end of a chorus to the beginning of a verse, a cut transition may work better than a fade.

On the other hand, if you’re mixing house music and transitioning from the outro of one track to the first verse of another, a fade transition may be more appropriate.

There is no right or wrong way to transition between two tracks – it’s more of an art to select an appropriate transition style. The genre you mix can play a factor in determining the type of transition to use.

To learn more, check out our guide on DJ transition techniques. If you’re just starting to learn how to DJ, take your skills one step further by learning more about DJing with Traktor and how to make your first DJ set.

2. Organize your music library

If you’re beginning as a DJ, you may not have much music yet. Start out by purchasing and downloading the music you want to play. Once you have some music, you’ll need to choose a place to keep it. The storage location could either be on your hard drive or laptop. Create one folder where you’ll store all of your music. You may want to create sub-folders in this main folder using genre names.

Import your music library in Traktor Pro 4 by dragging the audio files from your central storage location into Traktor’s track library. In Traktor, create Playlists to organize your music files. Right-click on the Playlists header and choose Create Playlist. Title the playlist according to the music genre (e.g., house, tech house, techno, etc.), an event you’ll play the songs at, and/or the month and year you purchased the tracks.

3. Collaboration with leading producers

Previously only available to Traktor Pro Plus subscribers, Pattern Player is a collaboration between Traktor and industry legends, including Rebekah, Luke Slater, Len Faki, Chris Liebing, Dubfire, and others. Bring the sounds of iconic drum machines and producers to your sets with percussion kits and signature drums, ready to layer over tracks and combine with effects.

How much does a Fairchild cost?

In the 1950s, the Fairchild 670 sold for around $1,000, which was expensive. Adjusting for inflation, that would be around $10,000 today. Only 1,000 units of the 670 were produced, and fewer 660s were made. As a result of their rarity and coveted industry status, you can expect to pay roughly $25,000 for a used Fairchild 660 or $35,000 for a Fairchild 670 in 2024.

Luckily, plugins like the Lindell Audio MU-66 make adding the sound of a Fairchild to your studio much more affordable. With modern features like a sidechain high-pass filter, dual-band functionality, an adjustable crossover frequency, parallel mix knob, SMASH switch, and NIVEAU filter, the MU-66 provides even more control and flexibility than the original hardware.

What is soulful R&B?

R&B has become a genre so big that it’s difficult to pin down and describe it accurately. There are vast numbers of subgenres that include pop crossovers, hip-hop elements, and electronic inspiration. Let’s look at what makes this genre so idiosyncratic. We’ll start with a bit of history.

R&B was originally a distinctly African-American music that emerged from roots in gospel and Afro-Cuban music. Emotive, often virtuosic vocal performances are usually at the forefront of this genre. The poignant lyrics that are penned by R&B artists speak to love, heartbreak, and the human experience. The music itself features lush arrangements and deep grooves.

While the original heavy hitters of the genre employed relatively simple instrumentals, artists in the 1970s like Al Green and Marvin Gaye pushed R&B forward with complex arrangements and sonic palettes. They established a tradition that remains to this day. R&B writers, artists, and producers utilize ultra-modern production techniques and interesting arrangements to achieve uniquely distinguishable soundscapes.

The soulful R&B songs we’ll look at incorporate funk, jazz, hip-hop, and pop elements into a modern sound that has influenced songwriters and producers worldwide.