Using the piano as a drone instrument

Something in me shies away from using the piano or keyboard in music. The most obvious reason is that I don't really know the first thing about it. Also, often I just don't notice it in the music I listen to and so don't value what it brings to the mix. Another reason is that it just seems like too much trouble when you can 'get it done' with two guitars, drums and vocals.

Also, when I imagine the 'rock-piano' sound, I've got a kind of upfront cheesy keyboard sound in my head which doesn't necessarily bear any relation to the truth. See, piano is good. Well-placed simple chords and tinkly arpeggios can really add to the texture of a song. It also gives more options for dynamic changes. Go piano.

I was listening to Arcade Fire's Funeral today. There's a band that uses their piano well, especially on that album. I especially like it though, piano philistine that I am, when they ignore its vast melodic potential and use it as a drone or a rhythm instrument. I noticed this especially on Rebellion (lies).

There's something a bit perverse about taking such a virtuoso instrument and using it to lay down simple droney notes or as one instrument among many, filling gaps in a sinister chugging wall of sound. But it sounds really good.