billjv Posted July 24, 2003 Share Posted July 24, 2003 Hi all, In my life as a keyboard player there were certain solos by various artists that I felt compelled to learn, just to challenge myself and satisfy my curiosity. One such example would be Billy Joel's piano solo in "Scenes From an Italian Restaurant", or another would be Wakeman's organ solo on "Roundabout". I was wondering what solos you've challenged yourself to learn, and did you get it right eventually? bv "If you want to make an apple pie from scratch, you must first create the universe." -Carl Sagan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rod S Posted July 24, 2003 Share Posted July 24, 2003 Well, when I had a band in HS I just had to learn the solo to "Jump" - I'm sure a lot of rookie keyboard players at the time did the same. Recently, I worked out the keyboard solo in Cyndi Lauper's "On Through the night" - cute little solo, IMHO. Took me a bit to get the pitch bends just right. Another 'just had to do it' - Led Zeppelin's "All of my love". That's what I remember right now. Korg Kronos X73 / ARP Odyssey / Motif ES Rack / Roland D-05 / JP-08 / SE-05 / Jupiter Xm / Novation Mininova / NL2X / Waldorf Pulse II MBP-LOGIC American Deluxe P-Bass, Yamaha RBX760 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tusker Posted July 24, 2003 Share Posted July 24, 2003 Oh yes, quite a stash of them. Here's a few that come to mind. - Roundabout was one of course (he has that little descending synth line in the verse. I remember practising to play it in thirds not realizing that Rick played only the right hand part live. ) - When I heard Tony Banks' In the Cage medley from 3 sides Live I just had to figure it out. - The little piano outro thing from Rosanna(Toto). It has so much attitude. The song wouldn't be the same without nailing it. The first time my band played that I just did my own piano solo and they looked at me funny and said "play it like the record". Jerry Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zeronyne Posted July 24, 2003 Share Posted July 24, 2003 "Foreplay" Still the only thing I can play on a B3 patch. "The way it is" the little solos from Rush's "the Trees", "Xanadu", and "Subdivisions", which are very simple but serve the song well. The one I never figured out was the synth riff in the chorus to "Street of Dreams" by Rainbow. In the video, the keyboard player puts one hand on top of the other to play the arpeggio, but the line is so buried in the mix (and the attack is so slow), I could never tell what was being played. "For instance" is not proof. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Botch. Posted July 24, 2003 Share Posted July 24, 2003 The solos in Head East's "Never Been Any Reason". I still can't play the third one just like the record, but it'll get there someday... Then of course, the keyboard solo from Flock of Seagull's "I Ran" Botch "Eccentric language often is symptomatic of peculiar thinking" - George Will www.puddlestone.net Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krakit Posted July 24, 2003 Share Posted July 24, 2003 Just about every Emerson solo there is, but most especially: Benny the Bouncer Jeremy Bender The Sherrif Thank god for the little black ELP book for those. As for Billy Joel, I learned his entire catalog up to The Nylon Curtain, including all his solos. The most difficult was not Scenes from an Italian Restaraunt, but Stilleto. I could play the left hand or the right hand, but together was a problem. The most satisfying was the live version of the Angry Young Man solo. Carl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b_3guy Posted July 24, 2003 Share Posted July 24, 2003 Originally posted by Krakit: Just about every Emerson solo there is, but most especially: Benny the Bouncer Jeremy Bender The Sherrif Thank god for the little black ELP book for those. CarlWow! I'm impressed. I do the Benny the Bouncer solo in a Powder Blues tune, What Have I Been Drinking. That's a book I'd love to have. I learned a lot of different ones, but one that camed to mind was Jon Lord's solo in Deep Purple's version of Hush. Wasn't that technically hard but I liked it. Steve www.seagullphotodesign.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ouizel Posted July 24, 2003 Share Posted July 24, 2003 Axel F, of course. I'm currently working on Bill Payne's "Gringo", from the live album Raw Tomatos. It's a bear. **Standard Disclaimer** Ya gotta watch da Ouizel, as he often posts complete and utter BS. In this case however, He just might be right. Eagles may soar, but Ouizels don't get sucked into jet engines. