Playing Piano in a Band - Good Example

This post is for the keyboard players...

As you know, playing piano/keys in a contemporary band setting can be - to put it mildly - a sticky proposition (and I'm not referring to how some keys can stick on a grand). Some of us come from backgrounds where we are used to carrying the load of the song - the rhythm, melody, bass, harmonic structure, etc. When it's just one instrument (a piano or organ) leading the song than that's appropriate. However, when you are joined by an acoustic rhythm player, a bass player, an electric guitar player, some harmonists - then the whole equation changes. It's not that the piano/keyboard doesn't have a role to play - it definitely does - but the role takes on a new look and approach.

I came across the video below that basically shows a keyboardist how to play a particular song ("A Mighty Fortress" by Christy Nockels). We actually performed this song last year. I wanted to share the video with you, not so that you would learn how to play the song, but more because it demonstrates principles that apply to playing keys in a contemporary band setting. I appreciate how Nathan Nockels talks about keys and the challenge of "fitting into" the modern band.



If you want to play along with the video the score for the song can be downloaded here. NOTE that he is playing it a half-step higher (in the key of Db).