The Elton John piano style

A little clip of me reeling off a few Elton John intros. I am playing a Roland RD1000 with additional sounds and effects to make my piano sound like Elton's. I am also playing as he plays. Let me know what you think!

[@MrOilbarron]

If I couldnt see you playing, I'd swear it was Elton himself. Unreal! I so envy your talent. You have a gift. Keep it up!

[@jaggass]

elton played the shit out of this in the late 80's early 90's and you still hear some of these sounds in his yamaha grand piano. he made the rd1000 famous

[@char251000]

i love it

[@dayafteday]

You sound great! This was really fun to watch.

[@irenebrophy3284]

So far, your the best of getting the style and tone spot on, of Elton's...

[@eltontothemax]

That is very kind of you.

[@robertkerr3059]

you have a gift of music to offer at will, how cool and easy,

[@dvamateur]

RD-1000 is like my totally dream instrument, which I will probably never have. And the Elton John style piano playing is uncanny in this video. It's all the best in rock piano. This should really have millions of views.

[@eltontothemax]

Thank you very much! That is a wonderful comment. I appreciate your kind words.

[@dvamateur]

Max Bresnahan No, I mean, really these are really perfectly (note for note with the correct harmony) and masterfully played Elton John bits. Elton's music is as beautiful as Mozart music. Anyway, there was an RD-1000 on eBay recently, but I was undecided due to transport problems, and now it's gone... I don't think I will ever get one now. Seems like a rare instrument this. All the other RD-series are disappointment and step down from the RD-1000. V-Piano might be superior technologically, but doesn't look as good as the RD-1000. Anyway, I got an A-80, XV-88, and D-50, but RD-1000 will always be my dream instrument.

[@eltontothemax]

Andrew Piatek I would never let my RD1000 go. It's actually the second one I have owned; I sold my first one due to lack of space and immediately regretted it, moved house and bought another!

[@customtheatres]

Andrew Piatek Please tell me more about the "piano" presets on the RD1000. Isn't it old outdated technology in comparison to the V piano and others? I'm just fascinated that you consider the RD1000 to be great till this day. I can hear the playing in the video but don't know if I would judge it the same if I was sitting in front or hearing it through headphones

[@dvamateur]

customtheatres RD-1000 outdated technology? That sounds like millennial talk. V-Piano is good, but it lacks a lot in aesthetics compared with the RD-1000. RD-1000 is not only stunning to look at though. It has those long wooden keys, which contributes to the unique action, and what's even more unique is its S/A synthesis engine, which gives very dynamic and expressive sound. Nothing else sounds like it. It's like the D-50, nothing else can truly emulate the D-50. Even Roland's own VariOS or V-Synth with VC-1 card installed does not sound like the D-50. It's close, but it's not the same. Yamaha Montage can sound like the DX7, but it can't sound like the SY77 or SY99 because the Montage does not have RCM synthesis. To me personally, it is quite an atrocity to say that the RD-1000 is "outdated". Same like calling Ferrari 250 GTO, or 288 GTO or Testarossa outdated. If someone considers these outdated, this means that he or she has either no aesthetic taste developed, or simply no knowledge on the subject.

[@MatthewWilkinson]

Spot on Elton sound and style!

[@pennywiser9607]

Unbelievable that this is the only man with an RD-1000 on KZbin demoing this treasure! I can’t find this keyboard on any other channel!

[@Hannes667]

Remarkable! I loved it thanks, (H)

[@ImprovedNewShimmer]

You nailed that Elton John sound! Excellent playing.

[@AndrewBonicaRR]

Absolutely Amazing!! Loved every note and even more killer with the original RD-1000 sound! ;-) Would love to hear the direct recording too. Rock on bro! \m/

[@eltontothemax]

Thanks. Please check out my other vids. Enjoy.

[@EquinoxeBruno]

Whaou ! Cool ! Congratulations !!!

[@ruralrob228]

Love this,,,,the sound is just like being at one of his concerts.I'm expecting Elton to start singing at any point.

[@eltontothemax]

Thanks dude. Glad you appreciate it.

[@ruralrob228]

+Max Bresnahan btw ,I've uploaded a couple of clips myself so any advice/tips are welcome if you get a couple of minutes spare.I need to find an easy way of doing a direct recording as I know the sound quality is poor.All the best Rob

[@jaggass]

Try a usb interface or wire your RD1000 up to your camera

[@irenebrophy3284]

This sounds so good!!!

