Elton John - Farewell Yellow Brick Road - Song Intros on my Roland RD1000

[@kristiandawe85]

I love the Roland RD-1000, unmistakably Elton John's sound

[@eltontothemax]

Sure is!

[@driversteve9345]

@@eltontothemax Is it possible to get the same sound on an Roland RD-2000? Thanks!

[@eltontothemax]

@@driversteve9345 You can get pretty close, I use an RD2000 on the road, as you can see in my later vids.

[@jaggass]

Live version's of Elton's songs are better than the studio versions because he plays them so different and puts so much work into doing it.

[@eltontothemax]

He does! I think you're my biggest 'commenter' :)

[@jaggass]

The torch has been passed over to you. Hello Yellow Brick Road.

[@bobsmodelrailways]

Brilliant chord merchant”, our Elton!

[@eltontothemax]

Absolutely. Thanks for the comment

[@isaiahshelley]

LOVE LOVE LOVE!!! Always a joy listening to you play Bub! Miss you!

[@phsycopiano]

🤤🤤🤤. I love this piano sound

[@eltontothemax]

It's VERY Elton, isn't it! I only use it when I'm playing Elton stuff as it is literally his signature sound. Thanks for the comment.

[@tomcat3255]

I would love to see a video on how you have recreated the live piano sound. Best tone and covers by far! Thanks for sharing your talent and hard work on KZbin!

[@bojackhorseman5367]

I agree! this would be totally awesome to see. I have a Roland RD-300S (the little lead weighted plastic key'd bro of the RD-1000 - same sound engine), and I'm not really trying to replicate Elton John's live sound perfectly but I'd love to get somewhere in the ballpark of this sound for my own music, because it's so present and dynamic!

[@jordan6988]

@@bojackhorseman5367 its layered with piano1 from the rd1000 and yamaha motif grand. Would love to see a video of Max showing his setup and how its all wired up

[@bojackhorseman5367]

@@jordan6988 I'm aware of the modules and preset sounds that are used, but it's more HOW they are used that interests me - like the overall blend of the layers, the EQ of each and what effects are applied etc - I hear a lot of reverb here, for example ;)

[@jordan6988]

@@bojackhorseman5367 oh ya same. Would love to know the mix settings

[@eltontothemax]

Thanks man! I've got it pretty close now. The playing style helps a lot with getting the best out of the patches.

[@eltonrayjohnson]

Wonderful Max

[@sengle1013]

So so spot on! Incredible, everything is there, masterful

[@eltontothemax]

Thank you!

[@wagnercabrerisso5986]

*_Brilliant ! Elton must to see it !! 🤗💓🇧🇷🙏_*

[@eltontothemax]

Maybe one day!

[@wagnercabrerisso5986]

@@eltontothemax 🤗🙏🙏🙏

[@degraafmr]

I have an RD-1000 and like the way you play EJ style piano. Great job!!!

[@eltontothemax]

Thanks!

[@mariocastoldi612]

Wow you ' re great!!!!

[@eltontothemax]

Thanks!

[@phsycopiano]

I just purchased an RD 1000. I had no idea these weighed as much as a Mack truck

[@eltontothemax]

Sure do! Mine never leaves the house.

[@ejfan42388]

Man, spot on!

[@eltontothemax]

Cheers dude

[@20gravedigger11]

Superb!

[@andyheller2691]

Awesome!!!

[@eltontothemax]

Thanks Andy!

[@dawidzapotoczny1920]

Amaaaazing! Enjoyed it 100%

[@eltontothemax]

Thanks!

[@virginiamb]

LOVE IT SO MUCH!! good job👏

[@eltontothemax]

Thank you, please feel free to check out my other videos and leave your thoughts.

[@phsycopiano]

That thing came with wooden keys😱😱😱. I’m sold, I’m getting the rd 2000

[@eltontothemax]

I've got one of those, too!

[@phsycopiano]

Max Bresnahan Well now I’m looking at a Disklavier. Plug in that MKS 20 and look out. Course they are about 30 grand so 😥

[@jordan6988]

NICCCEEE MAX!!

[@jaggass]

The One has elements of Indian Sunset in it.

[@eltontothemax]

It does indeed!

[@pennywiser9607]

Are you using a sampled grand piano midied or a plug in?.. My MKS-20 pianos do not sound this bright or this realistic and as I understand it’s the same engine as the RD1000

[@eltontothemax]

It’s the layered Elton John sound - rd1000 / Motif

[@brandonshebes165]

Hey, Max. First, if I closed my eyes, I would think I was listening to Elton himself. Second, I didn’t hear you play a snippet of Rocket Man or Take Me To The Pilot. I can’t imagine he skipped those at your show, no? Just curious.

