Electric Piano

The electric piano comes in many forms and usually has a slightly smaller physical size and range then the acoustic piano but can have a multitude of different tones and effects depending on the make and model.

Essentially the electric, usually amplified version of the acoustic piano. The electric pianos exist in a variety of sizes from a full 88 key length (same as the acoustic piano) to as small as 49 keys with 88 and 76 being the most common. Many electric pianos have a sound bank of various piano emulations which can duplicate the sound of either an acoustic piano or other electrics.

A famous electric piano that rose to prominence in the 60's and 70's with bands like The Doors and Led Zeppelin and favored by jazz piano great Herbie Hancock. The Rhodes comes in various sizes with the most common being the 88 and 73 key models.

The piano heard on Stevie Wonder's classic track "Superstition". The clavinet is a unique sounding electric piano based on the clavichord and is used prominently in soul, jazz and r&b music. The clav usually has 60 keys and therefore has a slightly smaller range than the normal electric piano.

a 88 key electric piano will have the same range as a standard piano although through transposition on the instrument it is possible to go extend the range even further.

While some Rhodes pianos have 88 keys there exist some models with 73 and below, because of this the available range should be checked with the instrument/player.

Typically having 60 keys and ranging from a low F1 up to E6.

Note(s) to be played short and separated.

Best used in combination with staccato markings to indicate a note is to be played for its full value. Otherwise it means the note should receive some emphasis but what for that will take is context dependent.

Play the note accented for its full value.

As with jazz arranging in general the marcato articulation usually results in an accented note with a shorter value (about 2/3) than a standard accent. Use for short, punchy lines or chord shots that need some space and tightness to them.

Because the piano is technically a percussive instrument a slurs is are not technically possible in a hard sense. However most piano players can achieve this effect by hitting a half or whole step grace note before the desired note (similar to a hammer-on/pull-off on a stringed instrument.

Quickly arpeggiate the notes in a chord.