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Phenomenally talented on BOTH guitar and keyboards

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Topic: Phenomenally talented on BOTH guitar and keyboards
Posted By: Steve Wyzard
Subject: Phenomenally talented on BOTH guitar and keyboards
Date Posted: June 06 2024 at 13:25
There are many great prog guitarists, and just as many great prog keyboardists. Who can you think of is extraordinarily talented on both? I'm not talking about those who can just "hold their own" when they switch between one and the other while doing a solo album, but someone who is downright virtuosic on both. Here's four names to start with - I'm sure you can think of others:

1. Trevor Rabin
2. Anthony Phillips
3. Kerry Livgren
4. Roger Hodgson


Replies:
Posted By: AFlowerKingCrimson
Date Posted: June 06 2024 at 13:44
Trevor Rabin was the first one I thought of. 

If you make it keys and bass I would say Geddy Lee. I'll have to think of others.

Posted By: Grumpyprogfan
Date Posted: June 06 2024 at 13:58
Mike Keneally
Todd Rundgren
Lyle Mays

Posted By: verslibre
Date Posted: June 06 2024 at 14:10
Richie Castellano
Edgar Froese (R.I.P.)
Manuel Göttsching (R.I.P.)
Tony Iommi (played the piano on songs like "Who Are You?" and "Changes")
Howard Leese
Kerry Livgren
Tony Macalpine
David Sancious
Yvette Young (Who? you ask — the leader of Covet)

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Posted By: Easy Money
Date Posted: June 06 2024 at 14:17
Phenomenally talented on both:
David Sancious is very very good on both.
Not phenomenal on both but still quite good on both, or phenomenal on one and okay on the other:
Prince
Steve Winwood
Paul McCartney
Peter Tork
I think John McLaughlin plays piano too.
Robert Fripp can play ballads on the piano to accompany his singing.
Keith Jarret played guitar on one of his albums but I don't know how good it was.

Posted By: AFlowerKingCrimson
Date Posted: June 06 2024 at 14:32
Tony Banks played acoustic guitar on early Genesis tunes so maybe him to some degree also.

Posted By: Criswell
Date Posted: June 06 2024 at 14:42
Todd Rundgren
David Pack

...although not Prog, I believe Vince Clarke composed many of his songs on guitar initially before moving them to the keys. Probably not a virtuoso, but interesting considering his sound...

Posted By: fredyair
Date Posted: June 06 2024 at 15:08
Eric Gillette (NMB, Temic and solo), not only one of the best and most versatile guitar player of his generation but also a virtuoso keyboard player, acomplished on bass and drum too. Top it of with a great producer and engineer. He needs to be discovered by the masses.

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Posted By: Starjet
Date Posted: June 06 2024 at 15:11
My number one is Matthew Bellamy from Muse. To my mind he's on a par with Kerry Livgren in instrumental virtuosity, but his singing gives him the edge.

Posted By: Lewian
Date Posted: June 06 2024 at 15:36
Not sure about "downright virtuosic", but Ed Wynne (Ozric Tentacles) is pretty good on both.

Posted By: Hrychu
Date Posted: June 06 2024 at 15:52
Neal Morse defines this thread!

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“On the day of my creation, I fell in love with education. And overcoming all frustration, a teacher I became.”
— Ernest Vong

Posted By: richardh
Date Posted: June 06 2024 at 16:46
Originally posted by Starjet Starjet wrote:

My number one is Matthew Bellamy from Muse. To my mind he's on a par with Kerry Livgren in instrumental virtuosity, but his singing gives him the edge.

Thumbs Up
Immediately the name that came to mind (no great surprise given my avatar LOL). I've seen Muse play live 4 times. Tremendous band but Matt is the 'talent' and has a high level of virtuosity on both instruments.

Posted By: Hrychu
Date Posted: June 06 2024 at 16:52
Roine Stolt is a very competent keyboard player although he never advertises himself as one and even sometimes sells himself short. He played all of the keyboard parts on his solo album The Flower King (1994) and The Fading Ghosts of Twilight by Agents of Mercy (2009) albeit under the aliases: Dexter Frank Jr. and Biggo Zelfries respectively.

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“On the day of my creation, I fell in love with education. And overcoming all frustration, a teacher I became.”
— Ernest Vong

Posted By: Awesoreno
Date Posted: June 06 2024 at 21:43
Richard Henshall

Posted By: Gerinski
Date Posted: June 06 2024 at 23:42
The late Shawn Lane. Called "the fastest electric guitarist" by many guitar players, he actually started playing piano as a kid and was also a virtuoso of keyboards. Too bad he passed away so young.

