“My keyboard is GM capable, what advantage is this for me and how would I use GM?”
Many of today’s keyboards and MIDI modules are GM (General MIDI) capable. This means that one of the banks of voices have been specified by the GM standard of instruments. Many traditional voices, such as Piano, guitar and orchestral instruments are combined with commonly used keyboard voices, such as leads, pads and effects sounds to create this standardized sound set. Who or why might one want to take advantage of the GM protocol? Well, because MIDI sequences are commercially available in almost every style and era of music, the possibilities are vast. If you sing or play an instrument, this could be a great way to practice. You could load a sequence in that is optimized for General MIDI and practice in the comfort and convenience of your own home without the need of a band or accompanist. Because you can set your own tempo, you can practice at your own speed to really nail that Jazz riff or perfect that vocal run. And, in many sequencers it’s easy to make changes to the sequence beyond tempo, making this even more appealing. You can’t easily change the pitch or key of a cassette or CD. And what if you wanted to add another Chorus to the end of your favorite song? Again, because this is MIDI information, most sequencers give you control over these basic parameters. If you’re a student of music, try loading in a sequence to study the arrangement. You could try the same if you want to learn more about the art and science of sequencing MIDI. Share MIDI files over email with your band mates for composition ideas. Really, the possibilities are open to your needs and imagination. General MIDI is easy to use and can be a great tool.