Ego...?

[NiceKidDoRoxx]

I'd like to speak out my opinion...

Not every keyboard can really show their music on the stage. Often, I, keyboard player seems to be not so importan player. Often I feel so angry when I couldnt hear my synth sound on the mix, on my band record. Like, *keyboard is just to add a lil bit of different taste* but not as a main instrument.

Even my friend said : synthesizer player doesnt have 'soul'.... ?

what the?

it's like every song must have a guitar solo, lot of distortion, etc. where is the keyboard part?

it make me lazy to play in a band anymore. just do my own project...

*sorry for my english; tryin to learn it*

[Luca_Capozzi]

your friend is blindminded.

Luca

[Athox]

tell them to shut up and say "we're gonna have a keyboard part right here, where the guitar plays comp" :tongue:

[Nolan]

You have a point...........

Often a keyboard player is lost in the mix.

Luckily we have Jordan.
He shows all the soundpeople in the world that it's good to keep an eye out for the keys.


Coen

[ImaX]

You're so right... luckily in the first time of our band we had a very bad guitarist, so all the volume in our sound came from the keyboards which was the main instument at that time. Nowadays we have a very good guitarist, but still keyboard makes out a lot of the sound, I guess it's because the earlier times - anyway you're right with your point.

Sometimes I also lke to go into the front line of our band, but then a remote keyboard looks so uncool - I'd need something like a Remote-Continuum, which is more than only a keyboard. I also know bands in which the keyboard player stands in the first line - but then again I cna imagine you band mate's reaction if you tell them "hey let's put the keys on the front, this looks cool" :-)

You could try to fill as much as you can - doubling the guitar parts (which is sometimes neccessary if you have only one guitarist), make good pads... so they'll notice that there's more than just pad and organs behind the keys ;-)

[St0rMl0rD]

hell, if you don't hear yourself in the mix, tell the monitor guy to put you up!!

cheers
jj

[maJ estY]

Hey man, your English is just well, we all understand what you say.

I can imagine what you feel, especially if you know keyboardists like Jordan. Most people have avsolutely NO idea of what synths or keyboards can be.

You should take some time and think about whether you want to stay in your band or not. If you want to continue playing in the band, you should teach your band mates about the secrets of a keyboard! Show them music of Dream Theater and Jordan - or better, show them videos and DVDs. And DEMAND that you want to play a more important role in your band than you currently do. And if they do not listen: Quit the band, because they have not deserved a keyboard player like you then.

[Last Viking]

Hi

I have the same feeling.. or I have had the same feeling about 3 years, when I have been on high school. During these 3 years only once synth has been loud enough.. actually WAY TOO LOUD, like running over all other instruments.. But mostly monitors are just as loud as I want, but when I listen to the record from the gig.. never hear the synth..
Once my (school)friend came to me after playing a song with his band, and he asked that how was the synth solo, and I asked that what solo, never heard any solo..?
Last time when I played with my band on my school, our song was quite much based on synths, and one brass sample, but we never heard them, even if I played them.. and it was quite pissing.. but, I'm optimistically waiting when they can do a mix, where you can hear *every* instrument that is playing..

and cheers to St0rMl0rD.. Nice idea:P

[Awake]

People - and by people, we should be specific, we almost invariably mean guitarists and singers - tend to think the same about bass.

[EloHiR ElEnDIl]

yeah I know you man I quit a band of my school 'cause in all songs I just did string and damn that was fuck and when I double some guitar parts with a lead they told me that the lead was like super mario bros..and start saying things so I quit.But in my church's band I'm the main instrument (well my brother play the guitar..:P So whatever I have the confidence to tell him)But that sucks being a band only to fill their music....

[Staccato]

That´s a problem that all we keyboardists hate! I´m glad that everbody in my band and my friends like keyboards! The possibilities being a keyboardists is in my opinion greater then every other instrument, just look att jordan; triggering samples, playing riffs that were guitar on the albums to fill up.. and if your band mates don´t consider that as a help, then quit the band.. they are no worth it!! They should appreciate the possibilities given by you.. explain how you feel, and maybe they´ll change ther minds.. but if they don´t.. then leave the band!!

[Liquid Shadow]

It's just the nature of rock music. A large majority of it is very guitar-driven, so people get stuck in that mentality. If you have a jazz quartet of drums, bass, guitar, and piano, people will usually consider that a piano quartet, unless it's CLEARLY led by the guitarist (ie Wes Montgomery). That's the nature of jazz music. If you take that same group of instruments in a rock setting, people will think the opposite...that it is a guitar group.


That's now how people should think, but they do think that way. So just try to expand their options for them.


