How do you play keyboard in a Black Metal band?
Posted on July 31st, 2009 by The Militia in Black MetalIve been playing keyboard for about year now, I am self taught. My friend recently asked me to play keyboard in his black metal band.
I know how to play full songs and stuff, but wtf do I play in a band with all the other instruments?
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July 31st, 2009 at 10:21 pm
It all depends on exactly what the band wants, black metal though, I would use an organ sound, while not pure black metal, your friend likely wants a Gothic sound, synth sounds would be best in an industrial black metal band. In a Gothic any metal band, you would likely play some parts on your own, solos, usually at the beginning or end, to help build-up/break down the song, so it wouldn’t be about fitting in as much as starting off or ending the song altogether. A good example is Dance Club Massacre ( http://www.myspace.com/danceclubmassacre )
July 31st, 2009 at 10:21 pm
Maybe dramatic parts so itll be like DUUUUNN uuuunnd uun
July 31st, 2009 at 10:21 pm
Get a good dirty stringy/brassy synth sound, and play chords along with the guitarists. Look at Yngwie Malmsteen’s keyboard player for inspiration. He plays many of the rhythms that the guitar plays, and even has a few soloes. Basically, supplement the guitars – they play chords that are basically root/fifth, so maybe adding some 3rds or 7ths would fill in nicely. Just remember the guitar is supposed to be "out front," and the keyboard is supplemental.
July 31st, 2009 at 10:21 pm
Get yourself a synthesizer. A normal keyboard will do for some of it, but a synth has a lot of other sounds that metal tends to use. You can get orchestras, string ensembles, and tons more.
You can either let the guitars write first and do chords or arpeggios for whatever notes the guitar is playing. Or you can write your own stuff and let the guitarists fill in the rhythm behind whatever you do. Theres no set way to do it, just be creative and do a little of both background rhythm stuff and your own solo intricate stuff.