keyboard, is it necessary?

scrowler · 11-21-2004, 03:49 AM

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 · 11-21-2004, 04:56 AM

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 · 11-21-2004, 06:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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?

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 · 11-21-2004, 11:39 AM

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*** · 11-21-2004, 03:15 PM

Keyboards really add to a band.

scrowler · 11-24-2004, 01:31 AM

cool thanks for the comments

freakmeeko · 11-24-2004, 02:16 PM

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 · 11-25-2004, 11:05 AM

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 · 11-25-2004, 01:45 PM

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

korn0818 · 12-01-2004, 07:35 PM

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 · 12-01-2004, 09:22 PM

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

OzzChok · 12-02-2004, 07:41 AM

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 · 12-07-2004, 09:40 PM

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 · 12-08-2004, 02:49 AM

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 · 12-08-2004, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 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?

Sorry? Help you do what?

Pheonix15 · 12-08-2004, 06:05 PM

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

Dave89 · 12-10-2004, 11:50 AM

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 · 12-10-2004, 06:12 PM

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

Omega Red · 12-10-2004, 06:21 PM

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 · 01-05-2005, 02:05 PM

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.

11-21-2004, 03:49 AM	#1
scrowler universal guy Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: New Zealand Posts: 264	keyboard, is it necessary? 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?

11-21-2004, 03:15 PM	#5
*superpeer* thank god f♥r little girl Supermod Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Belgium Posts: 28,668	Keyboards really add to a band. __________________ Give the memories time to blossom into regret

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

11-21-2004, 04:56 AM	#2
br3ad_man out of touch Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Australia Posts: 14,634	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.

11-21-2004, 11:39 AM	#4
albinoblacksheep Fan of German Basses Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 883	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.

11-24-2004, 01:31 AM	#6
scrowler universal guy Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: New Zealand Posts: 264	cool thanks for the comments

11-24-2004, 02:16 PM	#7
freakmeeko Running man is back! Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Eastern America Posts: 422	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.

11-25-2004, 11:05 AM	#8
LavaDevil Yamaha Synthesist Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Right here. Posts: 9	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.

11-25-2004, 01:45 PM	#9
witch doctor schrodinger's cat is dead Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 122	keyboards give you more options and space to express your musical creativity, if you will. I think they make great additions to bands.

12-01-2004, 07:35 PM	#10
korn0818 2005: The Year of Korn Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 3	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.

12-01-2004, 09:22 PM	#11
Seafroggys Truffula Hugger Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Edge of Nowhere Posts: 15,038	Just imagine Deep Purple, Jethro Tull, and The Beatles without pianos/keyboards/organs/synths.

12-02-2004, 07:41 AM	#12
OzzChok The Other Laughing Man Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Australia Posts: 783	keyboards can bring a feeling of maturity to the music, but like all instruments, there are bands that use them that just plain suck.

12-07-2004, 09:40 PM	#13
Pheonix15 The Great Pianist Evan Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Illinois The Most Boring State Ever Posts: 25	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.

12-08-2004, 02:49 AM	#14
frizz04 Registered User Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: "drugby", UK Posts: 57	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

12-08-2004, 06:05 PM	#16
Pheonix15 The Great Pianist Evan Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Illinois The Most Boring State Ever Posts: 25	Ned, he want to know if a keyboard is nesicary in a rock band.

12-10-2004, 11:50 AM	#17
Dave89 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 3	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!

12-10-2004, 06:12 PM	#18
Sharkeyes89 Sharkeyes Join Date: Jul 2004 Location: Mexico Posts: 150	Ohh Dream Theater, Cant Stop Thinking About Them...

12-10-2004, 06:21 PM	#19
Omega Red Omega Distoryer Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Boston/San Diego Posts: 11,206	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

01-05-2005, 02:05 PM	#20
Clive Staples Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Posts: 59	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.