I know it to be the case that a modern MIDI sampled piano can do a much better job of fitting into the amplified band mix than attempts to use an acoustic piano, which is pretty much going to be a Helpinstill pickup, a flyswatter or nothing. Hexk, I'd be willing to bet that a lot of what we hear even from studio recordings these days may just be coming from the same source.

Relax, while the prominence of piano in country music may not be as prolific as at one time, there are still pianos to be heard on the country stations. This thread got me to turn and listen for a bit.

Onstage, today's digital pianos can certainly hold their own in these settings, actually, the sampled piano often is an easier mixfit from house to house.

We're not talking world-class classical pianists here.

Anyway, what I heard on the local country FM station in about an hour's time:

Toby Keith -- A Little Less Talk - and Toby seems to use the piano in quite a few of his numbers https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXaz7oGwcXo

Sara Evans -- I Get a Little Bit Stronger - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1m8GSnIkxPM

Brooks and Dunn -- Who, by he way, auctioned off the Kurzweil 88 used on their last tour on ebay, complete with a road-damaged corner and their autographs on it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nw4lRXL_nXE

Brad Paisley still shows up with a pianist, typically running TWO or more MIDI decks.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1MapIaiWbOk&feature=related

And I heard LOTS of simply awesome Hammond organ work on the songs that didn't have the piano up front.

While the piano style has evolved, it has certainly not been neglected.

And in live performances, the digital keyboard is the new king of the hill.


--Mac

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