Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Piano Forum A Piano As A Primary Instrument? Not Possible?

Talking about Pop Bands here. Are keyboards / pianos / organs strictly secondary instruments? You know. Rhythm sections only. Or. Can they be lead instruments too? You know. Providing the melody. Chord progressions. All that.

If keyboards were to be in the rhythm section could other keyboards be the lead too at the same time?

How about the other way round? i am such a n00b pianist / keyboardist / organist. Just wondering. Guitars can be both lead and rhythm at the same time. Have A Nice Day :-)

When I read that pianos are being used as part of the rhythm section, I'm so glad I'm not into pop music.

Victor Silvester always had 2. One provided what he called the "lemonade", whilst the other provided the melody.

At my house, the piano is always the lead instrument; or at least most of the time.

As part of a pop band, it usually plays the role of both; rhythm most of the time, and lead when it's their time.

I was watching a documentary about Michael Jackson's last rehearsals before his last performance before he died, and it looked to me like the digital piano/synthesizer was pretty much the lead instrument. I saw a bass guitarist, and a drummer, but no lead/rhythm guitarist at all. The synth did all the lead work.

I think it depends on the individual band. Most have a keyboard/organ of some kind, and it does take the lead. One instrument can't lead all the time. But don't tell that to a lead guitarist.

I play many pop tunes on the piano that I've never heard played on a piano. Anything played on a lead guitar can be played on a piano in some form or fashion. At least in my view...

Here is an example: Runaway Boogie...

Rick

This sounds like a good question for Elton John or Billy Joel? But more seriously, they use their pianos both ways depending on what they're doing - sometimes lead, sometimes rhythm. They have that choice.

Um, the thing about keyboards is that you don't *need* a band. You get melody, harmony and rhythm, plus there's nobody to break up with.... ;-)

I'm not much into pop music, but it looks to me like piano plays a pivotal role in many bands. From Simon and Garfunkel (bridge over troubled waters) to the Beetles (Imagine) to Lady Gaga (here she is doing a live acoustic with only piano https://youtu.be/oP8SrlbpJ5A).

Piano has a solid claim to the title "king of instruments."

There's a Dave Chappelle experiment. 😀 (uncensored)

Don't know whether you're serious or not LoL ;-)

Thank you all for your feedbacks. Just want to let you guys know that I am not into Pop either. I am into Rock and Contemporary Folk. I play most instrument needed quite okay. Except for piano which I can only play with one hand and with just three fingers at a time.

We are currently expanding our repertoire. By including Pop. More so Bubblegum Pop and Pop Ballad. Not much else.

I am currently rythym guitar and second vocals. Drummer is a drummer. Typical lead guitar player. Bassist is the lead singer and frontman.

Still thinking whether it is possible for me to get a portable digital piano and still maintain in the rhythm section. While the bassist goes for a very small - sized acoustic upright / console / studio? That as the lead instrument. Still with lead vocals. Still being frontdude of the freaking band. While lead guitar player will be relegated to bass duties.

I don't know whether I have the guts to say all of these things to the lead guitar player's face anyway.. He would be pissed if I did I believed.

Just want to know whether it is possible for pianos to be lead and rhythm but not just that must be at the same time too.