Posted By: mathman0806
Date Posted: June 07 2024 at 03:08
Originally posted by Gerinski Gerinski wrote:

The late Shawn Lane. Called "the fastest electric guitarist" by many guitar players, he actually started playing piano as a kid and was also a virtuoso of keyboards. Too bad he passed away so young.


No doubt. He was an amazing musician.

Posted By: ProgSynonym
Date Posted: June 07 2024 at 03:24
Although Pete Townshend is not a prog-rock guitarist, he does have some really proggy pieces in his catalogue where he plays synths in a very exciting and magnificent way.

Posted By: Mellotron Storm
Date Posted: June 07 2024 at 03:25
Brian Ellis formerly from Astra and now Birth is very good at both.
Shawn Lane was off the charts good.

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Posted By: Sean Trane
Date Posted: June 07 2024 at 03:27
Originally posted by Easy Money Easy Money wrote:


Steve Winwood.

My choice

Originally posted by Easy Money Easy Money wrote:


Robert Fripp can play ballads on the piano to accompany his singing.
.

Not sure I want to hear Frippy do either.


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prefer the sink to the gutter
keep our sand-castle virtues
content to be a doer
as well as a thinker,
prefer lifting our pen
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Posted By: ProgSynonym
Date Posted: June 07 2024 at 03:28
Steve Hillage comes to mind. OMG, I love his work on synths!

Posted By: moshkito
Date Posted: June 07 2024 at 05:55
Hi,

I think Edgar Froese deserves the top kudos here, mainly as he solo'd with both a lot. And while some did it as well, I thin that this one was special since he was also the main composer and designer for almost all music by TD ... and that's not to take anything away from any of the others or the talents with him, since folks like Chris Franke, had devised how to do sequencers manually in the early days of TD ... you don't think that takes massive know how and talent, in those days?


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Posted By: wiz_d_kidd
Date Posted: June 07 2024 at 06:44
The artist who goes by the name "The Psychedelic Ensemble".

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Posted By: ProgSynonym
Date Posted: June 07 2024 at 07:10
Check out these awesome acoustic covers of TesseracT and James Labrie songs, with some killer piano skills from the progressive metal guitarist David Maxim Micic!

Posted By: Hrychu
Date Posted: June 07 2024 at 09:13
I'm suprised nobody mentioned the Wizard here yet!


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“On the day of my creation, I fell in love with education. And overcoming all frustration, a teacher I became.”
— Ernest Vong

Posted By: Gerinski
Date Posted: June 07 2024 at 09:45
The canadian Dean Watson is also very talented on both.

https://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=5602" rel="nofollow - https://www.progarchives.com/artist.asp?id=5602

Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: June 07 2024 at 09:52
Mike Oldfield!

Posted By: Floydoid
Date Posted: June 07 2024 at 09:53
Francis Monkman? As a keyboardist his skills were up there with Wakeman, Emerson, Lord, Wright etc... he was none too shabby on lead guitar either as Curved Air's first three albums testify.

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Posted By: Steve Wyzard
Date Posted: June 07 2024 at 09:55
Originally posted by Psychedelic Paul Psychedelic Paul wrote:

Mike Oldfield!
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I am HUGELY embarrassed for not thinking of Mike Oldfield - my only excuse is I haven't been listening to his albums lately. That will change! 

Posted By: essexboyinwales
Date Posted: June 07 2024 at 10:20
Mike Holmes😎

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Heaven is waiting but waiting is Hell

Posted By: ProgSynonym
Date Posted: June 07 2024 at 10:42
In the realm of guitarists who are also multi-instrumentalists, Ralph Towner merits an honorable mention. For instance, he skillfully plays every sound you hear:

Posted By: Psychedelic Paul
Date Posted: June 07 2024 at 10:46
The many shades of Rob Reed, including Magenta and Cyan. He's the Mike Oldfield of Neo Prog!

Posted By: Duddick
Date Posted: June 07 2024 at 12:17
Steve Winwood for me

Posted By: Boojieboy
Date Posted: June 07 2024 at 12:39
The top folks to me would be:

Matt Bellamy
Kerry Livgen
Francis Monkman

Posted By: Jacob Schoolcraft
Date Posted: June 07 2024 at 13:06
I would think that Mike Oldfield is...but because he has his own style it's difficult to make comparisons or say that he reaches a certain level of playing on both...He's definitely great at composing for keyboard and guitar.

Posted By: ingridguerci94
Date Posted: June 07 2024 at 20:51
Quote There are many great prog guitarists, and just as many great prog keyboardists. Who can you think of is extraordinarily talented on both? I'm not talking about those who can just "hold their own" when they switch between  http://phima1d.com/" rel="nofollow -

Posted By: Jeffro
Date Posted: June 08 2024 at 05:29
Originally posted by AFlowerKingCrimson AFlowerKingCrimson wrote:

Trevor Rabin was the first one I thought of. 

