I started playing with a band this year, mainly R&B, funk, (a little jazz), pop stuff.

I never played in a band before, and I'm the only keys player, so would love any other people's thoughts, experiences, advice on the some of the following:

1. If you're the keyboard player, what do you tend to play? Mainly piano/e. piano, or do you try to do different "parts"?

I find that I try to re-create some signature "parts" from songs, usually on my synth (if i bring both to the gig)....or just add some color with strings here and there (usually single notes at at time).

BUt often there are so many layered keys parts it's hard to decide what to do: acoustic piano, Rhodes, both on top of each other. plus strings or horns lines

(our band is pretty basic, 1 guitar, 1 bass, me and drums, plus a great singer).


2. What do you usually do with your left hand? I rarely learn the bass parts cuz are bass player holds it down. so if i'm doing parts, i use LH to do chords on piano and RH to melodic string lines or synth lines.

But when i'm not doing both parts, i'm basically just doing octvas, or roots and 5ths with LH. not too interesing

3. I find that when sit down to play songs we do in our set on an acoustic piano alone, I don't necessarily "Know the song" to play that way, cuz I earned parts to blend inot the band, not doing it alone. Frustrating

4. Do you ever feel like you are playing the same thing over, and over, and over ina song? We do Boogie Ooggie Ooggie by Taste of Honey which is awesome, but the piano part is just the same thing repeated, plus the change for teh chorus. I don't do any otherpart (strings etc.) and the bass player does the signature bass riff, so sometimes I feel like "am Iplaying enough?"

I guess that's enough for now.

Very intrested in other's thoughts.

Sorry I'm of no help....

at least your getting a little movemnt in your finger work...

This keyboardist is really work'n it....
http://youtube.com/watch?v=SSwgVARbPIk



[Edited 9/21/06 9:02am]

Over the years I have simplified my setup from three keyboards to one. I used to do layers w/midi and horn lines and string lines... now I mainly do what I call rhythm keyboards. I concentrate on piano parts with a few riffs in- between. For the most part, when there are guitars, bass, and drums doing their thing, it doesn't leave much room for a lot of extra keys. Plus at this age (43), I need to travel light as possible.

love reading the replies. i started teaching myself piano/keys about a year and a half ago. since i play solo, i have to learn all parts, i dont think i would even know how to go about playing with "others" LOL. would love to learn/try though.

txladykat said:

wow! that is impressive...teaching yourself! i never get how osmeone can do that.

but Prince did!

now I have decided to be venturesome. Bought an acoustic this weekend. Self teaching, so definately going to start another thread asking for pointers! LOL. This is definateling going to be harder than teaching myself keys!

txladykat said:

tha'ts great! congrats. where/what kind did you buy?

i started on acoustic as a child. from what i hear, it's best to start there, esp if you play solo. i'ts harder to go the other way (from a keyboard to acoustic). you have to really learn to control you fingers, pressure, how you dig into the keys to get different tones (may not be the right word).

GaryMF said:

I honestly dont remember the brand. Picked it up at a pawn shop. I would recognize it if I heard it though. Yea, one thing I have learned just over the past couple days, I have to cut back my nails (and I worked so hard to keep them long), and seriously build up some calluses (I put lotion on several times a day to keep them soft). What a trade off huh? LOL

The finger control and pressure thing definately is hard. Heck, it took me the first two days just to learn to place my fingers right so I could play the scales! But, I am determined! I will succeed, bloody, stubby fingers and all!

txladykat said:

yes piano teachers don't like long nails

but i don't remember having to build up calluses. that is something i've heard of for string instruments like guitar or bass.

it might not hurt to have a teacher or pro look at your form..... better to make sure your hand placement is right now before you learn bad habits. (then again, many pros play the "wrong" way all the time).

btw you don't always dig into the keys.... it's just one way to get more expression.

alot of my songs have complicated piano parts so i have to use pre-recorded midi tracks on my laptop with software instruments like Elektrik Piano,
usually only for simplistic pad structures...
Thats only when im using both hands doing a regular piano track

Usually my setup on the keys is i have my keyboard setup in halfs,

i have the left hand side, setup in a pad/rhodes setting so i can make chord phrasings with my lefthand
and the right side at a lead phrasig, which could range from sine/legato synths leads, to piano or clav.
but im on the keys only for two or three songs on a set since im the lead singer and lead guitarist...

its best to simplyfy your keyboard playing to one keyboard...
ive tried the double keyboard playing, and it just frustrates the shit out of me,
without rigorous practice using a paticular setup, you get easily confused...
so i wouldnt reccomend it for a newbie keyboardist, playing live...

find a versatile keyboard, Right now i have an Alesis QS6.2 for live gigs,
great...
love it
but like i said, i only get to use it for one or two songs
sometimes my keyboardist uses it, but he sticks to his Triton

GaryMF said:

LOL, I was talking about the guitar...keys i know, i taught myself that. bought an acoustic this weekend, and now plan on teaching myself....that is why i say the calluses.

txladykat said:

Ohhh! I thought you mean an acoustic piano!

EmbattledWarrior said:

Very intersting! thanks for replying.

See I find it simpler to have 2 keyboards.. although it's a bitch to lug them to the gig.

trying to split my keyboard is more confusing to me. cuz if i split the lower half to piano and top half to strings, then i have to adjust the octvaes and stuff, which isn't that easy on a Yamaha p90 (you have to remember Function codes). having two keyboards i know which board to play for the particular sound. although i sometimes can't decide which hand to do what with .

txladykat said:

How do you find the time to pratice, do have husband, family, etc?

lonelygurl8305 said:

actually yes. I have a full time job, a husband, two kids at home, and four more kids at home part time. If it is something you desire, you just have to find the time. I average about 4-5 hours of sleep a night.

txladykat said:

I want to learn how to play sooooo bad...thats really good that you still find the time to pratice, I'm not married, no kids,etc...I dunno want to be like a guitar/keyboard master, I just would like to learn how to play...I took lessons when I was younger, but I wish to the core of my heart that I had kept up with them...you need hobbies to take you away from everyday life!!

I've going to stop watching so much TV and being on the internet cause I feel that both TV and the internet are time wasters plus I could be practicing!!!