keyboard, is it necessary?

[scrowler]

for a rock band? i see a lot of rock bands with keyboards in them.. ive played piano for about 5 years and did grade 6 or 7 but gave up due to lazyness and picked up the guitar and bass (i like these instruments)

i was just wondering, is anyone here a keyboard player in a rock band who can help me?

[br3ad_man]

I mess around with keyboard a bit, but I don't play it in a band. I think you can do so much with a keyboard, I often wish I'd stayed with keyboard as well as learning guitar. It just depends what kind of rock band you play in, although I can almost guarantee that there will be bands that you like that make good use of keyboards.

[P120Dude]

for a rock band? i see a lot of rock bands with keyboards in them.. ive played piano for about 5 years and did grade 6 or 7 but gave up due to lazyness and picked up the guitar and bass (i like these instruments)

i was just wondering, is anyone here a keyboard player in a rock band who can help me?

I think that Keyboard is very important in a rock band. They can create the organ, leads, and cool synth sounds you hear on classic rock albums. A lot of Rock bands use Piano, too. Some Rock bands base their songs around the Keyboard and Piano.

So yes, I think it is very important for a rock band.

P120Dude

[albinoblacksheep]

it depends on what is "important" for you. For me, I like having keys in a band, because they just bring in so many features bands without them dont have. They can be lead or backup or whatever, really versatile.

[superpeer]

Keyboards really add to a band.

[scrowler]

cool thanks for the comments

[freakmeeko]

BTW, the guitarists in my band are barely ever the main attraction. I find guitarist overused and keyboardists underappreciated. I've done full songs with my band w/o guitars. My 3 guitarists also play trombone, alto, and trumpet (I also play trumpet) for the backup in ska songs.

[LavaDevil]

Some great rock bands wouldn't be in existence without a keyboard. Pretty Hate Machine (by Nine Inch Nails) was almost all synth and keyboards.

[witch doctor]

keyboards give you more options and space to express your musical creativity, if you will. I think they make great additions to bands.

[korn0818]

i play in a band and i'm a keyboardist. it really adds something to the music, i just can't explain it. it's an awesome instrument and some bands wouldn't be as good as they are without one (marilyn manson, nine inch nails, deadsy.) to answer your question: yes, it's pretty important to at least have a few songs with keyboards, even if you don't have a keyboard player in your line-up.

[Seafroggys]

Just imagine Deep Purple, Jethro Tull, and The Beatles without pianos/keyboards/organs/synths.

[OzzChok]

keyboards can bring a feeling of maturity to the music, but like all instruments, there are bands that use them that just plain suck.

[Pheonix15]

No insturment is really nescicary, but if you look at some really good band, they had a keyboard, like the doors, or yes. I play keyboard, and I really enjoy listening to keyboard rock music. I guess keyboard rock is just kinda more appeling to keyboard players.

[frizz04]

dream theater and children of bodom use keyboards in pretty much every song and it has to be said, they wouldn't be the same withouht them

[Ned]

for a rock band? i see a lot of rock bands with keyboards in them.. ive played piano for about 5 years and did grade 6 or 7 but gave up due to lazyness and picked up the guitar and bass (i like these instruments)

i was just wondering, is anyone here a keyboard player in a rock band who can help me?

Sorry? Help you do what?

[Pheonix15]

Ned, he want to know if a keyboard is nesicary in a rock band.

[Dave89]

yep i can definately agree, keyboardists are underatted. I play keyboard have done since i was very young, having lessons for 8 years now and im extremely into it.

I find it can add a new dimension to songs...ok maybe not a new dimension but the extra 'layer' of sound can make a big difference, i dunno it just seems to!

[Sharkeyes89]

Ohh Dream Theater, Cant Stop Thinking About Them...

[Omega Red]

key's do more for a band than a rhythm guitarist could ever do.


i say that as a bassists finding no real need for rhythm guitar

[Clive Staples]

Keyboards give a band a more fuller sound. Switchfoot is a good band that benefits from keyboards. A rock band doesn't have to have keys. In fact most don't, but it sometimes sounds better when there are keys. Check out my friends band. www.purevolume.com/musicgoon He's good on the keyboard. :)

[freakmeeko]

To tell you the truth, is any instrument necessary in rock? Not really. Rock/Jazz is free. It can go in any direction at any time. I love doing surprises with my band. Accordian solos, stand-up basses (which sound GREAT with an amp) and mandolins are just some of the things we use to spice up the night.

[gregjazz]

I think it really just depends the sound of the band. Sometimes a keyboard isn't needed, but other times it really adds to the music.