If you make it keys and bass I would say Geddy Lee. I'll have to think of others.

By Geddy's own admission (in past interviews) he has stated that he does not consider himself a great keyboard player. 


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Posted By: Gerinski
Date Posted: June 08 2024 at 07:19
And let's not forget Rikard Sjoblom of Beardfish and Big Big Train.

Posted By: Big Sky
Date Posted: June 08 2024 at 12:11
Rachel Flowers hasn't been mentioned. Phenomenal talent on both keyboards and guitar.

Already mentioned, the late Shawn Lane as well as Trevor Rabin and Mike Keneally came immediately to mind as musicians who are very talented on both instruments.

Posted By: AFlowerKingCrimson
Date Posted: June 08 2024 at 13:53
Eddie Van Halen

Two pages in and no one mentioned Eddie Valen yet (until just now)? All you have to do is listen to the keyboard solo on "Jump" to know he was talented on both (although of course mostly just stuck to guitars).

I think any musician who knows how to read music should be able to play both.

Posted By: verslibre
Date Posted: June 08 2024 at 14:14
Originally posted by ProgSynonym ProgSynonym wrote:

In the realm of guitarists who are also multi-instrumentalists, Ralph Towner merits an honorable mention. For instance, he skillfully plays every sound you hear:


Ralph Towner is a beast!

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Posted By: Cristi
Date Posted: June 08 2024 at 14:18
Originally posted by AFlowerKingCrimson AFlowerKingCrimson wrote:

Eddie Van Halen

Two pages in and no one mentioned Eddie Valen yet (until just now)? All you have to do is listen to the keyboard solo on "Jump" to know he was talented on both (although of course mostly just stuck to guitars).

I think any musician who knows how to read music should be able to play both.

Maybe because Van Halen is not a prog band. This is still the prog lounge. Smile

Posted By: LAM-SGC
Date Posted: June 08 2024 at 14:21
Mike Oldfield

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Across the evening sky,
all the birds are leaving,
But how can they know,
it's time for them to go?
Before the winter fire,
I will still be dreaming,
I have no thought of time.

Posted By: verslibre
Date Posted: June 08 2024 at 14:23
Originally posted by AFlowerKingCrimson AFlowerKingCrimson wrote:

Two pages in and no one mentioned Eddie Valen yet (until just now)?


It happens. I'm the only one who's mentioned David Sancious. I guess more people need to check out David Sancious!


Everything by David, apart from drums and vocals. Produced by Eddy Offord.



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Posted By: AFlowerKingCrimson
Date Posted: June 08 2024 at 14:24
Originally posted by Cristi Cristi wrote:

Originally posted by AFlowerKingCrimson AFlowerKingCrimson wrote:

Eddie Van Halen

Two pages in and no one mentioned Eddie Valen yet (until just now)? All you have to do is listen to the keyboard solo on "Jump" to know he was talented on both (although of course mostly just stuck to guitars).

I think any musician who knows how to read music should be able to play both.

Maybe because Van Halen is not a prog band. This is still the prog lounge. Smile

Well it doesn't say "prog musician." 

Posted By: verslibre
Date Posted: June 08 2024 at 14:31
Originally posted by AFlowerKingCrimson AFlowerKingCrimson wrote:

Originally posted by Cristi Cristi wrote:

Originally posted by AFlowerKingCrimson AFlowerKingCrimson wrote:

Eddie Van Halen

Two pages in and no one mentioned Eddie Valen yet (until just now)? All you have to do is listen to the keyboard solo on "Jump" to know he was talented on both (although of course mostly just stuck to guitars).

I think any musician who knows how to read music should be able to play both.


Maybe because Van Halen is not a prog band. This is still the prog lounge. Smile


Well it doesn't say "prog musician." 


Actually...

"There are many great prog guitarists, and just as many great prog keyboardists. Who can you think of is extraordinarily talented on both?"

Hey, I threw Howard Leese a mention, anyway. Early Heart is great.

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Posted By: Cristi
Date Posted: June 08 2024 at 14:33
Originally posted by AFlowerKingCrimson AFlowerKingCrimson wrote:

Originally posted by Cristi Cristi wrote:

Originally posted by AFlowerKingCrimson AFlowerKingCrimson wrote:

Eddie Van Halen

Two pages in and no one mentioned Eddie Valen yet (until just now)? All you have to do is listen to the keyboard solo on "Jump" to know he was talented on both (although of course mostly just stuck to guitars).

I think any musician who knows how to read music should be able to play both.

Maybe because Van Halen is not a prog band. This is still the prog lounge. Smile

Well it doesn't say "prog musician." 
It's the prog lounge, it's in the title of the section of the forum. I thought it was obvious.  

