Piano remains a refreshing sound in modern pop

While the piano has been associated with everyone from Elton John to Kate Bush and Tom Waits, the piano remains a refreshing sound in modern pop.

That’s particularly true for most bands that avoid typical rock chord progressions (there are many who dislike rock piano) in favor of minimal, melodic themes (that are closer to jazz or contemporary classical music)…more so, if the band players have grown up learning classical piano sonatas.

Usually guitar melodies and textures are used to complement the piano.

Did Paul McCartney invent the Modern Pop Piano Accompaniment Style?
Whether Paul McCartney invented the style or not, he sure did popularize this ballad style. There are many who think that Paul McCartney’s piano playing style in the 1960’s ((simple quarter-note chord pop piano style) continues to be used in modern pop.

You can listen to the beginning of Nicki Minaj’s “Grand Piano” (2015) and hear the similarity to the beginning of “Hey Jude” (1968).

Although McCartney was not a skilled pianist (he never claimed to be one either), he did use his basic piano skills in a manner that seemed perfect for pop ballads then.

Even accomplished pianist like John Legend adapted this approach for his wonderful song “All of Me.” (he plays the part with a slight syncopation though).

Although I had piano lessons from age five to seventeen, I didn’t start writing for the piano until five years ago “when I got a digital piano and a loop pedal. That allowed me to overlay tracks on the fly, which is how I wrote most of the album,” Sean of Landslide Purist

Watch: Nice tutorial on how to play the piano in modern pop style.