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ksoper Posted July 24, 2003 Share Posted July 24, 2003 There were many mentioned that I had to learn for club work. One that really kicked my butt was Toto's "Pamela." And I've got the ELP black book for "The Sheriff" and "Benny." But the solos that I was compelled to learn were Jan Hammer's from the "Oh Yeah" album. I just had to figure that pitch bend out. After an entire album's worth of solos, I did. k. 9 Moog things, 3 Roland things, 2 Hammond things and a computer with stuff on it Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Clark Posted July 24, 2003 Share Posted July 24, 2003 When I got my Wurly Ep-200 a little while ago, first thing I learned was the Get Back solo...Yea, I know it was done on a Rhodes originally, but it was close enough I'm definitely a novice player, but I'm trying to pick apart Emerson's Knife Edge solo right now. My music is like a movie for your ears - Frank Zappa Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Fiala Posted July 24, 2003 Share Posted July 24, 2003 Solos I just had to learn: Jerry Lee Lewis - "Great Balls of fire" Little Richard - "Tutti Frutti", "Lucille" Jon Lord - "Highway star" solo Rick Wakeman - parts of "Six wives of henry the 8th" Yes - organ & guitar bits on "Yours is no disgrace" Gershwin - Rhapsody in blue Tom F. "It is what it is." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David R Posted July 24, 2003 Share Posted July 24, 2003 Yes, I agree that "Stiletto" is deceptively hard. I still don't have that last part of it down pat yet. The piano break in "Scenes From An Italian Restaurant" is tough too. When I heard Bruce Hornsby's Spirit Trail I had to go out and buy the transcription book. All the solos on Disc 1 are amazing. Here Come The Noisemakers has great piano playing too. Two solos I just HAD to transcribe: Keith Jarrett's solos on "Sandu" and "What Is This Thing Called Love?" from Whisper Not. I'm going to start "What Is This Thing" today; still not done "Sandu" -- when he does his doubletime stuff I'm screwed! David EDIT: I actually made a CD of stuff I want to transcribe and/or analyze quite heavily. Here's the tracklist for anyone who's interested: Miles Davis -- "Straight No Chaser," Milestones (Red Garland, piano) [i've transcribed this already but I don't have my copy with me currently] Miles Davis -- "Bye Bye Blackbird," Round About Midnight (Red Garland, piano) Bill Evans -- "I Loves You Porgy," Live At Montreux Herbie Hancock -- "Dolphin Dance," Maiden Voyage Chris Potter -- "Sun King," Gratitude (I'm going to transcribe the head and possibly Kevin Hays' piano solo) Chris Potter -- "High Noon," Gratitude (head only) Medeski Martin & Wood -- "Afrique," "Buster Rides Again," "Rise Up," all from Tonic (John Medeski, piano -- I'm probably only going to actually transcribe Afrique). My Site Nord Electro 5D, Novation Launchkey 61, Logic Pro X, Mainstage 3, lots of plugins, fingers, pencil, paper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
b_3guy Posted July 24, 2003 Share Posted July 24, 2003 Originally posted by Tim Clark: When I got my Wurly Ep-200 a little while ago, first thing I learned was the Get Back solo...Yea, I know it was done on a Rhodes originally, but it was close enough Always liked that one, again not technically that hard, but so tasty, nice style, so appropiate. I would be proud to have been the author of that one. I must say you guys sure are keeners Steve www.seagullphotodesign.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Fiala Posted July 24, 2003 Share Posted July 24, 2003 Here's another essential one I transcribed and enjoyed learning: Santana - "Evil ways" B3 solo Tom F. "It is what it is." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MusicaL Posted July 24, 2003 Share Posted July 24, 2003 Jon Lord's distorted B3 solo on "highway star" on Deep Purple's Made in Japan live album. Gear: Yamaha MODX8, Mojo 61, NS2 73, C. Bechstein baby grand. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve LeBlanc Posted July 24, 2003 Share Posted July 24, 2003 Dizzy Gilespie's solo on Night in Tunisia http://www.youtube.com/notesleb Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Odyssian Posted July 24, 2003 Share Posted July 24, 2003 Originally posted by Music*aL: Jon Lord's distorted B3 solo on "highway star" on Deep Purple's Made in Japan live album.Oh man! I tried to learn that solo once. Those fast arpeggios are killers. A little too fast for me! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slowly Posted July 24, 2003 Share Posted July 24, 2003 Not really a solo, but I had to learn " A Whiter Shade of Pale". Kcbass "Let It Be!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Yamis Posted July 24, 2003 Share Posted July 24, 2003 One of my first: Light my Fire- The Doors Yamis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeff Irok Posted July 24, 2003 Share Posted July 24, 2003 "Won't Get Fooled Again"!! Also, the keyboard part from Baba O'Reilly... A few others..."Foreplay" (not that I ever got the whole thing...I was doing it on a CZ-101, and the keys were just too darn small...I should try it again sometime), "Lucky Man"....Some non-keyboard solos I played on keyboard: Sax parts on "Old Time Rock 'n' Roll" and "On The Dark Side", Harmonica on "What I Like About You"... Check out my band's site at: The Key Components! