Anybody else here play keys AND guitar?

[kylito11]

I started out on keys when I was 5, went at it for a few years, then bailed out on keys and started learning the sax. Then, about a year ago, I bailed on the sax and started learning the guitar, and am now working on play guitar and keys. Anybody else here doin a similar thing? just want to know for curiosities sake, and to get the posts started in this forum, because I think its a great idea!

[schneefux]

I´ve started out on piano when i was 12 or something...don´t know....
when I was 18 I picked up the guitar and totally neglected the piano, which was stupid, because now i can´t play anything anymore....

maybe i should start again ^^

[62' Jazzmaster]

WOW! I could not be more pleased! I am a long time piano player. I have been playing consistently for many many years... 16 to be exact. I started when I was 5.

I was never one to read alot of music though. Although I can read, my main goal was always to drudge through all those notes until I memorized everything. LOL I remember playing Moonlight Sonata in it's entirety when I was 11 or 12 at a recital with no sheet music. This always meant I took minor improvisational liberties in my playing.

I currently have an upright piano, but I want a Roland G8 SOOO VERY BADLY!!! It is my goal to obtain one within the next year, and you better believe that I will do it!

There is nothing these babies can't do... It even has a built in drum machine. I guarantee It is possible to make a kick *** metal, rock, blues, or jazz album by only using this machine... If God were a keyboard, he wouldnt be quite this good. Plug your guitar into the guitar processor in the back... and get lost in a wonderland of infinite color and sound.

$3695
http://www.comeon.co.jp/shop/synth/images/roland-fantom-g8.jpg



For those who are interested in learning keyboard for the first time: you can't go wrong with a Casio CDP-100, it has weighted and hammer action keys, full size keyboard, and is the best feeling digital piano it it's price range

$399
http://img3.musiciansfriend.com/dbase/pics/products/4/0/8/440408.jpg

And for those who want to take it to the next step and start making your own backing tracks, a Roland Juno - G is by far the best keyboard $ for $. It has all the sounds as the Fantom series... but you will have to record thought your computer to make tracks.


$995
http://www.comeon.co.jp/shop/synth/images/roland-juno-g.jpg

[Hitman!]

I love to sit at a baby grand and play, even if it's nothing extraordinary :D
I play a lot, but on small controllers for programming... I'm quite good at playing drums and bass lines on those :)
About the Phantom, I don't know man. I always been a Korg guy, it's so much easier to use, more intuitive, so more creative. And it sounds more better as well, IMVHO. My keyboard player uses the top end Yamaha Motif and it's an awesome machine, sounds great, user friendly, and a lot a features. It would be my choice second to a Triton.

[1ZeroReapeR1]

Yes I doo! ALthough, we don't own any keyboards or pianos anymore. But I can still play along with songs in a band, Its actually pretty fun. Our keyboardist is just learning the theory so I help out here and there

[Roger L.]

I have an electric piano a Yamaha a PF15, I don't really know how to play it, but I like to tinker. I took a year of music classes it was a year of theory combined with a introduction to keyboards. I was forced to quite since it was a night class and the job I had at the time switched me to nights so I couldn't go. I wish I would have continued at the time. I'd like to learn some simple chords to do some writing, so if any of you have a sheet of chords to share I'd be much obliged.

[kylito11]

WOW! I could not be more pleased! I am a long time piano player. I have been playing consistently for many many years... 16 to be exact. I started when I was 5.

I was never one to read alot of music though. Although I can read, my main goal was always to drudge through all those notes until I memorized everything. LOL I remember playing Moonlight Sonata in it's entirety when I was 11 or 12 at a recital with no sheet music. This always meant I took minor improvisational liberties in my playing.

I currently have an upright piano, but I want a Roland G8 SOOO VERY BADLY!!! It is my goal to obtain one within the next year, and you better believe that I will do it!

There is nothing these babies can't do... It even has a built in drum machine. I guarantee It is possible to make a kick *** metal, rock, blues, or jazz album by only using this machine... If God were a keyboard, he wouldnt be quite this good. Plug your guitar into the guitar processor in the back... and get lost in a wonderland of infinite color and sound.

