Intricate keyboard playing

[erik16]

I was listening to the instrumental version of TCOT the other day and found myself once again lamenting the lack of the keyboards during the chorus on the vocal version. So I thought listing some of the seemingly minor keyboard parts which really enhance their respective songs:

WARNING: Huge thread incoming.

Songs with Kevin Moore

Pull Me Under: The synth during the intro, the keyboard that accompanies the guitar lead before the chorus.

Take the Time: Just before the outro solo and during the solo some tasteful piano sounds.

Surrounded: The intro and the outro. Simply beautiful.

Learning to Live: In some versions of the song during the third verse (the 4/4 part) the keyboard quotes the breakdown part melody. Also the grand choir during the outro.

Caught in a Web: After the instrumental section and the cowbell the string part before the final verse.

Innocence Faded: The outro.

Erotomania: Dirty intro, everything from 2:10 to 4:20.

Voices: The main piano melody and the strings during the pre-chorus and chorus.

Lifting Shadows Off a Dream: The intro and outro strings of course.

Scarred: The very mellow synth during the quiet verse (Do you feel...)

Space-Dye Vest: Those piano melodies. First one is full of sadness, the second one conveys a very strong sense of apathy.

Songs with Derek Sherinian

A Change of Seasons: The 'diminishing' keyboard during the second verse and the 'watery' piano during the outro. Also everything about Another World.

New Millennium: The keyboard synth during the first minute of the song.

Peruvian Skies: Once again the synth during the intro.

Lines in the Sand: Those small keyboard bits during the verses. Also the sudden burst of keyboards during the 'stream of consciousness' part. And before the final verse and chorus the breakdown led by bass and piano has a small 'pah-pah' moment.

Trial of Tears: Once the full band kicks in Derek alternates between 'jumping' string and 'metallic raindrop' sounds. Neither him nor Jordan have been able to fully recreate the sound during live performances, the closest is the Budokan version. Also the wind before the outro.

Example of Derek improving an already great keyboard sound: The afromentioned Scarred mellow sound, Derek gives it his trademark sound during Once in a Livetime.

Songs with Jordan Rudess

Overture 1928: The piano underneath the first JP solo really accentuates the Metropolis outro vocal melody.

Home: Keyboard during the 'insert the agent here' "calls me home" part.

One Last Time: The piano-synth combo that accompanies the vocal melody during the chorus and the ending.

Finally Free: The bells during the part where Edward kills everybody. And the strings during the 'as their bodies lie still' part.

The Glass Prison: The keyboard during the second verse, the sirens during the main keyboard lead, the DJ spinning part and the 'help me, I can't break out..." keyboard parts.

Blind Faith: The piano breakdown and also the contrasting of the intro and outro. While the intro sounds hopeful, the outro sounds apathetic.

Misunderstood: Every single sinister sound.

The Great Debate: All the sinister and secretive sounds. Also the ending of the instrumental section, some really good prog sounds.

Disappear: The intro and outro. The dark piano tone conveys a sense of hopelessness.

As I Am: The quiet part before pre-chorus, and the evil sound during th breakdown before the JP solo.

This Dying Soul: JR adds a bit flair to the drums during the intro riff. He then accentuates the melodic guitar lead and lightens up the heavy waltz riff before the quiet breakdown. Also the piano before the 'now that you can see' part.

Vacant: The piano succesfully conveys an emotion of 'almost given up'.

Stream of Consciousness: Throughout the song Jordan supports and lightens up those heavy JP riffs. Also the sounds just before the main theme returns.

In the Name of God: The 'ass and balls' morse code actually. Also the piano that supports the vocal melodies during the chorus.

The Root of All Evil: The piano behind the vocals during chorus.

The Answer Lies Within: The part where orchestra becomes suddenly more audible (around the 3 minute mark).

These Walls: The pre-chorus. With each time the keyboards become stronger until they peak just after the JP solo and before the final chorus. During the final pre-chorus they sound like a plea for help. Then they hit another peak (!) during the outro.

Panic Attack: The quick keyboard rolls during the intro, the breakdown before the chorus and the piano before the instrumental section during the 'extra vocals'.

Sacrificed Sons: The piano and orchestra during the 'majestic' part (you all know what I mean). Also the Continuum, especially during the outro.

Octavarium: The beginning of Razor's Edge of course.

In the Presence of Enemies: During the awesome JP solo Jordan at first accentuates it with piano, then he adds a secondary string sound and finally he comes in with a synth part. Then the beginning of part 2 some secretive and sinister playing until JLB explodes into the pre-chorus during which he accompanies the melody with piano and strings. Then a very evil sound during the chorus and a sinister sound during the verse that follows after. Just before the Reckoning another piano-string double to aid JLB in the false climax. And the whole outro.

Forsaken: The strings during the chorus and the outro. Double intricate points for the keyboard lead during the outro.

The Ministry of Lost Souls: Roland VP-55O just before the vocals come in. The main keyboard melody. The piano during the second verse. The orchestra patch underneath the JP outro solo.

A Nightmare to Remember: The piano intro which sounds like a premonition. The gothic keyboards when the band kicks in and during the verses before the Beautiful Agony. The pre-chorus and chorus during Beautiful Agony. The Continuum leads before the MP 'rororo' and during the outro.

The Shattered Fortress: The intro riff, the TGP reprise, TROAE reprise and the Continuum during the spoken part.

The Best of Times: The support that JR gives to JP outro solo is once again hugely important.

The Count of Tuscany: The buried keyboard line during the chorus. The intro and especially the outro with the multiple keyboard parts (choir, strings). The birds and the lighthouse.

On the Backs of Angels: The Morphwiz, the piano under JP solo.

Build Me Up Break Me Down: During the verses when the choir suddenly kicks in.

Lost Not Forgotten: Piano intro, the riff before the tickling part.

Bridges in the Sky: Agnus Dei variation, the keyboard during the verses and under the chorus. The instrumental section, especially the Continuum.

Outcry: The piano breakdown after the instrumental section.

Breaking All Illusions: The support of the bass groove and the first verse, the doubling of the heavy riff, the organ under JP solo the keyboard lead after the solo.

Beneath the Surface: The synth lead and the raindrops.

Examples of improvement over the original: Learning to Live reggae part (LSFNY) Lines in the Sand 'pah-pah' with the Roland VP-550.

Feel free to add, criticise but perhaps instead compliment? 

[Sycsa]

Some great keyboard moments here indeed.

Examples of improvement over the original: I really like what Jordan did with PMU, right before "Watch the sparrow...". I don't like however the he changed Derek's tasteful, jazzy fill from ACOS into goofy honky-tonk. I also deeply appreciate Derek's Hammond sounds and how they enhanced some older songs live, even while in the background (Metropolis from Once in a LIVEtime comes to mind, check out 3:20-4:06; 4:40-5:20).

[Naikon]

I agree with the TCOT part! There is one really good melody that gets me eargasm, but I cant hear it on the studio version!

Here is a link, it so good! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5A_KiALmJMg&t=5m53s

[Lucidity]

I agree with the TCOT part! There is one really good melody that gets me eargasm, but I cant hear it on the studio version!

Here is a link, it so good! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5A_KiALmJMg&t=5m53s

That's absolutely awesome! Can't believe I've never noticed it before!

[erik16]

I agree with the TCOT part! There is one really good melody that gets me eargasm, but I cant hear it on the studio version!

Here is a link, it so good! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5A_KiALmJMg&t=5m53s

That melody can only be heard live or on the instrumental version.  A lot of the time keyboards get lost on the albums and then live one discoves 'new parts'.