Be the Bass With These Left Hand Techniques

May 15 2013 2:13PM
Picture this: You got the gig and you’re excited about the music. You get to your first rehearsal and the bandleader wants you to play “bass” on a couple of things. You panic because you’ve never had to be the bass player and More...

5 Ways to Play Like Regina Spektor

May 9 2013 7:09PM
I’ve lived in New York City’s East Village for nearly 20 years, and have followed Regina Spektor’s career from its early beginnings at the Sidewalk Cafe on Avenue A, just a block from my apartment. Regina’s keyboard work More...

Synth Soloing Portamento Master Class

May 3 2013 12:34PM
In the last two columns, we’ve explored the difference between single (legato) envelope triggering and multiple triggering, and the performance possibilities offered by each. In some synths, you can also vary between legato More...

The Basics of Boogie Woogie Piano

Mar 19 2013 5:00PM
Boogie-woogie is a driving blues piano style that features a rolling, “eight-to-the-bar” rhythm. It’s based on ostinato bass figures in 8/8 time, and mostly uses the 12-bar blues harmonic scheme. While the left hand sets the More...

Sight- Reading Secrets

Nov 26 2012 4:59PM
By DAVID COOK IF YOU ASPIRE TO BE A WELL-ROUNDED MUSICIAN READY FOR ANY GIG THAT COMES YOUR WAY, one of the things you’ll have to get together is sight-reading. After my first few times sitting in with the outstanding Paul More...

Booker T Video Repost

Oct 12 2011 12:00AM
We've been meaning to catch up with Booker T. Jones since his Grammy win for the 2009 album Potato Hole--for which we interviewed him back in August '09. If you haven't heard his latest, The Road From Memphis, you're missing out, More...

Welcome to Keyboard's November 2011 Links Page

Oct 10 2011 12:00AM
Exclusive interview with the Flaming Lips! Evan Bogart talks songwriting, keyboards, and production. Miss our Summer NAMM gear wrap? It's online?     More...

Samurai Keys Multi-Keyboard Multitasking

Sep 1 2010 12:00AM
Often, our jobs involve playing multiple keyboard parts at once. As important as the music itself is, it’s also vital to make sure that your multikey rig works ergonomically with both your body and playing style. Keeping your More...

Julian Velard On The Art And Technology Of The Two-Man Band

Aug 1 2010 1:00AM
When I set out to create my two-man band, it wasn’t out of synth-driven inspiration—it was purely based on economics. Most gigs leave me with just enough money for one man, and that man is me! However, after years of playing More...

Jeff Kazee Hail Hail The Rock N Roll Piano Intro

Aug 1 2010 1:00AM
Let’s face it. Despite being a cornerstone of early rock ’n’ roll (think Jerry Lee Lewis, Little Richard, and Fats Domino), the honorable piano man too often must fight for his legitimate place in the rock ’n’ roll More...

Matt Beck Helps You Get Limber Jack

Jul 1 2010 1:00AM
In my touring career with acts like Rob Thomas, Rod Stewart, and my own band, it has always been challenging for me to find time to practice. On the road, I don’t always have time for soundchecks, and there isn’t always a More...

Daniel Mintseris On Creative Wurly Comping

Jun 1 2010 1:00AM
The Wurlitzer Electronic Piano is loved the world over for its vintage sound. Songs like Ray Charles’ “What’d I Say,” Marvin Gaye’s “I Heard It Through the Grapevine,” and Beck’s “Where It’s At” are just three of the countless More...

Finger Independence

Apr 1 2010 1:00AM
by Kiki Ebsen  In my touring career with artists like Colin Hay of Men at Work, Wilson Phillips, and my own band, it has always been challenging to find time to practice. That’s why I’ve come up with my own exercises that can More...

Voicings To Fit Each Song Section

Apr 1 2010 1:00AM
Your choice of chord voicings and the style in which you play them is one of the most crucial decisions you can make at the gig or recording session. This is as true for simple rock as it is for complex jazz; perhaps even More...

Moog On

Mar 3 2010 12:00AM
Whether you’re a seasoned pro or just starting out, synthesizers like the Minimoog Voyager add a whole new dimension to your sound. Here are a four of my favorite licks and tricks to get you started on the More...

Next