Do you also play the piano?

[jdh3000]

I can, but I'm rusty. I was decent at it at one time. I played quite a bit in bands alternating between guitar and keys.

Now around the holidays is about the only time I'll sit down and brush up to play a few Christmas songs for the grandkids.

I feel like any instrument I play gives me some insight into how others approach music, and broadens my overall knowledge of music. Not necessary for everyone but it helped me.
Piano is definitely a good coordination builder seperarating what the left and right hand are doing.

 

[Eli_Kyiv]

I don't play piano, but I know my way around it. I also play keyboard bass sometimes.
It's a great pity though that I didn't have a proper piano training, but my stupid young self didn't want to spend countless hours practicing.

 

[perfektspace6]

Yes. I have a full size, weighted synthesizer that I use as a songwriting tool but I am not very good. It has been helpful to visualize chords and I enjoy playing. Would have been nice to have more training when I was younger.

 

[GreyBeard]

I went into the Fairmont State College music school back in 1968 as a Trumpet major. In those days we had to pass what they called a "proficiency" on piano. So I had to take piano lesson until I could pass this test. Right out of college I put together a jazz/pop trio (piano-bass-drums) The piano player was wild and the only way I could follow him was to watch his left hand so knowing the piano was priceless in this situation. I would say that learning the piano is one of the most important things a musician can do.

 

[fishdreams]

"Play" the piano is a big word in my case, but yes, I do ear training, composing and arranging mostly behind the piano. It is great to work out voice leading when working on a string arrangement for example. I mess with it in the composition software afterwards, but behind the piano with a piece of paper and pencil keeps up better with the 'flow of inspiration".

I play guitar too, and much better than I play piano, but a given song I write will come out differently if I play guitar, than if I play piano. So I pick piano or guitar based on what I am going for (or, just because).

 

[Richard Lindsey]

No, I certainly wouldn't call what I do to a piano "playing." I understand the piano, and I can work out chords and arrangements on it, but I have zero facility with respect to making anything that sounds like music on it. But as has been mentioned multiple times, a basic understanding of the piano can be really useful for deepening your understanding of harmony and melody. I do play guitar pretty well, which helps a lot, but IMO there's nothing like the piano for seeing it all spread out right in front of you.

 

[bigdaddybass12]

I grew up with a piano in the house. No lessons but I did know all the notes and a few chords. I played bass in a mainly keyboard driven church band. Keyboard player quit on Saturday night, I was playing keys the next day. Thrown to the dogs! I played keys for 5 years.

 

[mambo4]

I voted yes , assuming that sucking at piano counts as "playing"

• relationship between notation and instrument is 100% unambiguous
• it exposes relationships I don't see on a bass or guitar
• since I suck, I have no habits, so messing around always leads me somewhere interesting
• It's the best "how does chord(s) work" tool
• My Yamamha P 125 has a perfectly delicious Fender Rhodes sound

 

[bigjames]

I took piano lessons for years as a kid and there has always been a piano or keyboard of somekind in the house. Most recently, the piano player in the house is my 18 year old daughter. She is self-taught (youtube, etc.) and is actually very good. She has learned some very difficult songs and plays them properly. She will practice as much as 14 hours a week, which is pretty impressive at 18...and she can sing while she plays. It is honestly quite lovely.

 

[zubrycky]

I play a little bit.

 

[InhumanResource]

Specifically, do you play it with the idea it will help you be a better musician and hence bassist.

if yes, what are your reasons?

If no, any particular reason why not?

I won’t say I play it to the point of being able to perform, but I am familiar with it. It is helpful to see harmony laid out on the keys vs how it “looks” on a stringed instrument. You can really see how the independent voices/lines move through a chord progression.

 

[azureblue]

I do. I write, and I get a much better understanding of music through piano. And I learn why piano players write such clumsy bass parts..

 

[Manticore]

I took piano lessons starting at age 5. I essentially learned to read music while I was learning to read in text. This is the reason I have difficulty understanding not being able to read music. It isn't a criticism; I simply don't remember a time when I couldn't read either music or text. I love playing piano. I do it for myself, and never in a group setting.

 

[nonohmic]

I took piano lessons for years as a kid and there has always been a piano or keyboard of somekind in the house. Most recently, the piano player in the house is my 18 year old daughter. She is self-taught (youtube, etc.) and is actually very good. She has learned some very difficult songs and plays them properly. She will practice as much as 14 hours a week, which is pretty impressive at 18...and she can sing while she plays. It is honestly quite lovely.

That does sound nice to have in the house.

 

[nonohmic]

I took piano lessons starting at age 5. I essentially learned to read music while I was learning to read in text. This is the reason I have difficulty understanding not being able to read music. It isn't a criticism; I simply don't remember a time when I couldn't read either music or text. I love playing piano. I do it for myself, and never in a group setting.

I've been quite surprised how quickly treble clef is coming. I thought I'd have a real hard time, having only ever read bass clef.

 

[MonetBass]

My sister took piano lessons for years, but I didn't want to take lessons. So we had a piano in the house and I taught myself. Then in college, I passed my piano proficiency no problem. I'm an average player, but do enjoy playing piano and synth.

 

[badinage]

Yes. First instrument at eight and I was the KB player in the first band I was in as a teenager. Still have a nice variety and still at it for my own enjoyment.

 

[JRA]

i voted "yes" --- like others = first instrument.

i don't play well enough to keep up as an actual piano player (e.g., a piano trio), although i can play quite a few standards and i can always play my own pieces/arrangements. i've always relied on piano for writing/arranging/interpreting. i've always had one nearby to help me be creative or to help me understand things.

 

[klejst]

I did when I was a kid, my first instrument. Then picked up guitar and bass. My folks still have the piano, I play it every so often when I am visiting.

 

[Slevage]

Took piano lessons as a way to learn chord theory. I let the teacher know my intent and each of the two instructors I had taught me from that perspective.

It was a great help.