In my musical world, there are specialists and generalists. Some play only one instrument. Some play only one style.

Others, like me, are "music whores", playing lots of different jobs on lots of different instruments.

Among the arranger players here, there are some that are "fine-tuning/programming" experts, and some just "turn the thing on" and go. Uncle Dave, for instance, does not get very far into the instrument, but gets a whole lot out of it. He's has often said that he could live with 8-12 programs and provide the variety with his playing style and entertainment abilities.

Rory and Chas own arrangers but never play them out on paid gigs.

I own arrangers and use them for about 20% of my jobs.

Fran regularly plays with his group(s): Diki uses his revered G-70 in multiple applications.

I suspect that Gary uses an arranger for all of his paid performances.

How about you?

* How many just play arrangers?
* How many just play certain kinds of gigs?
* How many are active players in groups?
* How many play multiple instruments on paid jobs?
* How many regularly work in a studio on commercial projects?
* How many use an arranger with other players for paid gigs?

R.

Hey, I'm a newbie, I'll bite:

- Play just arranger - only for practice or a rare instumental gig.

- Play just certain kinds of gigs - basically, any that pay and often just for fun. In practice, rock, blues, old time, honky-tonk, country, etc. Not much of a jazzer, but I really appreciate those who understand and play it.

- Active players in groups - currently playing in a Cajun/Zydeco band and "free-lancing" with two blues-based bands.

- Multiple instruments on paid jobs - depending of circumstances I ply Cajun button accordion, keys (organ, piano, horn and string parts mainly), a bit of guitar, and left hand bass, if that counts separately.

- No regular studio or commercial work, but after retiring from day job, who knows?

- Use arranger with other players for paid gigs - haven't done so to date.

I continue to be a church musician, so I say about 80% of my music is non-arranger. That time is split 40-40 on organ and piano. The remaining 20% is almost exclusively on arranger now, but I still use a good number of midi files along with my styles.

Hi Russ,

Mine is divided 50-50 for the present.

I play Hammond B-3 and Yamaha CP-300 piano in a jam band, consisting of some very good players...usually we meet two or three times a week.

Sometimes I use my Jupiter 8 instead of the organ.

My arranger gigs consist mainly of demos and clinics...I cut back on performing solo...I mainly use my S910 for recording and making Cds to give away to friends.

Ian

Unless there's a specific need for a capability my G70 doesn't have, I use it on ALL my live gigs where I'm needed as full keyboard player. Going out and jamming, I'll often take my KX5 strap-on and an old M-GS64 module - it sets up quick, takes NO room on a tight stage, and lets me be VERY expressive, while all the time providing a good laugh for the audience!

Alternatively, I grab the trombone, and go sit in on that. Occasionally, I'll lug the accordion out, especially for camp fire situations and acoustic ONLY jams. Or I just play whatever they have there... I've been known, after enough beers, to sit in on bass (used to play that pro) or acoustic guitar (takes a lot more beer for that!), or just sing! Main thing is just to participate.

But, call me for a gig, and you'll see a G70, no matter WHAT it is, live band, duo, solo, whatever...

Just about 100 percent arranger. That's how I make my living.
I can play guitar, drums, bass and trumpet (or used to), but only occasionally pick up a guitar around the house to learn a song when a keyboard isn't handy. Last time I picked up a guitar on stage was at the arranger jam two years ago. I was a little embarrassed that it was videotaped.
Come to think of it, maybe that's why those four sounds are most important to me, along with sax, organ and piano.
I never use synth sounds and very few electric piano sounds or pads.
DonM

100% arranger ... most of my gigs are the same 3 types: restaurants/country clubs; small parties; senior lunches, dinners - no NH - ...
Not currently active in a group ...
I play accordion, but not for several years ...
No studio or commercial gigs ...
Have used the arranger with 1 to 3 other players a pretty good number of times ...

t.

.........I had 25 great years on stage Keyboards with 100% No Arranger......
the last 17 years to present is 100% Arranger KB.

carry on



[This message has been edited by Dnj (edited 09-22-2010).]

Regular solo dinner club gig. Half time on S910, the other half on guitar with Band In A Box.

100% arranger on the PA800 - over 500 gigs per year. I also play piano and organ, but not on jobs.

i play arranger 50% of the time at home and about 60 % at church for rehearsals and performances.

Just give me a decent piano.

Or a B3.

Old School.

I've never used an auto-accompaniment keyboard at a live gig, but do use Band in a Box and have used several different auto-accompaniment keyboards in the studio to create backing tracks and the like for commercials, jingles and industrial musics. That's only because it is difficult to find - and sometimes PAY - good studio musicians around here, though.

I actually find it more difficult to get accustomed to "only" using the LH to punch a triad or extension chord. Have to keep that in the mind as the song unfolds or I'm likely to revert to one of the LH devices or rhythms only to discover awkwardly that the auto-accompaniment 'board don't like that (grin).

In my view, there is nothing like the sound of a good unaccompanied pianist or organist.

I do caution those who view the modern auto-accompaniment keyboard as a crutch to avoid the kind of practice it takes to be able to play a standard keyboard, but doubt that most actually heed that advice. But I'm convinced that someone who works out on the piano daily will be able to bring a lot more to the table on the gig, auto-accompaniment or not.


--Mac

Hello guys, been out for a while. But I thought I'd get back on the forum thing again

I play anything with keys, guitar, bass, uke, sax and I started to learn the drums and harmonica.

My gigs consist of mainly playing for drunken maniacs at pianobars, but also weddings, parties, concerts, session work and I'm currently working on two albums.

For pianobars I use any digital piano on site - or my trusty DGX-305, a Boss DR-3 drum machine and my voice.

For weddings and parties I use an arranger. I have a pretty beat up PSR-3000 that may need replacing soon

I play synth in a jamband, I just use the PSR there aswell, I know it is not a synth per say... but it gets the job done.

I play lead guitar in my partyband, we do dirty songs and play at parties.

I play acoustic guitar in pubs as a trubadour, usually with my DR-3 drum machine

I also play bass, electrics and acoustics, and piano in the studio for different projects.

On my solo album (nothing fancy, I got a scholarship to make one - so don't expect me to be a pop star any time soon..) I play all instruments except drums.

I guess when you're making a living off of music, you just do whatever you need to do to get the gig.

Currently, it's 100% arranger keyboard. Years ago, when I first got out of the U.S. Navy, I was a skinny kid with a 6-string guitar that played and sang in smoke-filled bars. Switched to a 12-string later while playing with a 5-piece band. I tried playing a friend's 12-string about a month ago--tore my fingers to shreds. Man was that dumb!

Cheers,

Gary

Brian..."music whore"..."gear slut"...we'd get along GREAT (LOL)! Do I see a new "dirty duo" forming?

Be well,

Russ

I only use a PSR-550 for practicing at home. I play in a rock band so auto accompaniment is unecessary which is why I haven't upgraded the PRS-550. In the band I just use a Motif 6 ( with the synth modeling expansion ) and play guitar.

I guess I didn't answer them all...

* Arranger only for live (with above noted exceptions)
* Play anything they pay me for (and tons they don't!)
* Been in a five piece for most of the last couple of years
* Play T'bone as well as kbds.
* Play pretty regularly in studios, and do my own production work, too. Primarily albums and backing tracks.
* Play my G70 live with any combo from duo to big band...