$3695
http://www.comeon.co.jp/shop/synth/images/roland-fantom-g8.jpg



For those who are interested in learning keyboard for the first time: you can't go wrong with a Casio CDP-100, it has weighted and hammer action keys, full size keyboard, and is the best feeling digital piano it it's price range

$399
http://img3.musiciansfriend.com/dbase/pics/products/4/0/8/440408.jpg

And for those who want to take it to the next step and start making your own backing tracks, a Roland Juno - G is by far the best keyboard $ for $. It has all the sounds as the Fantom series... but you will have to record thought your computer to make tracks.


$995
http://www.comeon.co.jp/shop/synth/images/roland-juno-g.jpg

Ya man, that G8 is pretty awesome. I think I have that as a module, without the keyboard. I play a Roland D-70, which seems somewhat outdated, and is in need a repair. I also have a Yamaha baby grand, which I unfortunately don't play very much because I've gotten too addicted to synths and effects. My lifelong keyboard-oriented goal is to purchase and house a full size pipe organ... Hey, a guy can dream, right? :LMAO:

[62' Jazzmaster]

I love to sit at a baby grand and play, even if it's nothing extraordinary :D
I play a lot, but on small controllers for programming... I'm quite good at playing drums and bass lines on those :)
About the Phantom, I don't know man. I always been a Korg guy, it's so much easier to use, more intuitive, so more creative. And it sounds more better as well, IMVHO. My keyboard player uses the top end Yamaha Motif and it's an awesome machine, sounds great, user friendly, and a lot a features. It would be my choice second to a Triton.

Ive tried them all. At GC I used to go and sit for literally all day in the keyboard section, this is when the Fantom G's were just released and they had several on display so the store associates didn't seem to care much.

I don't know what it is about the Rolands... they just do it for me. The Motif would be second. Korg :_ohwell: not so much. The Roland G8 is an unbelievably complicated machine, the features just seem endless. I have always had a knack for complication, so I guess thats why I like it. The Roland seems the most natural of any keyboard I played. It might just be me, but the instruments in the G8 sound very organic, especially the Hammond B3 (Using the laser guide as a vibrato is a pretty sweet feature).

Have you played the Fantom G8 yet? It is relatively new, the Fantom X8 (its predecessor) was good, but nothing like the G8.

The G8's price of only $3695.00 really surprises me actually.

[Sonofarich]

I´ve started out on piano when i was 12 or something...don´t know...when I was 18 I picked up the guitar and totally neglected the piano

That's pretty much my story. A couple years of piano lessons <yawn> and then it was guitar from then on. I do play some mediocre measures on a couple of the new songs we are recording.

[HalfBlindLefty]

I happen to try the keys every once in a while.
Not realy good at it, but I do have some fun while trying.
There's even a thingy in showcase from me.

Guitar will always be my main instrument.
Still using my Casio WK1200 in combination with the soundfonts function of a Soundblaster audigy2 card in my 2nd pc makes it quite versatile.

[Plain G]

Love to plunk away but don't actually know how to play. Find it very cool to be able to play a few chords and a simple melody though. Thinking theory and chord building in front of the keys is a lot of fun too.

We've got a stand up grand under the deck and a couple cheap Casios for the kids but this is what I really want one day..


http://img43.imageshack.us/img43/1149/k8cx31.jpg (http://img43.imageshack.us/my.php?image=k8cx31.jpg)

Korg CX-3

My ex jam partner has one, actually an older vintage than this one but it sounds so blues :cool::cool:

[Hitman!]

^ I have the CX3 at my studio in Canada, it belongs to my partner though, but anyway, great machine!

And '62jazzmaster: of course I tried the Fantom :) intensively! Not the G though... My studio partner, who's a keyboardist btw, has a good contact in one of the local music store, and we borrowed a lot of new keyboards to try 'em, in particular when we had big productions to do, and the Rolands are always so complicated that by the time you dialed the sound you want, you forgot what you wanted to do with it, kills the momentum of creation, we don't wanna do that!! With the Korg it's the opposite, in particular the Karma, which is really not the best sounding machine of the line, but when you press keys and turn knobs, things happen, you know. If you're uninspired it doesn't matter, just start playing, turn knobs, and you'll find something to fit in your song. And for how it sounds, I didn't tried the G series, I guess I should :) but if it's as complicated as before, I'll pass for sure!

[Eclectifish]

I've been playing keys since I was 8, which is two years longer than guitar. I definitely prefer guitar so I practice it a lot more.

I have an Oberheim Matrix 6, which has one blown oscillator so I only use it to control my Roland JS module (which rocks). I run it through a small PA.

