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Do you also play the piano?
- Thread starter nonohmic
- Start date
So many responses! To add my own...
I took piano lessons when I was a kid interested in music. Later on, the ability to play the piano proved invaluable when studying music theory. I still refer to the piano for composition and understanding compositions.
I took piano lessons when I was a kid interested in music. Later on, the ability to play the piano proved invaluable when studying music theory. I still refer to the piano for composition and understanding compositions.
Not especially well as far as performance goes, but piano (and then organ and keyboard synths) is what I grew up with. I can play one-handed riffs and basic chords and "think" in terms of a a keyboard. I played the Rhodes in our terrible high school jazz ensemble in the 80s.
But at this point none of my synths use that style of keyboard anymore. It's all grid controllers, tunable touchplates, faders and joysticks and such.
But at this point none of my synths use that style of keyboard anymore. It's all grid controllers, tunable touchplates, faders and joysticks and such.
I have a functional knowledge of the piano, but I don't sit at it often or build muscle memory. I'm finding the guitar more useful these days for songwriting, since the music I play is more guitar driven. I think it's great for a bass player to have access to a chord instrument, and if my focus was more on jazz composition instead of rock I'm sure I'd be using the piano and never touch a guitar.
Had to change my vote to "No" when I read the full question. I play piano because I have a primal need to make cool grindy swirly sounds with a B3 (sim) and a leslie (and a stack of boutique overdrives), and that means I have to also play keyboards to hold down the gig.
I play a little, took some lessons in college.
These days it's all the Hammond B-3. I put that s*** on everything !
These days it's all the Hammond B-3. I put that s*** on everything !
I've always felt the real of "keyboard instruction" had little to offer those not on the John Thompson path. I know reading is a useful skill. But... Finding people who know how to teach anything else is like finding hens teeth around here.
Of course there are only two bass teachers I've found in these parts, one teaches jazz standards only. The other seems even more focused on standards and scales.
Of course there are only two bass teachers I've found in these parts, one teaches jazz standards only. The other seems even more focused on standards and scales.
I don't. I can play chopsticks on bass more easily than I can play the bass line for Smoke On The Water on piano.
I took piano lessons when I was a kid, always had one in the house. Quit for one reason or another, regretted it after I got into music more seriously. I tried taking lessons in my mid 20s but didn't stay with it long because of instructor issues. But, yeah, wish I'd have stayed with it.
Piano was my first instrument- took lessons for years as a kid and then played piano/organ/synth stuff in all my bands thru my teenage years and into adulthood.
Piano made learning any other instrument basically just a matter of technique and physical familiarity. I owned a mexi jazz bass just for basic studio stuff I’d work on, and then another pianist/singer friend of mine asked if I could come play bass for his blues/motown/r&b band and I immediately became a nearly 3-5 gig a week bassist overnight. Talk about being thrown into the fire! My fingers were horrendously torn up for those first few weeks before I developed some strength and callouses.
It was honestly about 4 yrs into being a super bust working bass player that I started to REALLY woodshed and learn more true bass skills. I was just a “super solid, hold down the band, keep it simple but sounding good” kinda bassist for a while. I was always playing for the song, not to show off.
Piano made learning any other instrument basically just a matter of technique and physical familiarity. I owned a mexi jazz bass just for basic studio stuff I’d work on, and then another pianist/singer friend of mine asked if I could come play bass for his blues/motown/r&b band and I immediately became a nearly 3-5 gig a week bassist overnight. Talk about being thrown into the fire! My fingers were horrendously torn up for those first few weeks before I developed some strength and callouses.
It was honestly about 4 yrs into being a super bust working bass player that I started to REALLY woodshed and learn more true bass skills. I was just a “super solid, hold down the band, keep it simple but sounding good” kinda bassist for a while. I was always playing for the song, not to show off.
Yes. My mom won an upright piano in a raffle and 6 months worth of lessons (once a week) when I was younger. She gave it and the lessons to my younger sister who hated every single minute of it. I took her books and taught myself and ended up better than her (then again, learning instruments easily is my superpower...no joke). But, in college I struggled because I learned (taught myself) bad habits and the piano teachers hated it. I had a tough time "unlearning" and "relearning" how to play. I could play the snot out of most of the stuff they put in front of me, but it wasn't with the "proper technique" so they docked me on my scores. I pretty much gave up on piano during that time because it became unenjoyable. I haven't really played it in years other than to pluck out a melody or go through some chord progressions.
Don’t “play” the piano per se, but I can play it. More precisely I play keyed instruments, organ mostly and some synth, so most transfers over.
I’d say that playing anything, even a kazoo would probably help your musical ear at the least. I find that guitar and bass compliment each other skill wise. When I started playing Hawaiian “steel” Guitar, I found it odd that it seemed to compliment playing on the banjo; probably due to both being tuned to a chord.
