Members sludgebass69 Posted December 28, 2007 Members Share Posted December 28, 2007 ....and no, I'm not talking about being intimate with DRF! Who plays in a rock cover band with keys, and what does he (or she) play in songs where there aren't normally keys? Our keyboardist is a hell of a player, but I feel like he's trying to add too much to songs where there aren't even keys and is helping create a big wall of white noise in the process.....It could be the 2 half stacks, bass, drums, keys, and 4 vocals are just overwhelming my senses in our small practice space..... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Optimus Prime Posted December 28, 2007 Members Share Posted December 28, 2007 Sneak over when he's not looking and turn his volume down. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jonathan_matos5 Posted December 28, 2007 Members Share Posted December 28, 2007 break their left arm:confused: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ivanthetrble Posted December 28, 2007 Members Share Posted December 28, 2007 In my experience keyboard players are like harmonica players. They want to play all the time and the same volume even when the song doesn't call for it. Dynamics are a problem with keys unless they have some type of volume control. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members sludgebass69 Posted December 28, 2007 Author Members Share Posted December 28, 2007 break their left arm:confused: 2 handed chording would be part of the sonic mess....at least he's not playing alot of low stuff, it's more of a clash with the guits... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members PaulyWally Posted December 28, 2007 Members Share Posted December 28, 2007 In a Rock band, keys have to adopt the "less is more" attitude. I wouldn't have a problem with them adding keys to almost everything. But they have to learn to use the volume control. You don't need much volume at all to fill in the sound. If they have a problem with that... then maybe you need to find a different keyboardist. Personally, I can't tolerate "rockstars" who always have to be in the spotlight. If it were me, I'd tell him to turn down, or grab his {censored} and go. At the same time, I would make an effort to have some keyboard-oriented music in the sets so he/she wouldn't feel like a bastard step-child. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members coyote-1 Posted December 28, 2007 Members Share Posted December 28, 2007 WTF is it with so many 'musicians' that they don't LISTEN TO THE MUSIC as they are playing??? Anyone who's listening knows when not to play; anyone who doesn't has no business calling him/herself a musician. I used to know this chick singer/pianist. She was a GREAT example of what one ought do. She'd sing. She'd play piano, except when the song didn't call for it. Then she'd play tamborine, or cowbell, or clave, or maracas... anything that could contribute to the music. If none of the above would work, she'd play nothing at all. If there's no musical contribution you can make on a given number, go have a seat and a glass of water in the wings and enjoy the performance for a few minutes! What's so difficult about that?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members PaulyWally Posted December 28, 2007 Members Share Posted December 28, 2007 WTF is it with so many 'musicians' that they don't LISTEN TO THE MUSIC as they are playing??? Anyone who's listening knows when not to play; anyone who doesn't has no business calling him/herself a musician.I used to know this chick singer/pianist. She was a GREAT example of what one ought do. She'd sing. She'd play piano, except when the song didn't call for it. Then she'd play tamborine, or cowbell, or clave, or maracas... anything that could contribute to the music. If none of the above would work, she'd play nothing at all.If there's no musical contribution you can make on a given number, go have a seat and a glass of water in the wings and enjoy the performance for a few minutes! What's so difficult about that?? I think someone needs a little nap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members UK_Lefty Posted December 28, 2007 Members Share Posted December 28, 2007 At the auditions for my current band a guy arrived with some scaffolding... i thought he was the drummer. Turns out he was the keyboardist with a set-up fit for Wembley stadium. He hadn't heard of almost any popular songs from the last 40years, which was worrying. After 3 rehearsals he learned only one song and overplayed on it. On all others he just fiddled about aimlessly, even missing chord changes, and played sound effects. I told the guitarist "why don't i just do this then?" Turned on my envelope filter, chorus, distortion and gain and just whacked my bass indiscriminately to make a ridiculous noise. He got the point and the keyboard player never came back. I can see a good, tasteful keyboard player being an asset. Same as anyone - I'm sure a lot of guitarists, bassists and drummers overplay and have a bad attitudes/ questionable personalities too. I just don't like the crossover point between bass and keyboard, it needs a lot of work and understanding - possibly even separate jams just for the two of you if you really have to have the guy in - but for cover bands i can't see it being essential. Now I cover some melodic keyboard parts by playing harmonics, or the guitarist plays the part or we leave space. My theory is if it doesnt work with one guitar, bass and drums, its not worth the effort *in a lot of cases*. Especially in amateur cover bands where everyone has day jobs, family, and other things limiting the time they can all meet up - more people = more difficult to arrange a time to get together, more opinions, more delays, more ways to split the little pot of cash. If its just a matter of volume I'm sure he wont mind being asked to turn down, offer to stand him next to the PA speakers or give him a monitor so he can still hear himself properly. If the guy drives a van, owns a PA, prints all the posters, books decent gigs, and can get a crowd to see your band - then make sure you dont piss him off! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members The Real MC Posted December 28, 2007 Members Share Posted December 28, 2007 I think someone needs a little nap. No, he was dead accurate about players who are not mature enough to learn when and when NOT to play. Keyboard players don't have to play all the time. Neither do guitarists. Neither do bassists. Neither do drummers. Watch an orchestra and point any single musician who is playing 100% of the time - there isn't any. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members texasbassplayer Posted December 28, 2007 Members Share Posted December 28, 2007 On some songs we have 2 keyboard players, on some some we have none. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members rhat Posted December 28, 2007 Members Share Posted December 28, 2007 A volume pedal .. is a must for a keyboard guy. Typically the best way to slide into a mix and lay low where there isnt a keyboard part in the cover.. is to first , just use a single note in the bass,, and stay out of the base players way and use your right hand to do simple comps with a B3 patch. If you are playing with guitards that suck every inch of sonic space.... its almost impossable for a keyboard player to survive in that environment. In that case i suggest they just load out and quit the band. When you have players that cant share a mix, you are playing with rookies... and you wont live long enough to train them. rat Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Thumper Posted December 28, 2007 Members Share Posted December 28, 2007 I'm lucky. My keys guy doubles on guitar, so he has a better sense of dynamics. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Poltergeist Posted December 28, 2007 Members Share Posted December 28, 2007 one has to know when to play, when to stay in the pocket, when to solo... and one has to know how to shut the {censored} up sometimes as well... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Super Bass Posted December 28, 2007 Members Share Posted December 28, 2007 ... and one has to know how to shut the {censored} up sometimes as well... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Poltergeist Posted December 28, 2007 Members Share Posted December 28, 2007 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DevilRaysFan Posted December 28, 2007 Members Share Posted December 28, 2007 I try to stay out of the way....Theres a few songs we do (and especially as a sub player) that do not have keyboards on the recordings but I try to find appropriate timbres to the songs to compliment...another words, if its a ZZ Top song, a Hammond B3 sound just holding down the background is ( I think) appropriate....it may not be fun to just pad a B3 and stay out of the way but I always try and play for the song, not for myself or my own ego, and I know its the right thing to do......... theres a couple of songs I dont play at all and just sing...and then theres "Tic Tac Toe" by Kyper (actually, on that one, I have all the parts to Yes "Owner Of A Lonely Heart" sampled - that song is a one-finger fest for me ), "Funky Cold Madina" by Ton Loc, and "Honky Tonk Woman" by The Rolling Stones that I'll actually play a sampled guitar patch...Once again, not personally fun but the right thing to do........ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members sludgebass69 Posted December 28, 2007 Author Members Share Posted December 28, 2007 Yeah, I resisted that one........he put that on a tee for ya. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members sludgebass69 Posted December 28, 2007 Author Members Share Posted December 28, 2007 I try to stay out of the way....Theres a few songs we do (and especially as a sub player) that do not have keyboards on the recordings but I try to find appropriate timbres to the songs to compliment...another words, if its a ZZ Top song, a Hammond B3 sound just holding down the background is ( I think) appropriate....it may not be fun to just pad a B3 and stay out of the way but I always try and play for the song, not for myself or my own ego, and I know its the right thing to do......... theres a couple of songs I dont play at all and just sing...and then theres "Tic Tac Toe" by Kyper, "Funky Cold Madina" by Ton Loc, and "Honky Tonk Woman" by The Rolling Stones that I'll actually play a sampled guitar patch...Once again, not personally fun but the right thing to do........ This is all one more reason why you're so damn sexy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DevilRaysFan Posted December 28, 2007 Members Share Posted December 28, 2007 This is all one more reason why you're so damn sexy. Thank you, sir Ive learned a looong time ago that complimenting a song - regardless if I am playing bass or keyboards - will always net me more jobs and work in the future. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members countrybass Posted December 28, 2007 Members Share Posted December 28, 2007 I play in a top 40 country band with keys. Our guy does not only the appropriate keyboard stuff, but also steel guitar, banjo, and fiddle with his keys. But with rock there's just not that much extra stuff going on all the time. Does he play guitar too. If so he could do the rhythm guitar parts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members The Real MC Posted December 28, 2007 Members Share Posted December 28, 2007 I'm lucky. My keys guy doubles on guitar, so he has a better sense of dynamics. Keyboards are my primary instrument. I am also a decent bass player and can play decent rhythm guitar. In my last band, I was playing LH bass plus keyboard, with the occasional bass guitar duties. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DevilRaysFan Posted December 29, 2007 Members Share Posted December 29, 2007 In my last band, I was playing LH bass plus keyboard, with the occasional bass guitar duties. Half of my gigging schedule is as a duo like this ( including tonight and tommorow night) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Crescent Seven Posted December 29, 2007 Members Share Posted December 29, 2007 I have a hard time finding a place for keys in a band with two guitar players, especially in a rock band. There's only so much sound; if the keyboard player was also the rhythm guitar player, it would fit much better.C7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members james on bass Posted December 29, 2007 Members Share Posted December 29, 2007 Around here, finding a decent keyboard player is like pulling hens teeth. Not like the 80's when you could take your pick. My rock band last year auditioned a keyboard player. He was fantastic! Knew when to play and when not to. Played rhythm guitar and had a great voice. He had fun, but told us he couldn't afford to lug his gear around and become part of a 5 piece cover band - too much money to be made playing solo or in a midi-duo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Archived
This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.