{"id":6534,"date":"2021-12-10T05:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-12-10T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/?p=6534"},"modified":"2023-01-09T15:46:51","modified_gmt":"2023-01-09T23:46:51","slug":"80s-keyboard-riffs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/80s-keyboard-riffs\/","title":{"rendered":"Top 10 Keyboard Riffs of the 80s"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Whether you grew up in the 80s or just love a good dose of nostalgia, you\u2019ll probably recognize many of these riffs!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this post, we\u2019re counting down the top 10 iconic keyboard riffs of the 80s and featuring the instruments that made them famous: synths! And while many of the original keyboards used for these riffs are no longer available for sale, enthusiasts may find them second-hand. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And as you can see, it&#8217;s possible to recreate the sound of the original riffs using instruments available to us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>See how many of these riffs you can recognize!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"font-size:28px\"><strong>#10. &#8220;Axel F&#8221; &#8211; Harold Faltermeyer (from <em>Beverly Hills Cop<\/em>)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Harold Faltermeyer - Axel F (1984) Beverly Hills\ufeff Cop - Soundtrack\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Qx2gvHjNhQ0?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Original Keyboard: <\/strong>Roland Jupiter-8<br><strong>Our Keyboard: <\/strong>Roland Jupiter-X (0-00-10 preset)<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Let&#8217;s start with the iconic theme song from the 1984 movie <em>Beverly Hills Cop.<\/em> &#8220;Axel F&#8221; by Harold Faltermeyer originally used a Roland Jupiter-8, which was produced between 1981 and 1984 and has been named one of Roland&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.roland.com\/ca\/products\/rc_jupiter-8\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">best analog synths<\/a> of all time, featuring eight-voice polyphony. For our remake, we&#8217;ll be using the newer Jupiter-X model.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"font-size:28px\"><strong>#9. &#8220;Home Sweet Home&#8221; &#8211; M\u00f6tley Cr\u00fce<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"M\u00f6tley Cr\u00fce - Home Sweet Home (Official Music Video)\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Gmrh42foUsg?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Original Keyboard: <\/strong>Yamaha CP-70<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Next, we&#8217;ll play the opening riff to &#8220;Home Sweet Home&#8221; by M\u00f6tley Cr\u00fce. Drummer Tommy Lee plays these iconic measures on a Yamaha CP-70 in the track&#8217;s music video. Now discontinued, the CP-70 was designed to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.yamaha.com\/en\/about\/innovation\/collection\/detail\/2117\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">imitate an acoustic piano<\/a> in a compact, portable, and amplified package. It uses acoustic-style frame action and frame construction together with electric guitar style pick-ups.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"font-size:28px\"><strong>#8. &#8220;Runaway&#8221; &#8211; Bon Jovi<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Bon Jovi - Runaway (Official Music Video)\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/s86K-p089R8?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Original Keyboard: <\/strong>Oberheim OB-Xa<strong><br>Our Keyboard: <\/strong>Roland Jupiter-X + Oberheimer Xpander<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The keyboard part that opens this track was recorded by session musician Roy Bittan, who was later replaced by David Bryan. Originally, this riff was played on an Oberheim OB-Xa, which has been discontinued, but we&#8217;ve recreated the sound reasonably well by combining a Roland Jupiter-X and Oberheimer Xpander. The Xpander doesn&#8217;t include a keyboard interface, but it&#8217;s been lauded as one of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vintagesynth.com\/oberheim\/xpander.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">most flexible non-modular analog synths<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<span class=\"blue-text-block\"><center><h3>\ud83c\udfb9 Riffs &amp; Fills \u2728<\/h3><\/center><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com\/blog\/2021\/Featured%20Box%20images\/riffs%20and%20fills.jpg\"><p>Riffs and fills are what take a piano player from good to <i>great<\/i>. Take your playing to the next level with Riffs and Fills. Free with your Pianote membership.<\/p><br><center><a class=\"join\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/riffs-and-fills\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">CHECK IT OUT<\/a><\/center><\/span>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"font-size:28px\"><strong>#7. &#8220;Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This)&#8221; &#8211; Eurhythmics<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Eurythmics, Annie Lennox, Dave Stewart - Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This) (Official Video)\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/qeMFqkcPYcg?