Anyway, again, if you’ve been playing for some time on one instrument you should be able to play a tune on another; the Theremin in particular is fun to play around with.
I’d say that playing anything, even a kazoo would probably help your musical ear at the least. I find that guitar and bass compliment each other skill wise. When I started playing Hawaiian “steel” Guitar, I found it odd that it seemed to compliment playing on the banjo; probably due to both being tuned to a chord.
Anyway, again, if you’ve been playing for some time on one instrument you should be able to play a tune on another; the Theremin in particular is fun to play around with.
No. I taught myself some guitar while I was in college and then hardly did anything for 20-25 years after graduating. When I started doing a little guitar again, I got interested in playing bass and, once I finally got serious about learning to actually play an instrument, I focused on bass.
I wish I could play piano even at a rudimentary level. I'm hoping to retire in four years and that's one of things I'd like to try doing when the time comes.
I wish I could play piano even at a rudimentary level. I'm hoping to retire in four years and that's one of things I'd like to try doing when the time comes.
I don't see my post. Apologies if it's a dupe.
Like others, I can bang out block chords in CF. And G. I can eek our chord melody with inversions with minimal banging.
But my secret desire is to be a master of the screaming hammond. I don't have enough time or brain cells left to master that, bass, and drums but I can still dream and collect gear.
Like others, I can bang out block chords in CF. And G. I can eek our chord melody with inversions with minimal banging.
But my secret desire is to be a master of the screaming hammond. I don't have enough time or brain cells left to master that, bass, and drums but I can still dream and collect gear.
First instrument. Quit after my second recital. Started at 7 years old. I really should have stuck to it. One of the things I truly regret. Nothing beats a piano for theory. And for understanding harmony and inversions and voicings. Even if you can't play at tempo.
Even though I have an okay upright since 2001, I spent some money on 2 good piano controllers at the start of COVID and bought me some piano libraries. 7 came with Native instruments Komplete. I also bought from UVI - a fully sampled Ravenscroft 275 and Yamaha U5. I have also some excellent ones from Spitfire Audio including the bright upright at Abbey Road.
Komplete has Nils Frahm's Yamaha CFX 9, Alicia Keys 7 foot Yamaha, the largest Piano ever built at the time in Germany (David Klavin), Nils Frahm;s Una Corda and some unique sounding ones.
A good sounding piano is inspiring. And you don't need the room and a technician
But some days, I go back to my 90 year old upright. My controller's are good (Kawai and Studio Logic / Fatar ) but a real piano is something else.
Because my music vision is not quiet straight, if left on my own, I come up with things like this
Even though I have an okay upright since 2001, I spent some money on 2 good piano controllers at the start of COVID and bought me some piano libraries. 7 came with Native instruments Komplete. I also bought from UVI - a fully sampled Ravenscroft 275 and Yamaha U5. I have also some excellent ones from Spitfire Audio including the bright upright at Abbey Road.
Komplete has Nils Frahm's Yamaha CFX 9, Alicia Keys 7 foot Yamaha, the largest Piano ever built at the time in Germany (David Klavin), Nils Frahm;s Una Corda and some unique sounding ones.
A good sounding piano is inspiring. And you don't need the room and a technician
But some days, I go back to my 90 year old upright. My controller's are good (Kawai and Studio Logic / Fatar ) but a real piano is something else.
Because my music vision is not quiet straight, if left on my own, I come up with things like this
Pretty much self taught...it helps me with figuring out harmony voicings and also comping on recordings. I've been playing since my mom and dad bought me a Magnus chord organ for my fifth birthday (1962 
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Those little kids toy tine pianos.. when my son was little I was actually on the lookout for a 32-49 key version with no electronics. (AFAICT they don't exist). Something he could play without speakers/amp.
I was pretty militant about getting him old school mechanical toys. I think it's a crime to hand a toddler toys that have multi-modal interfaces. Push the button, it does different things depending on some complex set of rules.
Even at 9 when he's learning to program Arduinos, I wish I could give him a digital camera with no menus and just knobs for Aperture, Shutter, and maybe Aperture/Shutter priority. He gets extremely frustrated (Asperger's - I mean he can REALLY lose it) by complex menus, and children's digital cameras that have games on them.
I was pretty militant about getting him old school mechanical toys. I think it's a crime to hand a toddler toys that have multi-modal interfaces. Push the button, it does different things depending on some complex set of rules.
Even at 9 when he's learning to program Arduinos, I wish I could give him a digital camera with no menus and just knobs for Aperture, Shutter, and maybe Aperture/Shutter priority. He gets extremely frustrated (Asperger's - I mean he can REALLY lose it) by complex menus, and children's digital cameras that have games on them.
