Question for the piano players?

[dwest2419]

My organist always tell me create or find a pocket when we be playing. What do he means by this. I thought I ask the piano guys this question

[Ldog2010]

Im guessing he means to just play the song as is and dont try to go all in it. Just the basic chords of the song.... Again this is just a guess. Ive never heard anyone say that lol.

[dwest2419]

WOW! I believe that's it! 

[betnich]

To me, pocket is all about rhythm - keeping up w/the drummer and the other singers and musicians.
Would be nice to play the same chords at the same time, too...

[berbie]

I always try to stay in the pocket when another keyboard(organ, piano,etc)is playing with me.  Then he knows exactly what I am going to do.  He can then supply the extras if so desired.  We usually won't clash at all.  If I sense that he is staying in the pocket, then I will embellish, but I don't like to(not so good at that). By staying in the pocket, I mean that I play the song straight up.

If I am staying in the pocket with the bass, I am usually playing within the scale pattern that I have chosen and playing a set rhythm.

[SoundofJoy]

It used to be the piano was the lead instrument and the rest of the musicians followed. Rght now I'm the only musician but back in the day I was the piano player and I followed the organist.

[Docdb04]

Think of the pocket as a consistent pattern.  If he/she wants you to play in the pocket minimize your riffs and as someone said, just play a pattern of chords.  Sometimes a lot of riffs and improvisation can overpower (run over) the vocals or choir.  You don't want that.  In addition, it can cause your music to sound to busy.  If your doing a normal gospel run in the key of C:

C - D - Eb - E - F - A - Bb - B - C

You would probably switch between the C7 and the F7

Your pocket would be:

C7 - F7

Or

Cmin7 - F6 - F7 - Cmin

You just bounce around these chords.  It isn't to busy as you want to keep it simple and clean.  When you as a pianist lay in the pocket it gives everyone else a little more freedom to move. 

Hope this helps. 

[Mysteryman]

Sometimes that happens when you are playing in the same area of the keyboard as they are playing, which beginners tend to play near the middle of the keyboard. You should be playing more of the keyboard than just around middle C. I remember the time Sam is talking where the organ player held the foundation and the piano player lead. Its like having a lead guitar and a rythmn guitar but the lead player keeps playing rythmn. After a while the rythmn player may get annoyed because the lead guitarist keeps coming in his space. If you been playing a while you know how to move around even if someone plays in your area. I would say play more above the middle C octave.

[KeyofB]

Hahaha.....And this bring me to things that erk my nerves.....Clashing chords......ahhhhhh!!!.....I have been know in my distant past.....when I was leading the band to just signal the director for the choir to keep singing and play whoever is out of order part so the can hear it...