10 Greatest Keyboardists Of All Time
The masters behind the ivories.
In most of rock music, the guitar seems to dominate the competition when it comes to the mid-range melodic instrument. If you're not listening for the singer's voice, chances are you'll probably be latching on to the guitar riff or solo. So, why is the piano written out of the conversation?
Sure, the piano is a much bigger instrument which people associate with more classical composers, but there are some fantastic musicians who have brought the keyboard into the popular music sphere. Since the piano has a greater dynamic range, these musicians have the advantage of more notes and a greater sonic palette to come up with beautiful melodies. Even the simple playing of chords can make a simple song seem almost trance-like.
All of these keyboardists presented here have created mesmerizing patterns that have not only yielded classic songs, but also pushed the limits of popular music at the time into uncharted territory. Whether it's on a typical upright or a synthesizer, each of these musicians have produced fantastic sounds with a keyboard that can go toe-to-toe with any guitar riff in history.
10. John Paul Jones
For the uninitiated, many people just assume that John Paul Jones is the bass player in Led Zeppelin. However, the keyboard work that Jones sprinkled through Zeppelin's tracks made each record seem like they were coming from another planet.
Over most of Zeppelin's softer tracks, Jones would use an organ to give the track an instrumental wash that was perfect for songs like "Thank You." Out of all the members of Zeppelin, Jones was the one who seemed to have the most musical training, which made him the band's secret weapon when it came to creating unique sonic pastiches on the keyboard.
Apart from organ, Jones also used the Moog synthesizer to add more ethereal sounds to Zeppelin's records like on the end of the track "Since I've Been Loving You." Jones's vast knowledge behind a keyboard also led to him venturing into composing as he wrote string arrangements for everyone from the Rolling Stones to R.E.M.
With his eclectic mix of influences, John Paul Jones's work behind a keyboard gave Led Zeppelin another distinctive musical facet that took their sound in new directions with each record.