How to Play Auxiliary Keys

Keyboardists often approach playing a secondary part like the primary.

If we’re not careful, this could be detrimental to what’s happening musically. So what should an aux keys player play? What sounds should they use? And what advice is there for playing ‘second fiddle?' 

What is Auxiliary Keys?

Anytime you have two or more keyboard players, whether that's an acoustic piano with another keyboard or two keyboards or three keyboards. Anytime you have two or more, the second (or third) keyboard are called auxilary keys. The primary keyboard plays the main piano line. Often times they use both hands, arpeggiating the left hand and pulsing chords in their right hand. The aux keyboard player needs to play less than the primary keyboard. The aux keyboard player is probably going to be playing pads, some synth parts, or maybe some strings. The goal is to support what's happening on the main keyboard part.

Watch the video below as Ryan answers more questions about auxiliary keys. 

Ryan is currently the Worship Director at The Church at Wills Creek in North Alabama. He has been the keyboardist for many Christian artists and has served with several churches including Christ Fellowship and Church of the Highlands. Ryan is the keyboard instructor for WorshipArtistry.com and also works as a producer, music educator, and studio musician. Ryan has two children, Josiah and Vivy, and they love spending time on their 100 acre farm.

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Thanks

Submitted by Rojon on June 3, 2017 - 5:25am.

I really wanted these tips as I've started to play auxiliary keys at church.

Perfect!

Submitted by Tytus22@hotmail.com (not verified) on October 3, 2017 - 11:05am.

I have to teach a couple keyboardist the art of aux keys. This helps tremendously! Thanks!

What app are you using to

Submitted by Joe on June 6, 2017 - 9:06am.

What app are you using to change and layer parts? Thanks, great video!

He is using omnisphere

Submitted by Alwyn1 on June 9, 2017 - 4:13pm.

This is a program that you buy on your computer. The app he was using was OmniTR

What app are you using to

Submitted by Ryan King on June 21, 2017 - 3:41pm.

Hi Joe,

I'm using an app called Omni TR on my iPad. It's made by Spectrasonics and is a controller app for a piece of software called Omnisphere. Feel free to check out these vids:

https://worshipartistry.com/greenroom/keyboard/omnitr-tutorial

https://worshipartistry.com/greenroom/keyboard/omni-what

https://worshipartistry.com/lessons/getting-started-with-omnisphere

Great ideas

Submitted by ericrudd on June 6, 2017 - 2:27pm.

I posted this on your Youtube channel, but thought I'd share them here...

There is a lot of great info in this video. The analogy I often give...keyboard players should remember that they have the entire "orchestra" at their fingertips. There is a certain amount of responsibility that comes with having that much tonal range available. You wouldn't (necessarily) invite two complete orchestras on stage to play full on...all the time, and singers, and a full band, and....????? Twenty fingers?

As you suggest.. the main player might be covering the a majority of the arrangement and the aux keyboardist just needs to supplement with two or three "woodwind voices", for example. (I'm not talking specific sounds here...just the number of voices). Working in and around other instruments in the arrangement.

When playing pads....take 6 or 7 of your fingers and tie them behind your back. Find common tones that work through chords, for example. Let the bass player cover the low end. Minimal is better. Be mindful of what octave the worship singers are in...and perhaps drop down one or go up an octave. Makes room for everyone.

Experiment with playing in the verses only. Or only in the B sections. Or stretch the intervals (open up) on the choruses, because the electric guitar player just started power chords and is filling that "middle space."

Those are my initial thoughts.

Aux. Keyboard

Submitted by nancy resendiz on June 13, 2017 - 3:40pm.

Ryan, how can I find lessons on playing Aux. keyboard ? This is what I do, however, I would like to learn tips on how to play the pads or what pads are used in the popular worship songs. Do you teach this as well? The greenroom tip was very helpful, but I would like to see the pads played on songs. Also what kind of keyboard are you using?

Aux. Keyboard

Submitted by Ryan King on June 21, 2017 - 3:44pm.

Hi Nancy,

As far as the actual pad sounds, you can find those in the Tone section of each song. We don't breakdown each song for primary and secondary keyboard players, but if you learn the lesson for each song and just simplify your playing by holding chords and not playing the melodies, that should get you close to where you want to be.

I'm using a Roland RD700sx, but just as a controller. All of my sounds are coming from my computer and I'm using an app on my iPad to control those.

https://worshipartistry.com/greenroom/keyboard/omnitr-tutorial

https://worshipartistry.com/greenroom/keyboard/omni-what

https://worshipartistry.com/greenroom/keyboard/keyboard-rig-rundown

https://worshipartistry.com/lessons/getting-started-with-omnisphere

Hello

Submitted by MEDIUM on August 1, 2019 - 12:40pm.

Do you have congas?