Members pogo97 Posted November 12, 2017 Members Share Posted November 12, 2017 I play a stage piano on gigs and also pipe organ at a local church. But piano and organ are vastly different instruments that share only a similar machine-human interface. So I call myself a pianist for gigging and an organist at church. I don't like the term 'keyboard player' because it implies that I should be okay playing anything with keys -- synth, piano, hammond, pipe organ, what-have-you -- and that's not the case. Since I also sing and play guitar, I'm happy to be called a 'musician' but not 'keyboardist'. Thoughts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members 1001gear Posted November 12, 2017 Members Share Posted November 12, 2017 If I played keys on a tune I'd be "the keyboardist" otherwise waay not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members pogo97 Posted November 12, 2017 Author Members Share Posted November 12, 2017 If I played keys on a tune I'd be "the keyboardist" otherwise waay not. What sound do "keys" make? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members onelife Posted November 12, 2017 Members Share Posted November 12, 2017 I refer to myself a guitarist and a piano player - although I do play some organ and synth parts. Herbie Hancock said he used to consider himself a piano player but now he says he is a human being who plays piano. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members 1001gear Posted November 12, 2017 Members Share Posted November 12, 2017 What sound do "keys" make? Oh a nerfy clickety kinda sound. Slightly more towards thuddy on pianish instruments. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members pogo97 Posted November 12, 2017 Author Members Share Posted November 12, 2017 cool thuddy mine too Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Etienne Rambert Posted November 19, 2017 Members Share Posted November 19, 2017 I NEVER refer to myself as a pianist. Synth player, keyboard player, guitarist, bassist, whatever. But I never call myself a piano player or pianist, even when I play piano. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil O'Keefe Posted November 19, 2017 Share Posted November 19, 2017 I NEVER refer to myself as a pianist. Me neither. I don't deserve the title, and I've known too many truly great pianists to insult them like that. Synth player, keyboard player, guitarist, bassist, whatever. But I never call myself a piano player or pianist, even when I play piano. I'll take guitarist and bassist / bass player, and considering my engineering background I feel comfortable calling myself a synthesist / synth player / programmer, although I am far from the most technically adept player insofar as keyboard technique. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members wesg Posted November 20, 2017 Members Share Posted November 20, 2017 The term keyboard player for most of us is as accurate as describing a guitarist as a strings player. I detest the term. Why is our role defined in terms of the user interface type, whereas every other musician gets to play an instrument? Would you hire a bunch of wind players for an R&B band? It be would hilarious if you got two guys on clarinet and one on piccolo to play the introduction to "Soul Man". But, hey, they'll all wind players, right? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil O'Keefe Posted November 20, 2017 Share Posted November 20, 2017 Would you hire a bunch of wind players for an R&B band? It be would hilarious if you got two guys on clarinet and one on piccolo to play the introduction to "Soul Man". But, hey, they'll all wind players, right? I'm willing to give it a try, just as long as they can swing... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members moogerfooger Posted November 20, 2017 Members Share Posted November 20, 2017 Im a multi-instrumentalist Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members JazzMastaJim Posted November 21, 2017 Members Share Posted November 21, 2017 I started out as a pianist, but abandoned that once I realized how much more fun I was having as a keyboardist. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members nice keetee Posted November 21, 2017 Members Share Posted November 21, 2017 I've been called worse... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members pogo97 Posted November 21, 2017 Author Members Share Posted November 21, 2017 Just the other day a friend of mine said something like that: "I play acoustic guitar, but when I really want to have fun, I get out the electric." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ChipCurtis Posted November 22, 2017 Members Share Posted November 22, 2017 Hmmm... weird dilemma. I did start out as a "pianist" and I still consider myself one (especially after all those jazz lessons), but after I started getting into synthesis and organ technique, and eventually learned to master those as well, it was just easier to label myself as a "keyboardist", as it's one short term to cover all that I do, and it also implies that a "keyboardist" should know how to play ANY keyboard instrument, but may not be an 'expert' at any ONE of them. I'll admit, it's not a very 'sexy' term, but it's one short word to let bands know who you are. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members 1001gear Posted November 22, 2017 Members Share Posted November 22, 2017 I think keyboardists should be versed in arranging and orchestration and be able to articulate those skills through their synths. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Vito Corleone Posted November 23, 2017 Members Share Posted November 23, 2017 “Keyboardist” as I play just about anything with keys and none of them well enough to consider myself a specialist on any of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Outkaster Posted November 23, 2017 Members Share Posted November 23, 2017 Piano player, that is where it started. I play keys in a band because of logistics that's all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members koolkat Posted November 27, 2017 Members Share Posted November 27, 2017 Keyboard player. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Etienne Rambert Posted November 30, 2017 Members Share Posted November 30, 2017 Yes. I agree. And I've always been the arranger it seems - whoever I play with.It's why I took up keys way back when. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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