[@simonelenzi7276]

Beautiful

[@ruralrob228]

omg ,The sounds are spot on to Eltons live shows !.This must have taken some work .Great job

[@ThomasJakobMusic]

Loving the little jazz / bar piano licks

[@eltontothemax]

@eltonjohntribute Actually, Elton switched from the RD1000 piano to a Yamaha piano with MIDI functionality. From then to this day it is connected to a Roland MKS20 which is the rack module version of the Roland piano. The sound is clearly identified in all of Elton's performances post RD1000.

[@phsycopiano]

Can you please please do a video on your RD 1000 piano please. An in-depth look at it and it’s sounds and what it’s got.

[@eltontothemax]

That's a great idea. I will have a look at that once I move house. There's precious little RD1000 content online!

[@phsycopiano]

Rocket MAX Max Bresnahan I’ve recently had the luck of now owning two of them. But still, I’d be fun to do. Why is the Rd 1000 so dam heavy?

[@eltontothemax]

@@phsycopiano they are beastly. I'm on my second, too. First one I sold when I was a student as I needed the money. Second one I've had for about 15 years now and will never ever part with it.

[@eltontothemax]

The production videos from Yamaha show it has strings.

[@halhelmboldt7739]

Outstanding! Well done. ...Question: Will you ever be playing those songs to full version and posting them here on KZbin? I really don't know anyone on KZbin who plays Elton's songs in piano solo form anywhere near as perfectly as you do. I've listened to Elton John for 42 years and I am still a fan (always will be). I am starving for these types of solos of his music. I hope some day you will do them in full version. I'm not getting any younger :/ Thanks!

[@eltontothemax]

Hal Helmboldt What would you like to hear? Let me know, and thanks.

[@MrVbobby]

Iv'e got an idea. Why don't you listen to Elton play them he really sounds like Elton

[@brendalg4]

@@MrVbobby because maybe he just wants to hear the piano by itself.

[@dvamateur]

This is really the best out of Elton. I love Elton John's compositions, and yet I find all his album studio recordings utterly boring. Why? Becuase the emphasis is on vocal, drums, guitars, etc. Elton's live performances are far better then the produced albums, that's my opinion. And MTV Unplugged performance is by far my favorite. Thanks for posting this video.

[@eltontothemax]

Thanks man!

[@eltontothemax]

Thanks man

[@eliassandgren3132]

Upload a New version of this, with soundoard quality please!

[@eltontothemax]

I'll record something new.

[@ovictorpena]

@@eltontothemax Please, a new version of this incredible video. You're great!

[@roysuomki]

very nice Max

[@eltontothemax]

Spot on - EJ uses either a Motif ES8 or an XF8.

[@MarcMateos]

You play the piano AMAZINGLY. But for the title of the video I thought you meant you were going to show us HOW TO PLAY, not HOW YOU PLAY. Which I insist I loved it, anyway :)

[@brendalg4]

I thought he was going to discuss Elton's style

[@eltontothemax]

brendalg4 it's a demonstration, not a lecture.

[@brendalg4]

That's fine too.. I loved how you blended the songs together. Being able to blend a slow song into a fast song, or a fast song down to a slower song without it jarring the listener is hard to achieve. Many covers can't keep the proper tempo even in a single song.

[@eltontothemax]

@eltonjohntribute The studio recording is in Ab but if you watch any live EJ performance from the last 20 years it is in G. Goodbye Yellow Brick Road has been in Eb not F for a long time. Someone Saved My Life Tonight is lower too and has been for a long time. When he has played 'Where To Now St Peter' and 'Ticking' the keys have been different too.

[@eltontothemax]

Thanks for your comment - The Million Dollar Piano IS an acoustic Yamaha CFIIIS grand piano as are Elton's other stage pianos. The MDP is a CFIIIS piano with an angular casework with LED screens, revised keyboard and lyre and a silver coloured frame instead of the standard Yamaha gold. As per Elton's other pianos, it is miked up and layered with the Roland MKS20 module, alongside Yamaha motif modules and a Technics WSA1R. The RD1000 is a mid weighted piano with full piano style wooden keys.

