Playing in a band can be one of the most rewarding things you can do as a musician.
When thinking of a traditional band, the first instrument that comes into mind is the guitar.
I remember when I first thought about playing in a band, a part of me felt like I should learn how to play the guitar because guitarists are just...
you know, cool.
Today I think much differently and am actually very, very glad that I play keys and NOT the guitar.
There are many reasons why I feel this way so I won't list them all here, but let me tell you this: mediocre guitarists are many while genuinely talented keyboardists are very few so if you are one these people who rock on the keys, you will get gig after gig after gig.
So let's explore some tips that will help you fully enjoy the wonderful experience of playing keyboards in a band.
1.
Pick a genre that is keyboard friendly.
There are so many different genres of music nowadays from punk rock to jazz and not all of them rely heavily on keys.
Although nearly every band has at least one song with a keyboard instrument in it (piano, electric piano, synthesizer, organ) to ensure you get the most fun out of playing keys in a band, you should be sure that the genre of music you pick relies heavily on your skills.
Although some punk rock and hardcore bands do have keyboard players like Fishbone, there are many styles of other rock/pop that are more heavy on the keys for example Coldplay or even Linkin Park.
As far as popular music goes, I would say soul, neo-soul, funk, hip hop and other "pop" music relies heavily on keys so perhaps picking a band in this genre will be a good idea.
Of course piano, organ and Rhodes or Wurlitzer can be found at the cornerstone of any blues or jazz band as well.
You have many choices! 2.
Know your equipment.
This is important! When you set up for your very first gig, you want to be able to communicate with the sound guy properly.
If there is no sound guy, you will probably have to set up all the cables yourself.
The internet is full of resources on equipment and cables etc.
You should have a basic understanding of how a PA works, what monitors are, what an XLR cable is and if your keyboard has one and obviously you should know what a quarter inch patch cable is.
I didn't know any of this stuff when I first started playing keys but I wish I did.
I obviously made it through but it helps if you know your terminology.
3.
Play sparsely.
There is nothing more important than playing sparsely when starting off in your first band.
Find the groove with your band mates.
Follow the bass player and make sure you guys are in sync.
Get a solid groove going before you start noodling off into solo land.
Some tasteful noodles are good here and there but remember, you are now playing in a band and not playing solo piano.
You will naturally learn that there are band dynamics and your band mates will respect you greatly if you help keep the stability of those dynamics.
Wait for a designated solo or an empty space before you showing off your skills.
4.
Listen, Listen, Listen.
Now this is an obvious one but not always an easy one.
You must be aware of what other band members are playing at all times.
Listen to the bassist and guitarist to see what key they're playing in.
If you start hearing some dissonance, stop playing for a moment and figure out what key the bassist is playing in as he/she is more important in holding the groove than a guitarist.
To figure out what key you are in, you can play part of a scale tastefully in rhythm to see if it sounds right and if not immediately try some notes from a different scale.
Often times if you can find the bass notes the bassist is playing, you will be able to figure out what key you're in.
Although there are many more tips to share, these four tips will help you build a solid foundation for becoming a great keyboardist.