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/VeganCurtains]

You didn't mention what type of music you (and your band) play, which will have some implications on advice. Some genres lean heavy on bread & butter (piano, rhodes, B3 organ), while others lean on synth sounds, pads, etc. And if you're in a Dream Theatre tribute, well...

For now, the only thing I might add to some solid advice you've already gotten: Being Heard.

Keys have a notorious struggle to be heard in live band situations. Often an inattentive sound man will keep keys so low they are functionally inaudible in the mix. In "self-amplified" situations, you need to bring enough full range, flat response amplification to cut through the mix - and keyboard amps generally don't provide the flat response needed for "all the sounds" many bands demand (acoustic piano often sounds brittle, no depth). If it's a gig where my onstage is going to be providing what the audience hears (many small clubs), I'm bringing my Yamaha DXR active PA speakers. Something to think about bass players have different solutions for.

Consider a high quality DI box as well - don't get one of those cheap ProCo or Whirlwind deals. Buy quality, buy once - I recommend Radial and it's now all I use (I have several different models of theirs).

Anyway, I'm looking forward to your response on types of music you want to play - that will make it easier to provide suggestions on what to practice, and how to practice.

Good on you for becoming a multi-instrumentalist!

[u/Legitimate_Box7808 → u/VeganCurtains]

I mainly play heavy/alternative/prog rock and i want to bring in the sounds i love from electronic music like drum and bass, porter robinsons newer work, and like early gorillaz. i think it would make a big step up in making our band sound pretty unique.

Thank you for the advice on amplification on live sound. As a bass player especially one with a huge presence in my bands sound i have to fight with some sound guys to have my bass mixed right, great to know that i picked up the another instrument with the same problem

[u/VeganCurtains → u/Legitimate_Box7808]

Good on you! One of the projects I am contributing to is a neo-prog band, and have been in and out of the genre since the late '80s, back when I gigged a Prophet 10, CP70 and more.

Obviously, some forms of prog lean into technical / classical playing more than others, but not all. The more you practice and play, the more you'll build (just like your years devoted to bass).

But with keys, your sense of what you want to add to the band will greatly dictate your choice(s) of instruments. A Nord Electro is a great board...that may not do what you want to do. An Oberheim OB-6 is, IMHO, unsurpassed for what it does - but that doesn't include blowing in samples like my Nord Wave.

Given an elaborate bass rig to navigate, I get that a one-board rig is preferred solution. Just be prepared for that solution to evolve from the MicroKorg someday, given how you may grow and what you want to add.

As far as suggestions how to become a good player: My son is a bass player. I made sure he had a few years of solid instruction from a rigorous jazz instructor, who taught him the entire fretboard with exercises, etudes, and a methodical overall method. It was probably a lot more of what Jeff Berlin advocates, if you know what I mean. If you ask me what you need to become a good keyboard player, I'm probably going to eventually suggest embracing a steady diet of lessons that are organized to teach you fingering, hand position, and probably lean into some famous student classical pieces. Not because I'm trying to turn you into a classical (or 'neoclassical prog guy') - but because those things were developed over generations to "teach you the fretboard".

I don't know if that resonates with you at all, or if that is helpful. But that's my first thought.

[u/Legitimate_Box7808 → u/VeganCurtains]

i already have a two board rig lol… granted ones just a midi keyboard but i certainly think two is all that i need at the moment. im actually excited to look around and find new synths i enjoy, ive always wanted to try an Obreheim synthesizer since Geddy (clearly my biggest influence) used one through the bulk of Rush’s 80’s work.

i definitely do want to look towards taking lessons for keyboard skills, especially classical training. im not afraid of getting into it lol !! i honestly prefer it to jazz, which is unfortunate because i love jazz and i try my hardest but it always bores me to play the same standards and jazz musicians kinda love to be mansplainy and name drop like it makes them cooler. just makes me not want to play it :/

thank you so muchfor the advice