[@eltonrayjohnson]

Max Bresnahan WOW!

[@maryjupitermusic]

Could you teach how to play like that please?

[@eltontothemax]

@eltonjohntribute The RD1000 sound layered with Yamaha modules IS Elton's sound and has been since the late 80s. I own a lot of gear and am merely using this setup as an authentic Elton approximation.

[@isaiahshelley]

hi im 15 and ive been looking for a roland rd 1000 and there is one on ebay for $300 dollars I was wondering if I should buy it or not and if so were could I get a power chord and foot pedal for the piano thanks.

[@eltontothemax]

Hello; the RD1000 is an awesome bit of kit for that authentic EJ / 80s sound and look. However; if the one you are looking at has no pedal box it is going to be very difficult to find one separately. The power supply, power switch and pedals are all in the pedal unit so the RD cannot be switched on without it.

[@isaiahshelley]

thanks man if you ever run up on another one give me text on here id really appreciate it last year I met Elton in las vegas and he said he enjoyed the rd 1000, if you ever do run up on the rd 1000 as a full set or parts just give me a text on here Id really appreciate it thanks man.

[@johnjohnjman]

can give a tutorial please

[@jeroenk5]

So you got both the RD1000 AND the MKS20? You really do love this piano sound :)

[@eltontothemax]

Jeroen Oldenhof I use the MKS for my Elton shows. RD stays at home.

[@gahloot]

I can sing just like Elton's voice, and you can play like him! Sucks I can't play a note!

[@jaggass]

I only just noticed the MKS-20 on the left. Did you use that to double up the sounds?

[@jordan6988]

Michael Langley yes he does. Thats how he gets that exact late 80's early 90's sound. Love it

[@janaro72channel]

What song is that from 3:37 to 4:02?

[@eltontothemax]

The Greatest Discovery

[@DKBastiansTwitch]

I am so damn ik envy shiiit u Can hear every note or just practiced?

[@eltontothemax]

Lots of listening to Elton and watching what he does!

[@DKBastiansTwitch]

Ive Got a rd-1000 Can you tell me the presets you use

[@eltontothemax]

Piano 1 with external sounds, EQ and effects.

[@RetroSoulGirl]

First off, I would love to say that you play Elton's songs so so so beautifully and pretty much exactly like him!! You are so talented at piano. Did you learn everything by ear? But what I really wanted was to ask you... please, WHERE in the world did you obtain a Roland RD 1000 and how much was it!? I'm trying to get my hands on it so badly becuase I crave the sound!!

[@eltontothemax]

Mr.Sickboy thank you! Yeah have been an EJ fan for most of my life and picked everything up of his by ear. This is the second RD1000 I've owned. Spent a lot of time looking for a good one. I would never part with it.

[@RetroSoulGirl]

Oh that's downright awesome- I play by ear too but I've only picked up a few songs by ear, like Tiny Dancer, Sacrifice, Mona Lisas, and This Town to name a few. I think the Roland RD-1000 is fantastic! What is your favorite thing about it?

[@eltontothemax]

Mr.Sickboy lots of things - the touch, the expressiveness of the sound, and the fact that EJ used to use one!

[@RetroSoulGirl]

Oh I was just curious! I'm 17 so it came out long before I was born. It's just a dream of mine to have one lmao

[@mattisawesome6794]

the new RD-2000 has all of the RD-1000 sounds, currently dying to get one.

[@eltontothemax]

Will do. Hey if you were in uk you would be welcome to have a go on mine!

[@jaggass]

+Max Bresnahan ive just bought the rack mount version of the RD1000 the MKS-20. it sounds great with the chorus applied it gives it that huge sound. the RD1000 itself was one of the first digital piano's made and one of the first to sound like a piano. i can see why elton john loved it so much

[@EJBENNIE]

Not sure why you have disabled your like or disliked because any one who dislikes this is a ....!

[@back-seat-driver1355]

sorry, but what is the use - when listening to Elton john himself is a lot better? and a medley, sigh! - hard transition and a horrible sound - not even the keyboard is seen clearly! You won‘t get famous with this melody style - or steal!

[@eltontothemax]

Thankfully fame isn’t the objective; this is an extremely old video and if you looked at my others you’d see that I earn a living performing as Elton; therefore I can’t be doing too badly. Thanks for taking the time to comment so positively.