Keyboards Not A Priority in Bands?

[pianodancer]

Hi guys,

The fact that this forum section received no threads is a simple example that bands do not put a lot of emphasis and priority on keyboard players.

Being a keyboard player myself, I am usually the last person to be roped into a band. They usually look for me when they wanna play a song that sounds ´incomplete´ or not tight enough and wants a keyboard to fill-in the gaps.

Hope to see more quality bands with a permanent keyboardist that brings immeasurable versatility to the music that bands can play.

 

[soft]

Hi Pianodancer

Thanks for starting off this thread! You are quite right about keyboardist been neglected in a band. But to think about it the other way, alot of keyboardist is happy comping away with his/her keyboard and computer at home. That is why we seldom see keyboardist seeking band members. :wink:

Hey, I like your music alot. If you ever do a performance, remember to give me a beep .

 

[pianodancer]

Hi soft,

Thanks for your appreciation for my music. What you say is pretty logical, and to put it another way, a keyboardist can create music individually, as compared to drummer, or electric guitarist, or bassist, who needs to come together (in a band) to create music. One problem with keyboardist is that the instrument is very bulky (drummers usually have drums on-location).

In fact, I just kick-started my old band and we´ll be making some music together again, after over 4 years of absence.

 

[soft]

Ha..ha... now you need to ferry your 88 keys around again??

 

[pianodancer]

Not the 88-key hammer one... too heavy... 20 kgs!! I´ll probably be using the synth-keyed one, about 7kg, more manageable and lot more patches.

 

[LuciferX]

most of the pop songs are done majorly by keyboardist rite???

 

[stevearson]

KB ???

keyboard players normally suck!
they need to play from score,
can't play by hear, SUCK !!!
and they SUCK big time ??!!

 

[soft]

stevearson

you just registered today and your first post is to trash keyboard players. i hope you are sincere about supporting music making.

 

[GrimBrody]

sincerely...

beg to differ..

a keyboardist in my opinion heightens a band's musical peak to whole new levels..and this is for bands who want to go further than just thrashing the metal zone effects and screaming into the mic.

i've got nothing against punk rock, metal or hardcore cos although they are of a different genre, they are still classified as music.

but thrashing keyboard players ain't the way to go if you wanna support the local music scene. you say they're

keyboard players normally suck!
they need to play from score,
can't play by hear, SUCK !!!
and they SUCK big time ??!!

can you play by score my friend?
we're in the music scene here, let's try to make peace. :wink:

 

[angeldogleslie]

Yea can u play by score ? tabs are way much easier to read den score.well my bands keyboardist can hera pretty well he can pick out the prob here n there and they CAN HEAR. Come on lar as a piano player you are trained to hear and recognise the notes lar.

Well wad i personally think that there are too many guit,bass,drums players who go straight into the instrument learn all the technique can play all the tough songs(by tabs). But they lack music theory. 1 example is they cant read scores.

i some frens who can play super tough songs like tenders surrender etc and have developed great technique but once u ask dem abt scales,read scores,wad chords,recog notes,tuning of instrument without auto tuner they are a total newbie.

Though i myself cant do all those so i'm not sayin tat we muct be like tat but wer should be like tat.

 

[Cheez]

Though I'm not impressed with stevearson's language, he did strike a raw nerve didn't he?

Most keyboardists either play by ear or play by sight. Both skills are important. A keyboardist who can do both well is a great asset to any band. That's why we must never stay at status quo in terms of our skills. Always practice, never take skills for granted.

 

[HaMLeT]

Hmm....looking at the comments...Shakespear might b looking for one..hehe.. :wink:

 

[SoulD_OuT]

Keyboardists rocks!

All i know is, keyboardist is as important as the drummer or the guitarist themselves. They add colour, feel and texture to the song and at most time leads the tunes and melodies for the vox.If you know what i mean...hehe well, all i know is, i cant imagine my band without one! hehehe...

 

[stevearson]

stevearson

you just registered today and your first post is to trash keyboard players. i hope you are sincere about supporting music making.

halo jim,

this is a true phenomenon!
and this is a wake up call for all keyboard players!
if not you keyman will be drown out to be dinosaurs


i'm not thrashing anyone,
at least i'm not an idiot going around to ask for money!
buy your T-shirt for $15? $10? F**K Y*U

free - i dun even wanna wear it!

 

[seekz]

Ignore his flaming. never think just wana anyhow flame.

Keys are impt. period.

Its has got the versatility that every band can benifit from.
But its the players that define the keyboardist role.

you can be a unknown/sideline kinda member like in Bon jovi or gnr's that izzy guy or something.

or you can be the shredding frontman rudess from dream theater
or just simply a front man, like Chris martin hahaha....

 

[stevearson]

keyboard players are a dying breed

just look at the scene, how many keyboard players are there?
they are a dying breed! dinosaurs in time to come!

bye bye miss american pie...

 

[GrimBrody]

well...

it would be good if we encouraged more individuals to take up keyboards as an instrument rather than verbally discouraging them for having the lack of skills.

:wink:

 

[Mr_KeyboardMan]

Dying Species Are u Sure???

just look at the scene, how many keyboard players are there?
they are a dying breed! dinosaurs in time to come!

bye bye miss american pie...

Yo stevearson, are you sure that keyboardist are dying species? Take a look of how many ppl taking that ABSRM grade 8 exam or how many people learning keyboard or piano at music schools.


The problem is not a matter of "How many" but it's "How COMPATIBLE they are in the band". Heck, i know lots of Grade 8 or even DIPLOMA student who dont know how to handle solos or play by ear or even band ethics (Some doesnt even know how to improvise in a band). Most of these "INCOMPATIBLE" keyboardist at most only contributes as the "Orchestra ensemble effect" player or those (Nice piano sentimental Intro or Fill Ins".


It's very hard to find who can actually Shred like Jordan Ruddess(Yeah, he rules!!!!) or Thelonious Monk ( he's a jazz pianist. He did steps to instruct the band on the Rhythm and He rules oso!!). These kind of Keyboardists or pianists who can actually rules are endangered species.

 

[Mr_KeyboardMan]

Continues ....

in Singapore i mean. Doesnt apply to some country

 

[Mr_KeyboardMan]

And i blame this on some music schools in Singapore which only teaches on how to play and not how to express your musical idea on the piano or even play with ATTITUDE and AUTHORITY.

Even if you learn classical, you should learn to be able to compose classical oso right. So being "Classically trained" is not an EXCUSE in the band to say "OH GUYS, can we skip the keyboard solo part" or "Sorry Guys, i don't have the scores for this song. Can we play other Song?". Heck, some of those Grade 8 Guyz are like a walking Music Dictionary.

To all keyboardist who felt they are in the category i mention, THROW your Scores and PLAY the music with your own FEEL and ATTITUDE.

Lots of GOOD Keyboardist in Singapore prefers to make musics in the comfort of their home or studio. As they are good enough to make music without needing any other band members (With a workstation and Computer, you can create your own symphony orchestra consist solely of YOU).

That's why you dont see much of GOOD keyboardists interested in joining a band.