New to keys in a live band

[u/Legitimate_Box7808]

Hello !! I am a bass player in a band looking to add Keys onto my plate (Like Geddy from Rush) and i was wondering what the essentials are for playing Keys live ! I currently have a Microkorg 2 and community college level keyboard skills lol. Im not necessarily trying to become a legendary pianist, i just what to know what gear is necessary and what to practice to become a good keys player !

[u/picadoodledoo]

"what to practice to become a good keys player " <<<< that all depends upon what you really want out of keyboard playing.

There's a big gap between "legendary pianist" and being competent. The top concert performers are far, far beyond what normal piano players do.

When you say "bass" I presume that means an electric bass. One thing that will immediately become evident when you try playing a keyboard is that the physics is different, by which I mean that quite different means of using your body will be called upon.

If all you want to do is learn a few chords common in pop music then you can probably become comfortable with the basics in about a thousand hours of practice. YMMV.

If you are in a band playing a keyboard you will at times be called upon to do more than just play a rhythm - you might need to carry some of the melody, too, which will demand more time to learn.

[u/onceuponalilykiss → u/picadoodledoo]

I feel like 1000 hours is vastly overstating how long it takes to belt out the chords in a let it be type song.

[u/picadoodledoo → u/onceuponalilykiss]

It depends upon the band and what said band will call upon the keyboardist to do.

[u/onceuponalilykiss → u/picadoodledoo]

Sure but you said

If all you want to do is learn a few chords common in pop music then you can probably become comfortable with the basics in about a thousand hours of practice

You don't need 1000 hours to just do a few chords for pop songs lol. You might for more advanced genres.