[@eltontothemax]

That is a very good point. I literally pulled a set list up online and played through as I was reading the titles. I guess I was too engrossed to notice!

[@brandonshebes165]

Max Bresnahan Just an observation! Perhaps you can make it up by posting a cover of both songs (haha). I can’t read music, so I learn by watching others do covers on KZbin, or by ear. What did you think of the show?

[@AJ_76421]

Max, is there any way you could do this again with the camera looking straight down at the keys while you play? I also play the piano and am a huge Elton fan and play a lot of his music, but I’m not as good deciphering his rifs and tricks, but you nailed them! I’d love to see a video from your perspective so I could learn the rifs and tricks myself. Thanks!

[@eltontothemax]

I should crowd fund a tripod!

[@AJ_76421]

Max Bresnahan if it means you’ll re-record this exact video looking down at your hands from your point of view I might even buy you one so I can learn how to play like that! Lol

[@eltontothemax]

@@AJ_76421 deal

[@jordan6988]

@@AJ_76421 i agree. Max needs the Tri pod setup! Ive been playing 2 years now and have a very large section of EJs songs down and a lot of his riffs like Max I love the playing style live so I am constantly watching videos and hoping some of them will be a live version but not a lot are. I really wanna learn the fills too that tri pod would be amazing!

[@michaelmatthews1537]

@@eltontothemax Better yet, I would pay you if you were interested in sending midi files of your covers. Name a price!

[@MikeMcCarty6453]

Can you please do a full cover of levon, there is so few out there.

[@eltontothemax]

YES! Stay tuned

[@josephdonohoe4755]

in order 1 "Bennie 2"All the Girls Love Alice 3"I Guess That's Why They Call It the Blues "4Border Song "Tiny Dancer5 " "Philadelphia Freedom"6 "Indian Sunset" (with Ray Cooper)7 "9 Rocket Man "

[@eltontothemax]

Well done :)

[@pianoman1456]

I’m learning Elton right now. Any sheet music you recommend for this style?

[@eltontothemax]

I’ve yet to find transcriptions that are accurate to his playing style. Good luck!

[@eltoniak9614]

Wow, you are absolutely great! Love your playing, it is so close to Elton! :D I watched a lot of your videos and I really appreciate your work! And I have to admit, that I wish I could also have Roland RD-1000, it's such a fantastic instrument! But it's not so achievable nowadays, is it?

[@eltontothemax]

Thanks for the kind words! RD-1000s do pop up every so often for sale but they are not in great condition a lot of the time. I love mine but never take it out of the house!

[@eltoniak9614]

@@eltontothemax No wonder! Mine would also never leave house if I had one haha! It's a pity, that it is so hard to buy a good one now... Can I ask you, which piano sounds similar to this, RD-2000? Is this the right piano for playing at home, not only at the stage?

[@eltontothemax]

@@eltoniak9614 I don't know if you have checked out my other videos, but I use an RD-2000 on all of my shows where there isn't a grand piano provided; the 2000 covers all my EJ needs with some careful programming :)

[@eltoniak9614]

@@eltontothemax Yes, I've seen, that you are using RD- 2000 too! Thanks for information :) I'm searching for the right piano to play Elton stuff haha

[@mr.fahrenheit511]

Can you do a full version of funeral for a friend

[@mr.fahrenheit511]

Never mind I found it

[@eltontothemax]

Please comment!

[@mr.fahrenheit511]

@@eltontothemax on what?

[@jaggass]

I think Roland heavily based Piano 1on Elton's Steinway Model D with Helpinstill pick ups

[@eltontothemax]

I don’t think so - their intention with SA synthesis was to try and replicate the expressiveness and dynamics of an acoustic piano. Obviously it sounds nothing like one; but behaves far differently to rompler / sample based synths of the time. The S&S setup Elton used to use sounded more towards a CP70 / 80 than the RD, more brittle, greater decay and less sustain.

[@jaggass]

@@eltontothemax Quite ahead of it's time really i can see why Elton went for it and stuck with it in some form. I think Billy Joel may have been using an RD-1000 a year before Elton did but hidden in grand shell. I used to have an MKS-20 but had constant sound problems

[@DKBastiansTwitch]

Which piano is this?

[@eltontothemax]

Roland RD1000

[@driversteve9345]

Hey that's cheating! Your smart-watch counting steps as you're hitting those keys! LOL!!

[@eltontothemax]

Hahahaha

[@20gravedigger11]

Awesome!

[@eltontothemax]

Thank you Evan!