The answer is that someone who has trained themselves to accompany a singer or soloist, whether they play piano, guitar, harp, pedal steel or any instrument that can play several distinct notes at a time, can do it.

A professional piano accompanist should be able to look at a chord chart that has some instructions as to the genre and style of music and be able to play an adequate chord accompaniment to a piece.

A classical piano soloist, for example, may not have an understanding of chord accompaniment or of genres and styles outside of the songs in their repertoire. They might have trouble improvising. A jazz pianist might not be able to play, other than in a rather rudimentary fashion, a country accompaniment and vice versa. Even many guitarists cannot read a chord chart or, if they can read it, to play in a manner that suggests a genre or style.


You've got to know your limitations. I don't know what your limitations are. I found out what mine were when I was twelve. I found out that there weren't too many limitations, if I did it my way. -Johnny Cash

It's only music.
-niteshift

Mike Dunbar Music