I read this and assumed Fred meant a musical arrangement
Like you compose exactly what each instrument plays
Just notate an arrangement that works
If he deviates point at the page and say "this is what we agreed to play"
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Help! Keyboardist is playing over me!
- Thread starter Shenaniflan
- Start date
I read this and assumed Fred meant a musical arrangement
Like you compose exactly what each instrument plays
Just notate an arrangement that works
If he deviates point at the page and say "this is what we agreed to play"
IMO the best advice in the thread so far. Bands have sections that play in unison from time to time, and your band can also use that to your advantage. Bassists don't own the low end anymore than they should never venture above the 5th fret. BUT... whatever is being played needs to sound good. And, especially in the low end, it almost always needs to be very tightly in unison to keep it from turning to mud. Talk, rehearse, listen, adjust.
Triple negatives hurt my brain.
Smooth_bass88
vaxx!
- Oct 31, 2006
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I've been in this situation. I just politely ask them to not play on top of me and/or roll off the low end.
Tell him to sit on his left hand. Remind him that Miles Davis gave Herbie Hancock this very same instruction, and we all know Miles could never be wrong. Also: Say "Everything under 84hz BELONGS TO ME!!!" and look menacingly in his eyes. Not kidding. I had this very conversation with our new keyboard player a month ago. As it happens, I'm already older and meaner than he is, and so he nodded appropriately. I can do this while pretending I'm just yanking his chain, but he also knows I'm serious. Doing much better now.
Fred is showing you and the band that he’s very inexperienced in ensemble playing. Doesn’t matter if he’s 80 or 18. Whoever is in charge needs to let him know that in a band he’s expected to be a team player and needs to either step up like a mature player or take some lessons in ensemble playing or be replaced.
The problem that some keyboard players have is that they started on piano. Piano players are generally trained to be soloists and tend to go into brain lock whenever it’s explained to them that once they’re in an ensemble they don’t have to play every single bloody note because they are now playing with other musicians and instruments.
About all I can say is “good luck” with your guy if he’s set in his ways. Whenever I got stuck with a keyboard player who had a heavy left hand things seldom changed even if the BL got on their case about it. Things would improve for awhile. But within a gig or two they’d revert back to being The Amazing Mister Ten Fingers unless tgey were jazz musicians. Jazzers are very good at listening to other players
About all I can say is “good luck” with your guy if he’s set in his ways. Whenever I got stuck with a keyboard player who had a heavy left hand things seldom changed even if the BL got on their case about it. Things would improve for awhile. But within a gig or two they’d revert back to being The Amazing Mister Ten Fingers unless tgey were jazz musicians. Jazzers are very good at listening to other players
If they insist on playing the bass part on the keyboard ....just stop playing. You just dont need two people down in that frequency zone, just mucks everything up. If they even happen to notice just ask which one of you should play the bass part and then agree to stay in your respective lanes.
I occasionally run into this problem with a dance band I sub with. Piano player used to be a stride player and sits with his bellybutton centered around C2. Super heavy left hand.
Sometimes I’ll play a line that either contrast what he’s playing or I’ll harmonize it. Whenever I do the he almost always looks over at me. Then I give him the same facial expression I’d give my kid if they were acting up in a location where I want to discreetly tell them to cut it out. He always smiles sheepishly then lays off for a bit… then forgets we had that moment and repeats.
it doesn’t bother me too much, he’s played that way for probably 50 years. It’s become more of an inside joke at this point and must not bother him too much cause I keep getting calls to sub for them. Too bad it doesn’t pay better cause it’s pretty easy money.
Sometimes I’ll play a line that either contrast what he’s playing or I’ll harmonize it. Whenever I do the he almost always looks over at me. Then I give him the same facial expression I’d give my kid if they were acting up in a location where I want to discreetly tell them to cut it out. He always smiles sheepishly then lays off for a bit… then forgets we had that moment and repeats.
it doesn’t bother me too much, he’s played that way for probably 50 years. It’s become more of an inside joke at this point and must not bother him too much cause I keep getting calls to sub for them. Too bad it doesn’t pay better cause it’s pretty easy money.
I also had a keys player who would do that on one particular song. She would just hold this low D down for a multiple measures. And for some reason it ALWAYS caused this weird feedback that would just kill my ears. Problem was she was a music teacher in middle school and got in the habit of playing all the parts. I only ever noticed it on this one song. Told her numerous times not to play that low D on her keyboard that those frequencies were mine. She'd say "oops, sorry." but two verses later she was on it again and I'd lightly prod her with my elbow. She wasn't being obstinate about it, just habitual. I finally talked her into just hitting that note up an octave. That stopped the feedback and didn't cover me up. After a couple of times, she'd always remember to do that on that song.
How About a -24 DB per Octave HPF set at 300 Hz for your guy's amp
Elkhart Tolle, in The Power of Now, says there are only three ways to deal with any situation (paraphrasing):
Change it.
Live with it.
Get away from it.
My opinion: The guy is 80, he’s probably not going to change how he plays. That leaves #2 and #3. Your choice!
Change it.
Live with it.
Get away from it.
My opinion: The guy is 80, he’s probably not going to change how he plays. That leaves #2 and #3. Your choice!
I suggest you consider the ramifications of these facts.
Hint, not only is he unlikely to change, it is unlikely that he can change. When he is playing his left hand most likely goes on auto pilot.
IMHO here are the recommended choices (IMHO):
1. Have a polite conversation to try and encourage change. I am assuming this has already occurred and it didn't work
2. Accept the situation and get over it.
3. If 1. is not acceptable give notice and quit. Try to be gracious and professional. There is no need to rage quit.
3. If 1. is not acceptable give notice and quit. Try to be gracious and professional. There is no need to rage quit.
Not recommended.
3. Continue being annoyed and make every miserable...a good person would not choose this option IMHO.
Beyond that, this is not an unusual situation. So finding another keyboard player who does not do the exact same thing is by no means guaranteed--and yes I do know how irritating it is. Unfortunately if you are dealing with a keyboard player who typically plays solo, this is the usual result. Playing in an ensemble requires a different skillset.
Good luck!
