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Adding keyboard.. to a three piece?

Discussion in 'Band Management [BG]' started by ding_man, Jul 30, 2009.

  1. Jul 30, 2009 #1
    ding_man

    ding_man

    Dec 24, 2006
    Celina, OH
    I kinda got inspired to ask about this from another "three piece outfit" ...

    I think it would be kind of cool to have a guitar, bass, drum cover band trio.. but also have some keyboard gear on stage. Just to add a couple licks here and there. Now the idea of it seems cool, but would it be worth it?

    I'm thinking like piano based songs that I could play, or intros, or licks...

    Obviously I can't play bass and keys at the same time... well maybe if I'm rocking an open string :p

    How probable is this? I've seen it done, but is it worth it?

    Songs examples of what I'm thinking about...
    piano lick from Closing Time - Semisonic
    Piano Man - Billy Joel
    Intro of This Love - Maroon 5
    The Doors
    Werewolves of London
    Born to Be Wild.. open E and organ riff? Might be hard haha.


    What do you guys think..

    Discuss.
     
  2. Jul 30, 2009 #2
    Past 11

    Past 11

    Nov 16, 2008
    Give it a shot...but I'm usually skeptical when a band member gets the idea of doing double duty on keys. Seems like something is usually sacrificed. You could always foot pedal bass notes...but for me that just doesn't cut it on a lot of songs. Piano Man/Werewolves look tricky too.

    Song choice is key (no pun intended).
     
  3. Jul 30, 2009 #3
    nortonrider

    nortonrider

    Nov 20, 2007
    Look out Geddy Lee, here comes ding man
     
  4. Jul 30, 2009 #4
    xgator4u

    xgator4u

    Jan 10, 2009
    Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S.A.



    Don't tell Geddy Lee, He has been under the mistaken impression that you CAN do both, for some 30+ years now.
     
  5. Jul 31, 2009 #5
    ding_man

    ding_man

    Dec 24, 2006
    Celina, OH
    I think he uses midi pedals mostly doesn't he?

    I wouldn't go through all that haha.
     
  6. Jul 31, 2009 #6
    Munjibunga

    Munjibunga Retired Member

    May 6, 2000
    San Diego (when not at Groom Lake)
    Independent Contractor to Bass San Diego
    We had a singer audition one time, who said, "You guys have a keyboard player ... you can do anything." He was right. Don't know what ever happened to that guy.
     
  7. Jul 31, 2009 #7
    rockdoc11

    rockdoc11

    Sep 2, 2000
    I'm a longtime bassist, and played for several years in a three piece. We wanted some keys as well, and since I knew a few keyboard chords, for a few songs each night I became bassist/keyboardist (Comfortably Numb, Ready for Love, and a few others). I bought a Yamaha SO3 to use as a "bass" keyboard (with my left hand), and ran it through an A/B box into my bass rig. I used a Roland keyboard as the "keys", using only my right hand for chords and occasional single note runs..

    I actually quite liked it, and it was a great change of pace from just playing bass all night long.
     
  8. Jul 31, 2009 #8
    xgator4u

    xgator4u

    Jan 10, 2009
    Fort Lauderdale, Florida, U.S.A.
    OH, and those also. So now you have Bass, Keyboards, and Midi pedals, all in the same song.
     
  9. Aug 1, 2009 #9
    ding_man

    ding_man

    Dec 24, 2006
    Celina, OH
    I actually think this would be even better then my idea, but I didn't know how keyboard bass would go. What did you use for the bass sound?