In my current band, I play only guitar. That's part necessity and part laziness. I like being the lead guitarist on every song and my sound has a lot to do with my band's sound. I also don't want to haul three times as much gear to a gig. If I had the money, I'd probably buy something like a keyboard amp to use instead of the PA and a lighter controller to take the place of the Oberheim (which is very heavy). Maybe then I might play keys with the band, but who would play lead? I kind of like things the way they are and I don't have the money for that upgrade anyway.

But I have played keys in a few bands in the past. Who knows?

[Tomy Plunk#er]

I have been working on keys for about 4 yrs. and love to play with my eyes closed, I guess really I like to do that with all instruments. I use a casio general midi keyboard to play and record long rythems on so I can sing and play other instrument to them.

[MobBarley]

I play both the keys and guitars... I started piano lessons at 6... started trombone at around 9... played some electric bass when I was around 11... took private lessons on electric bass and trombone, too. Played baritone horn and tuba as well... took music theory in college... then I "borrowed" a friends guitar when I was like 22 for a few months... then, finally, bought one.

Now I'm 33, so I guess I've been playing guitar for 11 years and piano for 26.

I prefer Yamaha and Korg keyboards. Roland are more "synthie" sounding.. more electronica/techno, if that's what you're into. Yamaha has some great sounds, but can be more difficult to program. Korg's are versatile.

I recommend Yamaha keyboards to beginners they last many many years, ship repair parts with consistency, and their quality is very consistent.

I think the future of synth playing at the pro level will be softsynths on the computer with just a cheap MIDI controller.keyboard.

[MobBarley]

WOOPS, double posted. plz delete

[shredd]

Well...not a "real" keyboard player, but I own two Rolands and use them a lot in my limited capacity. I'm actually more of a git'r player, but i wouldn't claim fame there either...:o

[farmgirl]

Been playing guitar off and on for nearly 40 years. Treated myself to a new Washburn electric guitar for Christmas, as well as a Yamaha YPT 220 keyboard. I've been practicing the keyboard alot, learning chords, and a few favorite songs. It's alot of fun!!!

[Scali]

I've been playing keyboards longer than guitar, technically. Started with a Casio keyboard. When I picked up the guitar originally, it was mainly an addition to the music I wrote and recorded on keyboard. I never really liked the sound of rhythm guitar much anyway, so I mainly played lead on guitar, and all rhythm was done on keyboards.

However, through a great misfortune (the roof was leaking exactly where the keyboard was), the keyboard was destroyed. Since I was but a poor student at the time, I couldn't replace it. So I just continued on guitar.
Some years later I bought a secondhand Yamaha synthesizer from a friend of mine (we had used that synth on some of the songs we'd written together). However, that one sadly didn't last too long either. So again, I was on guitar only.

A few years ago, I finally decided to buy a new synthesizer now that I could afford it. I got a Roland Juno-D. Initially I didn't really use it much, but I'm now rediscovering it, using it to try and write/record some music.
I've been doing some orchestral/symphonic/movie soundtrack/whatever type of music with heavy guitars added... Sorta like gothic metal bands such as Nightwish or Within Temptation, but instrumental only.

[CrmsnKtsne]

Well, all I can claim in this category is an absolutely terrible MIDI keyboard that I bought at the local flea market for 25 bucks. It has no note velocity sensitivity at all, which makes it impossible to play it with any amount of expressiveness. I use it mainly to practice scales and stuff, play with piano riffs that bounce their way into my head occasionally, and to hook it up to FL Studio to play around with the infinitely more expansive instrumentation possibilities in the program compared with the abysmal on-board packs.

And it's got light-up keys! Now THAT should be an industry-standard feature! :)

[Scali]

And it's got light-up keys! Now THAT should be an industry-standard feature! :)

Ooh, I have a drum machine that has light-up keys :)
Really cool, you SEE the beat it's playing for you (or the bassline, depending on the mode it's in).
Like a really fancy metronome :)

[Hallucination]

I´ve started out on piano when i was 12 or something...don´t know....
when I was 18 I picked up the guitar and totally neglected the piano, which was stupid, because now i can´t play anything anymore....

maybe i should start again ^^

A similar story to mine. My keyboard playing was ok until my 2nd year of uni. Started playing guitar at 11. Got a keyboard at a car boot for £20 last summer. Best £20 I've ever spent.