Big difference in left hand technique when playing an arranger in it's most natural away, with chords left, melody right.
That's why a lot of piano players have a tough time playing it that way, and why many of them elect to play arranger using
both hands over a midi file.
It is in the latter method that you run into what Oscar related about
not being able to, more or less, spontaneously try something that enters your mind whilst in the confines of the group.
Using the arranger in chord mode, lets you try these ideas out
as they happen, not later on as you edit your midi file...hopefully remembering that cool little chord substitution, or style change.
Of course, using a style can be confining as well, and some players get around this by playing the accompaniment in "piano mode"....Bill from Dayton comes to mind; I believe he uses that method.
That mode can also be limiting, depending on how well your arranger handles full chords, and soloing over them.
I continue to play solo piano, although now, it's mainly at home, just to keep up that skill, and also because I love the sense of control it gives, and how it makes me think differently about chords and chord voicing.
But, I still love selecting a style on my arranger, and
conducting the band in real time.
I've decided not to do
any personal gigging this winter...I'm going to take it off....just do a few Yamaha clinics (the CVP-5-series will be out soon), and spend more time working on style making, recording, and just playing for my own pleasure.
To me, a
portable arranger (with built-in speakers),
should not weigh much more than a solid body electric guitar in it's case.
And
weight does matter a lot to some people, otherwise, friend Chas would be using a vintage Hammond B-3 with
two Leslie 147, and a
full pedal-board, instead of the Nord C1...right Chas?
[This message has been edited by ianmcnll (edited 11-06-2009).]
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