I don't like the idea of being somebody's bitch when it comes to music, but sometimes you just have to do that. Let your parts serve the purpose of the song, and the song serve the purpose it was meant for. You don't need blazing 16th note triplet runs with a sawtooth lead in every tune. Sometimes you might not even need to play at all. Part of being a mature musician is knowing when to tear it up, when to lay back, and when to just keep quiet.


But of course, if you have no chance to ever let loose, then it can be frustrating. I don't know your whole situation so I can't say.

[Luca_Capozzi]

Speaking of rock... a band just asked me to join them. I will move them to the dark side, with electronic inserts and keyboard solos :)

Luca

[Moe's Art]

I'd like to speak out my opinion...

Not every keyboard can really show their music on the stage. Often, I, keyboard player seems to be not so importan player. Often I feel so angry when I couldnt hear my synth sound on the mix, on my band record. Like, *keyboard is just to add a lil bit of different taste* but not as a main instrument.

Even my friend said : synthesizer player doesnt have 'soul'.... ?

what the?

it's like every song must have a guitar solo, lot of distortion, etc. where is the keyboard part?

it make me lazy to play in a band anymore. just do my own project...

*sorry for my english; tryin to learn it*

Well, since you're a student of English, you might want to learn the phrase, "Opinions are like a**holes..." :wink:

Keep in mind a few things:

1. Many rock bands are simply showcases for guitarists to bang out power chords and pentatonic riffs ad-infinitum. A talented keyboardist is going to be under-utilized and even unappreciated in an outfit such as this.

2. Many bands use keyboards just to provide a bit of strings and piano in order to make their ballads more radio-friendly.

3. Rock music is part art and part showmanship (among other things). If a band is more showmanship-centric, the guitarists are going to be highlighted due to the theatrical aspect that the performer can adopt while performing - stage poses, acrobatics, equipment destruction, etc. A keyboardist simply doesn't have this degree of freedom. And face it, destroying a guitar has a certain "tortured artist" effect to it while smashing a synth just looks like an act of vandalism!

[Asho]

i think the distinct lack of musical education, and the narrow mindness of people today isnt helping the keyboardist cause. People have such limited ideas as to how a keyboard can function in a band, and in music in general.

Personally i think keyboard can jsut be as much of a showman as a guitarist. Sure they can jump out and run about, but they still be in there, head banging ETC.

Luckily the musicians i work with all appreciate the need for a keyboardist in the group. and if they dont i remind them they cango back to the caricature, cliched lined up of every other rock/metal band in the country at anytime :tongue:

[Taurus]

haha @ the vandalism comment.

If I felt like I was underappreciated by my own band I would leave and start my own things. It's personal satisfaction that matters to me when making music and if you spend 6 hours every weekend on a stage with a sour face you're gonna get conflicts within the band.
However, its ok to do it for the money, but then dont complain and simply see your part in the band as fullfilling the role that they want you to be, and do it well. You'll then have the rest of the time to work on your own projects as an outlet instead.

[tuggy]

I think the main reason is, guitar is playing its own sound (i mean the vibrations from the strings), but keyboard emulates other sounds, like brass, drums, strings etc. This is not my opinion of course, but many people doesn't like synths, or underrate them just for this reason (in fact that's not a reason at all)

Most rock guitarists (ones that cannot play keys) don't know that their solos and riffs are sooo easy to play for the keyboard player :) but they're the heroes of rock music, they're in front, girls love them etc..

In fact, if i'm playing for money, and playing things that i don't like very much (pop stuff), i like having less parts, or just laying pads or playing piano arpeggios. I just don't want to be on the front, doing my work and earning money is enough :)

[Dreamy Keys]

Ego? Sounds like Alex Argento's debut album... ;)

[EloHiR ElEnDIl]

I think the main reason is, guitar is playing its own sound (i mean the vibrations from the strings), but keyboard emulates other sounds, like brass, drums, strings etc. This is not my opinion of course, but many people doesn't like synths, or underrate them just for this reason (in fact that's not a reason at all)

Most rock guitarists (ones that cannot play keys) don't know that their solos and riffs are sooo easy to play for the keyboard player :) but they're the heroes of rock music, they're in front, girls love them etc..

In fact, if i'm playing for money, and playing things that i don't like very much (pop stuff), i like having less parts, or just laying pads or playing piano arpeggios. I just don't want to be on the front, doing my work and earning money is enough :)

yeah that's right!A keyboard player can be faster than a guitar one.

[tuggy]

yeah faster,also harmonically and polyphonically richer :) keys rock :)

[Enigma™]

Two words:

THE BLUES.

The guy just doesn't know better, that's all. Someday. Maybe.