Time to bin the guitar (for fans of technical playing)

[ESBlonde]

I can't listen at work but I get the picture . One of the overriding benefits of the guitar is (was) is portability and versatility, but now my brother in law has a rubber keyboard he pulls from his inside pocket and unrolls on a flat surface to play piano + a few other tones. The other thing a guitar has in its favour is it's ability to bend as well as slur notes. In the early part of last century as the guitar started to come to the fore in jazz/dance we had saxophonists and guitarists trading the limelight and trying to emulate each others techniques. This resulted in the birth of Rock n' Roll (well not literally ). I do love the piano and when I started to have to mic up grands for recording or sound reinforcement the appreciation for it wonderful dynamics and textures grew. Can't beat a bit of Chopin though, I will listen later.

[Akeldama]

I've thought for a while that even some of the very best guitarists - ones we often think are technically very good - aren't anywhere near the standard of a normal professional classical orchestra musician. We exist in a guitar ghetto that is impressed by people playing at a technical level that is merely the norm for "proper" musicians.

And I am a beeeeelion miles from being anywhere near that.

[Fazer]

the first clip in particular was beautiful, thanks.
i'll have to look it up

yes, the piano/keyboard is the supreme instrument - all the notes are laid out in front you and can be accessed at any time, chords, arpeggios, single notes

that said, the grass is always greener and a lot of those pianists are probably a bit jealous of strings players abilities in bending, gliding, different types of attack.
and wind/reed players who can control the attack, decay, sustain etc

although i guess that with synths all this is available to keyboard players for the last few decades.

the other thing about rachmaninov, chopin etc is that they combined technical brilliance with composer brilliance too.
and can those pianists playing the chopin and rach in the vids above compose or improvise?
i doubt it.
they have incredible ability to perform and emote that great music, but in terms of creating they are nothing compared to bob dylan or neil young strumming a few chords.

but yeah, as a guitarist i always feel a bit of a caveman bashing a couple of rocks together, while the grand piano is like a universe of notes and possibilities all clearly laid out

[Sporky_McGuffin]

yes, the piano/keyboard is the supreme instrument - all the notes are laid out in front you and can be accessed at any time, chords, arpeggios, single notes

The other nice thing about piano is that each note is only in one place.

Also you can mash a load of them at the same time really easily.

[Vim Fuego]

course the problem with the piano is you look really stoopid with one in a gig bag slung over your shoulder. Plus I think it is an accepted fact that no piano player ever got laid, not even once, by a munter.

[Fazer]

The other nice thing about piano is that each note is only in one place.

Also you can mash a load of them at the same time really easily.

and play 10 consecutive notes that are a semitone apart if you want

and i like the ability to play a note and then leave it, without having to worry about string damping etc

[evilmags]

I started on piano and only took up the guitar ten years later. Recently I have got back into piano-playing a bit more after seeing this lady's trio live - the dynamic power was truly inspirational.

Hiromi is simply amazing.

[Sporky_McGuffin]

and play 10 consecutive notes that are a semitone apart if you want

I think I covered that in the "mash a load of them" bit.

[guitarfishbay]

I've thought for a while that even some of the very best guitarists - ones we often think are technically very good - aren't anywhere near the standard of a normal professional classical orchestra musician. We exist in a guitar ghetto that is impressed by people playing at a technical level that is merely the norm for "proper" musicians.

And I am a beeeeelion miles from being anywhere near that.

Pretty much how I felt when I switched on that Chopin CD.

that said, the grass is always greener and a lot of those pianists are probably a bit jealous of strings players abilities in bending, gliding, different types of attack.
and wind/reed players who can control the attack, decay, sustain etc

Don't get me started on string players. A violin player can make a note sustain as long as they want and swell in volume as an when they please mid note. Plus they can properly slide notes. A violin screams when played hard too Erruption On Violin

But yeah I agree each instrument has its own advantages and disadvantatges.

the other thing about rachmaninov, chopin etc is that they combined technical brilliance with composer brilliance too.

Agreed.

and can those pianists playing the chopin and rach in the vids above compose or improvise?
i doubt it.
they have incredible ability to perform and emote that great music, but in terms of creating they are nothing compared to bob dylan or neil young strumming a few chords.

I disagree on the assumption that classical musicians can't compose or improvise - what gives you that idea? The industry means people make the most money playing performances of established works but there is no way you get to that standard without a high level of talent.

The other guitarist in my band is Grade 8 on Piano, and he writes music just as fast as I do, and his knowledge of theory trumps mine. I can play him a riff, not even tell him the chords or key, and he can improvise second guitar part ideas right away - and it is his second instrument. I have no idea how classical training could be causing him any trouble with writing music.

The ability to write music is not hampered by technical ability or knowledge, but we've had that debate once already in the notation argument. If these pianists could make a career playing originals they probably would, but the classical industry is geared towards interpretatins of established works so they play to get paid, just like many people do in the guitar world in covers bands, except these pianists are held with much higher prestige and the top guys probably make a fair amount of money. Very few modern and original classical acts cross over in to the mainstream anyway. I can think of Ludovico Einaudi in recent years and that is about it.

[guitarfishbay]

course the problem with the piano is you look really stoopid with one in a gig bag slung over your shoulder. Plus I think it is an accepted fact that no piano player ever got laid, not even once, by a munter.

You only need to know 4 chords to access the guitar player bonus for attracting ladies. But the image I now have of a grand piano in a gigbag is hilarious.