Bob Dylan, well known for his distinctive vocal style and his ability with the guitar and harmonica, is also a talented piano player. He has been playing the piano from his early career but began showcasing it more prominently in his performances and recordings from the mid-1960s onwards.
One of the first instances where Dylan’s piano playing came to the forefront was the album “Highway 61 Revisited” (1965), especially on tracks such as “Ballad of a Thin Man”. On his follow-up album, the seminal double LP “Blonde on Blonde” (1966), the piano became an integral part of his sound, with notable examples being the songs “I Want You” and “Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands”.
In later years, Dylan often chose to play the piano at his concerts, either exclusively or alternating with the guitar. Notably, on his critically acclaimed album “Blood on the Tracks” (1975), Dylan played the piano on several songs, including “Idiot Wind” and “If You See Her, Say Hello”.
Bob Dylan’s piano style is distinctive and complements his songwriting and singing style. It’s less about virtuosity and more about creating a mood and supporting the narrative of his lyrics. His playing often features simple chords and rhythmic patterns, occasionally with bluesy embellishments.
Bob Dylan has featured the piano prominently in many of his songs throughout his career. Here’s a selection of some notable ones:
- “Ballad of a Thin Man” – A song from his 1965 album “Highway 61 Revisited,” where Dylan’s dark, brooding piano playing is a key feature.
- “Leopard-Skin Pill-Box Hat” – This is another song from “Highway 61 Revisited” that features Dylan’s piano playing.
- “I Want You” – From the 1966 album “Blonde on Blonde,” this song showcases Dylan’s piano playing in the context of a pop-structured song.
- “Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands” – This song, which takes up the entirety of Side 4 on “Blonde on Blonde,” features a prominent piano track.
- “Idiot Wind” – This song from “Blood on the Tracks” (1975) has Dylan on piano, matching the stormy emotion of the lyrics.
- “If You See Her, Say Hello” – Another song from “Blood on the Tracks” with Dylan on piano, this time accompanying a more wistful, melancholic song.
- “When I Paint My Masterpiece” – A song first released by The Band, but Dylan’s own version on “Greatest Hits Vol. II” features his own piano playing.
- “Make You Feel My Love” – From his 1997 album “Time Out of Mind,” this song has been covered by numerous artists and always features Dylan’s original piano part.
- “Workingman’s Blues #2” – From “Modern Times” (2006), this song features a piano in the central role.
- “Murder Most Foul” – A 17-minute epic released in 2020, the song is underpinned by Dylan’s repeated piano refrain.
Cansu Demir
Actually, Dylan wasn’t playing piano on Leopardskin Pill-Box Hat, I Want You, Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands, Idiot Wind (though he did play organ on this one), If You See Her Say Hello, When I Paint My Masterpiece and Murder Most Foul.
Since 2003 he has played piano almost all the time in concert, with only a very few occasional performances on guitar.
A lot of this is wrong. There’s no piano on Idiot Wind, but it is Bob playing the prominent organ. I Want You? Sad Eyed Lady of the Lowlands? If You See Her Say Hello? Where is the piano on those songs? A much better list would feature Black Crow Blues, Dear Landlord, Time Passes Slowly, Day of the Locusts, Spanish is the Loving Tongue, Dirge, Isis, Pressing On, Ring Them Bells, you want more?