Interlude /pt.2 (b) - Alter Ego Conflict: Pianist, Bassist and Keyboardist

Keyboardist Woes 

From a bassist's point of view, Gospel music appears easy, because it follows a simple and repetitive pattern of harmony. From a pianist's point of view, it's different. Almost everything I've learnt as a pianist does not apply. Firstly, everything to do with dynamics and control is different on a keyboard. I cannot explain further. Other than the similarity of positions, to me it's all different. There are even some keys missing on a keyboard.

Secondly, on a piano you have to transpose in your head and know the physiology of the new key, because a good piano is as manual as my late Grandma's Fiat. However, on a keyboard there's a button to transpose. I struggle because I do not know where it is and can never find it. I feel like a technologically challenged being. Maybe it's a good thing that I can never find the transpose button, despite it being  shown to me numerous times by patient people. Why is it a good thing? Because the idea of playing a song in F yet I am holding chords in C just eats at me. It's not normal. It's weird. It is unnatural. On bass you simply shift the shape, although if the interval is too wide, the sound may change and you may have to come up with a new bassline if you're looking for a particular sound. Oh, and by the way, a keyboard peddle can reverse peddle. Usually, a peddle sustains notes when stepped on and releases them when you release your foot. A keyboard peddle can be set to sustain without stepping, so if you want to release the sustained notes, you would step on it. I learnt this yesterday.

Finally, what to do with the information has also been a struggle. If a song progression is C-F-G-C, as a bassist I know that my role is to harmonize and maintain the groove. I know that as long as I play within what makes the quality of the harmony and as long as my rhythm is in check, I am good to go. Besides, if we were to write my bassline on a staff, it would only be one part. On keys, the two main parts are harmony and melody at the same time, that sub-divide into other parts, while keeping in mind that I am an accompanist and should not outdo the vocalists or compete with the lead guitarist. I have not been blessed with the skill of improvisation, although I am working on it. In classical music, what to do with the C-F-G-C is written for you, and that's only if you take the time to analyze the music and see that indeed that's a C-F-C-G, if written in the most basic manner....otherwise you would look at a C as C-E-G and not C Chord or Chord 1. Also, when I play classical music, to me each note is an independent note with its important role as part of the melody and harmony, rather than as merely a small part of a whole chord.

The little joys of life....