Piano in rock and hard rock cover band

[vino_buono]

Hey,

Not sure this is the right forum section for this?

Anyway, I play rhythm and lead guitar in a 5-piece rock cover band with keyboards. We play your typical rock and hard rock setlist, with a bit of Aerosmith, GnR, Bon Jovi, AC/DC, also something a bit more pop. Anyway, a few of the songs we play do not have keyboards in the original recording. In that case, our keyboard player usually plays a piano. I have come to dislike this more and more when the vibe of the song is not rock’n’rollish. E.g. I don’t like piano in Highway to hell, or Rain by the Cult, you get the idea. Plus, I find the piano sometimes gets in the way of the guitar riffs. I think maybe a Hammond or a synth would be more appropriate? Do you have any tips?

 

[DrewJD82]

Yeah, it’s not often you can stick a piano in a rock tune and make it work well, especially with existing songs like your examples. Hahaha there’s a reason rock bands with keyboard players used B3’s/distorted B3’s and synths in rock bands and not pianos! The guy needs to know he’s un-rocking the band with piano sounds!

 

[dbagchee]

Can he not sit out some of those songs? Maybe balance that out with a song where the piano is the feature?

If the keys aren’t adding something cool, seems like they shouldn’t be forced. Another option would be to add more atmospheric/accent sort of sounds instead of playing through the whole song.

 

[TSJMajesty]

Buy the FOH guy a few drinks, and then ask him to turn the piano down during those songs?

I'm with Drew.

#songfirst

 

[JT]

Piano where it doesn't belong is gross

 

[la szum]

 

[norminal]

Yeah, it’s not often you can stick a piano in a rock tune and make it work well

 

[norminal]

 

[yeky83]

Piano where it doesn't belong is gross

Replace him with a trumpet guitarist!

 

[vino_buono]

Can he not sit out some of those songs? Maybe balance that out with a song where the piano is the feature?

He proposed that himself as I gently hinted that piano on Highway to hell is a no-no, but he had such a sad face that I dropped the argument…

 

[TSJMajesty]

He proposed that himself as I gently hinted that piano on Highway to hell is a no-no, but he had such a sad face that I dropped the argument…

Tell him to learn guitar, then play some Skynyrd!

 

[vino_buono]

Another option would be to add more atmospheric/accent sort of sounds instead of playing through the whole song.

That’s my idea too. He can add some background texture, atmosphere, … but the piano is very much in the foreground and adds its own vibe.

 

[la szum]

Simple solution. Give him a Tambourine during those songs.

 

[dbagchee]

Cowbell

 

[JT]

Simple solution. Give him a Tambourine during those songs.

I thought this said Trombone

 

[DrewJD82]

View attachment 11990

That's a bit different than "Back In Black", bro.

 

[AutomationBias]

You're on the right track. We had a saxophonist/keyboard player who would play Hammond, synth, or a Fender Rhodes through an overdriven amp with a wah pedal and ring modulator where appropriate. Never vanilla piano, and he would sit out songs where keys didn't fit.

 

[KHAAAAAAANNNNNNN!!!!!!!!]

Our keyboard player would often use a string based synth sound similar to the opening keys in Rush's Subdivisions. For AC/DC tunes a lot of root/5th chords in the same range of the guitar. As long as it's mixed a bit lower than the guitar, it added thickness without sticking out like a sore thumb. A distorted B3 type sound often fits in well for hard rock as well. A keyboardist who understands that not every song will be a keys showcase is important. Just like I was always tried to be aware that on "keyboard" tunes my job was to support the keys without getting in the way.