Any Pianists Here?

Well, I guess this category is as close to piano as could be. Anybody here happen to play piano?

yup, you know me and Nick Grooves play the piano (him better than me, but I am not bad for being mainly self taught)

I am pretty sure there's an army of electronic musicians on here that started with piano lessons as children.

Yessir. Pianist for many years.

Oh, well I wasn't expecting that from you guys. Whatever happened to Nick? Probably busy.

Since we're here, do you guys know any good solo pianists or anything of the sort? I just started out, already have an instructional book and my sister was a pianist, got herself a standing piano here, but she stopped using it. I just want to listen and play.

Only legitimate solo pianists I know are Dexter Britain and Agnes Obel.

Wilhelm Kempf

Mike Garson

Herbie Hancock

Bill Evans (!!!!!)

our former conductor in Philly, Eschenbach (love his piano playing for Wagner)

Rick fucking Wakeman

Lalo Schifrin

I could go on....

I play out of necessity. I'm no prodigy, but I play the stuff on my recordings, because I have to...

I love a bit of Herbie Hancock. He's just great.

he's one of the greatest

here's some more of my favorites from every genre:

Dave Brubeck

Booker T Jones

Billy Preston

Mac Rebinack (Dr John)

Alan Tousaint

Donald Fagen

Paul McCartney

Richard Wright

Rod Argent

I know I keep forgetting tons of great guys, as a music lover as well as maker its hard to think of all the great stuff I would like to share with the younger generation, seriously.... so much amazing music thats been made just up until I was born in '80

Wow, that is a lot of music. I'll have my hands full tomorrow, but now. I must sleep soon.

I really respect Jordan Rudess. He's incredibly skilled, at any genre. Obviously he's from dream theater, but his solo stuff, has some tracks where it's just piano, which are pretty good.

Jon Brion

Brian Wilson

Gary Brooker and Josh Phillips

Richard Manuel and Garth Hudson

I didn't know you could be a certified pianist. Is that like a certified public accountant where you get the degree in your field and sit the test for that all important government license?

Classical pianist turned dj over here. Funny transition from Mozart and Beethoven to Martin Garrix, Hardwell and SHM. Music theory and practice. 9 years and an Advanced-Level certification in both.

How much (or how little) do you feel like it helps you in your songwriting/arrangements? I can see it going both ways - on one hand, your ear knows what sounds good, and you can come up with ideas all day. The down side is you could overcomplicate things. :) A lot of these house music producers (especially the ones at the top), I've noticed they keep things simple - both in terms of workflow and melodies. It's one of their strengths.

the tradition in house from day 1 was to keep it so painfully simple that a tonedeaf Whitman could understand and groove to it. Some great house and techno producers I've known had little to know musical training and heir primary instrument was drums before getting into dance music.... these are older guys who had popular tracks in the 90s, but I think Gchiaren has made a great point and asked a fascinating question... I get carried away with over-writing dance music and it looses immediacy and intensity though I wind up with loads of atmosphere compared to less trained guys. Where do you sit with it?

Zedd is a classically trained pianist and it really shows. His big hits have more interesting chord progressions than most ''mainstream'' Edm, but still have that pop/dance ''feel'', which I love and try hard to duplicate. On his latest album True Colors he shows off his music theory knowledge very well, doing some crazily interesting things, although they sound less... easy to listen to. What I'm referring to is that thing that makes chord progressions such as i-VI-III-VII, or I-IV-VI-V very popular. They have a simplicity that's addictive. Zedd manages to get that feeling whilst doing some interesting things, except in True Colors (album, not song) where he goes a bit crazier (particularly the track Addicted to a Memory).

Ludovico Einaudi is my personal favourite https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dqZBY-oBNLg

ooh, I dig it! never heard of him until now, thanks!

Seconded.

nice touch right? not in love with the piece, but hey, he plays it with aplomb!