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Azzarello Posted July 24, 2003 Share Posted July 24, 2003 Emerson Karn Evil 9 - Second Impression (organ and synth) From the Beginning Hoedown (OK, not a solo, but instrumental organ) Roll With The Changes - Organ - REO Speedwagon Deep Purple Hush Burn (Organ and synth) Tower of Power Squib Cakes (73 bars? weird) What is Hip? etc. etc. etc. As big a Lyle Mays/Pat Metheny fan as I am, I've never transcribed a solo of theirs, though I've been playing some of their tunes of late. On the list: Al Jarreau Easy (Larry Williams) Spain (Larry Williams) Pat http://www.patazzarello.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Superbobus Posted July 25, 2003 Share Posted July 25, 2003 I didn't do this so much. From what I remember: Wayne Shorter's solo on Yes or No Bud Powell - Celia Larry Goldings - Puttin' on the Ritz Toto - Africa (of course) and ending of Rosanna Level 42 - Love Games, vocal solo And the hardest of 'em all, Count Basie - The Kid from Red Bank. That one took me two months and of course I couldn't keep up with that tempo. Stride piano is haaaaard! http://www.bobwijnen.nl Hipness is not a state of mind, it's a fact of life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RaGe Posted July 25, 2003 Share Posted July 25, 2003 Chick Corea & Acoustic Band " Someday My Prince Will Come" ... goodness gracious, that solo by Chick. Anyone knows what I'm talking about? And it's simple enough that I HAD to pick it up the 1st time I heard it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Bryce Posted July 25, 2003 Share Posted July 25, 2003 Originally posted by Tusker: - When I heard Tony Banks' In the Cage medley from 3 sides Live I just had to figure it out. Yeah, me too. Actually, I already knew all the pieces, I just had to string 'em together. I do a bunch of Banks. Firth and Cinema Show are still my faves, but In The Cage is right up there....and the organ solo from Apocalypse in 9/8. Yeah, baby... dB ==> David Bryce Music • Funky Young Monks <== Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gulliver Posted July 25, 2003 Share Posted July 25, 2003 Originally posted by Dave Bryce: ....and the organ solo from Apocalypse in 9/8. Yeah, baby... dBA few years ago I had to transcribe (read: learn) this solo when I worked on my "Invisible Dances", the piece of weird chamber music for a violin and a double-bass (based on themes by Genesis). I am back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
progfusion74 Posted July 25, 2003 Share Posted July 25, 2003 Originally posted by Odyssian: Originally posted by Music*aL: Jon Lord's distorted B3 solo on "highway star" on Deep Purple's Made in Japan live album.Oh man! I tried to learn that solo once. Those fast arpeggios are killers. A little too fast for me! I still dream of playing that right one day http://www.indiegrooves.com/dnm/images/dnm_small.gif My Blog Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
progfusion74 Posted July 25, 2003 Share Posted July 25, 2003 Originally posted by Dave Bryce: Originally posted by Tusker: - When I heard Tony Banks' In the Cage medley from 3 sides Live I just had to figure it out. Yeah, me too. Actually, I already knew all the pieces, I just had to string 'em together. I do a bunch of Banks. Firth and Cinema Show are still my faves, but In The Cage is right up there....and the organ solo from Apocalypse in 9/8. Yeah, baby... dBAnother one I would love to get my head around is "Riding the Scree". "In the Cage" though is the one that got me into Banks http://www.indiegrooves.com/dnm/images/dnm_small.gif My Blog Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IZCool Posted July 25, 2003 Share Posted July 25, 2003 Originally posted by Ouizel: Axel F, of course. I'm currently working on Bill Payne's "Gringo", from the live album Raw Tomatos. It's a bear. I had a look at a MIDI file of Axel F and saw that it was nigh impossible for a sane pianist to play, so I sort of put that one on the back burner! One day I'll have to work out the intro to Billy Joel's Piano Man and the solo in the middle (I know they're not ridiculously hard, but I'm not that good at playing by ear). Great topic! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jode Posted July 25, 2003 Share Posted July 25, 2003 I had the good fortune of being present at a friend's house the one and only time he ever completely NAILED ELP's "Trilogy" on piano. It gives you a whole new respect for that piece of music to watch it being played live in the room. "I had to have something, and it wasn't there. I couldn't go down the street and buy it, so I built it." Les Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Krakit Posted July 25, 2003 Share Posted July 25, 2003 Originally posted by Jode: I had the good fortune of being present at a friend's house the one and only time he ever completely NAILED ELP's "Trilogy" on piano. It gives you a whole new respect for that piece of music to watch it being played live in the room.Trilogy is like my signature peice. My friends always expect me to play it whenever I sit down at a piano. However, the synth break in the middle loses a lot on just an accoustic piano. Carl Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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