Piano riff tips for Guitar players

Occasionally guitar players need to do double duties on piano or keyboard. Songs such as Cars by Gary Numan or Can’t Get Enough of You Baby by Smash Mouth have sparse keyboard parts that can be assigned to a bass or guitar player.

Ensure your keyboard is setup at the right height. Also, be sure to practise playing your keyboard part with the guitar strapped on. You will need to get used the lack of space.

Be sure to do a soundcheck with the keyboard. If you do a soundcheck as a band, let your “soundcheck song” be one that uses the keys.

Design your set list to have “keyboard songs” later in the first set or in the second set. It’s enough to get the show going without dealing with mixing in another instrument.

Angle the keyboard off the side of the stage until you’re ready to play it.


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