Posted By: AFlowerKingCrimson
Date Posted: June 08 2024 at 14:39
Originally posted by Cristi Cristi wrote:

Originally posted by AFlowerKingCrimson AFlowerKingCrimson wrote:

Originally posted by Cristi Cristi wrote:

Originally posted by AFlowerKingCrimson AFlowerKingCrimson wrote:

Eddie Van Halen

Two pages in and no one mentioned Eddie Valen yet (until just now)? All you have to do is listen to the keyboard solo on "Jump" to know he was talented on both (although of course mostly just stuck to guitars).

I think any musician who knows how to read music should be able to play both.

Maybe because Van Halen is not a prog band. This is still the prog lounge. Smile

Well it doesn't say "prog musician." 
It's the prog lounge, it's in the title of the section of the forum. I thought it was obvious.  


Well, excuse me!!!! Are you going to put me in prog jail now or something?Confused

Posted By: Cristi
Date Posted: June 08 2024 at 14:42
Originally posted by AFlowerKingCrimson AFlowerKingCrimson wrote:

Originally posted by Cristi Cristi wrote:

Originally posted by AFlowerKingCrimson AFlowerKingCrimson wrote:

Originally posted by Cristi Cristi wrote:

Originally posted by AFlowerKingCrimson AFlowerKingCrimson wrote:

Eddie Van Halen

Two pages in and no one mentioned Eddie Valen yet (until just now)? All you have to do is listen to the keyboard solo on "Jump" to know he was talented on both (although of course mostly just stuck to guitars).

I think any musician who knows how to read music should be able to play both.

Maybe because Van Halen is not a prog band. This is still the prog lounge. Smile

Well it doesn't say "prog musician." 
It's the prog lounge, it's in the title of the section of the forum. I thought it was obvious.  


Well, excuse me!!!! Are you going to put me in prog jail now or something?Confused

No, I was only trying to explain why the famous Eddie Van Halen was not mentioned. 

If this thread was opened in the wrong section and the OP wanted any musician, from any genre, then this thread needs to be moved to the general music section. 

Posted By: AFlowerKingCrimson
Date Posted: June 08 2024 at 14:47
^ Look at Easy Money's post (the fifth one down) he mentions Prince, Steve Winwood, Paul McCartney and Peter Tork. Are any of them prog? Not solo they weren't. 

Posted By: Cristi
Date Posted: June 08 2024 at 14:50
Originally posted by AFlowerKingCrimson AFlowerKingCrimson wrote:

^ Look at Easy Money's post (the fifth one down) he mentions Prince, Steve Winwood, Paul McCartney and Peter Tork. Are any of them prog? Not solo they weren't. 

Having re-read the original post, I think the point (of the thread) is to mention prog musicians. 
Maybe some have not read the original post and just posted based on the thread title, I don't know, it's possible, it's happened. Smile

Posted By: MortSahlFan
Date Posted: June 08 2024 at 15:14
Roger Hodgson


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Posted By: verslibre
Date Posted: June 08 2024 at 15:14
Originally posted by Easy Money Easy Money wrote:

Phenomenally talented on both:
David Sancious is very very good on both.
Not phenomenal on both but still quite good on both, or phenomenal on one and okay on the other:
Prince
Steve Winwood
Paul McCartney
Peter Tork
I think John McLaughlin plays piano too.
Robert Fripp can play ballads on the piano to accompany his singing.
Keith Jarret played guitar on one of his albums but I don't know how good it was.


Looks like I missed this. David, a verified keyboard virtuoso, was described as having mastered the guitar "in weeks" when he picked it up in the '70s while still part of the E Street Band.

David is currently collaborating with Living Colour's drummer extraordinaire Will Calhoun. They call themselves Open Secret.

Prince was defintely a guitar and keyboard phenom early on. As he was also a singer and songwriter, his success was practically ordained.

As enigmatic as he was charismatic, Carmine Appice described a young Prince barely out of his teens as very shy and soft-spoken. When Carmine went to see Prince in concert, he couldn't believe it was the same guy: "This is the same dude, wearing women's underwear and humpin' the floor!?"

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Posted By: AFlowerKingCrimson
Date Posted: June 08 2024 at 15:59
I saw Prince in concert when I was 14. It was on the Purple Rain tour. He was shooting water out of the guitar he was rubbing and also had a bathtub on stage.

Posted By: Griffin
Date Posted: June 08 2024 at 16:49
Dave Bainbridge of lifesigns and previously of Iona

Posted By: cstack3
Date Posted: June 08 2024 at 19:41
Ralph Towner of the band "Oregon" immediately comes to my mind. 

Rick Wakeman's son, Ollie recently surprised everyone by playing both keys AND electric guitar on a recent song!  Check this out! 



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