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Original Keyboard(s): <\/strong>Uncertain, but the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.musicradar.com\/tuition\/tech\/get-the-sound-of-eurythmics-sweet-dreams-565782\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">gear<\/a> may have included an Oberheim OB-X, Roland JUNO-6, Roland SH-09, and Roland CSQ-100<br><strong>Our Keyboard: <\/strong>Roland JUNO-106<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One of the most iconic songs of the 1980s was performed by Annie Lennox and Dave Stewart, a couple at the time, and was written after they had a big fight. The catchiness of the &#8220;Sweet Dreams&#8221; riff can be attributed to the way it&#8217;s composed, the top note reaching higher and higher before resolving back to the beginning of the riff. We\u2019ll play this riff on the JUNO-106, which recreates the sound and vibe quite well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"font-size:28px\"><strong>#6. &#8220;Right Here Waiting&#8221; &#8211; Richard Marx<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Richard Marx - Right Here Waiting (Official Music Video)\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/S_E2EHVxNAE?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Our Keyboard: <\/strong>Yamaha CP-70<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Now let\u2019s switch the mood over to a classic, wistful 80s ballad. Richard Marx reportedly wrote \u201cRight Here Waiting\u201d in 20 minutes for his wife, whom he missed dearly while on tour. We\u2019ll play this opener on the CP-70, but the melody\u2019s shimmering quality will sound beautiful on any acoustic or acoustic-sounding piano.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"font-size:28px\"><strong>#5. &#8220;The Final Countdown&#8221; &#8211; Europe<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Europe - The Final Countdown (Official Video)\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/9jK-NcRmVcw?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Original Keyboard:<\/strong> Roland JX-8P<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Just in time to narrow down our top 5, let\u2019s switch gears again into the world of hard rock. This is the heroic riff from Europe\u2019s \u201cThe Final Countdown,\u201d which rocketed up to #1 in the charts of 26 countries! And while the keyboard part was played by Mic Michaeli, the riff itself was actually written by Joey Tempest, the lead singer of Europe <em>five years<\/em> before the song was recorded! We\u2019ll hear the sound of this legendary riff on the Roland JX-8P.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"font-size:28px\"><strong>#4. &#8220;Thriller&#8221; &#8211; Michael Jackson<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Michael Jackson - Thriller (Official 4K Video)\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/sOnqjkJTMaA?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Original Keyboard: <\/strong>Mini Moog<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We can\u2019t talk about 80s hits without Michael Jackson! The left hand part to this riff, rich with syncopations, is funk at its best and matches the bass perfectly. Greg Phillinganes plays the Mini Moog on this track, a legendary synth that, thanks to its compact size, is considered the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.vintagesynth.com\/moog\/moog.php\">first synth<\/a> for musicians! Its creator, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.moogmusic.com\/news\/early-years-moog-synthesizer\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Robert Moog<\/a>, is a pioneer of electronic music, having invented the original Moog synthesizer in 1964.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"font-size:28px\"><strong>#3. &#8220;Jump&#8221; &#8211; Van Halen<\/strong> <meta charset=\"utf-8\">\ud83e\udd49<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Van Halen - Jump (Official Music Video)\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/SwYN7mTi6HM?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Original Keyboard: <\/strong>Oberheim OB-Xa<br><strong>Our Keyboard: <\/strong>Roland JUNO-X + Oberheim Xpander<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Van Halen\u2019s most successful single stands out from their other work by being entirely based on a synth line. It was recorded on an Oberheim OB-Xa but since that model is no longer available, we\u2019ll be playing this riff on a Roland Juno-X linked to an Oberheim Xpander to see how it sounds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"font-size:28px\"><strong>#2. &#8220;Take On Me&#8221; &#8211; a-ha<\/strong> <meta charset=\"utf-8\">\ud83e\udd48<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"a-ha - Take On Me (Official Video) [Remastered in 4K]\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/djV11Xbc914?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Original Keyboard: <\/strong>Roland JUNO-60<br><strong>Our Keyboard: <\/strong>Roland JUNO-106<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cTake On Me\u201d is famous now, especially for its unique music video, but two previous versions were complete flops. Only the third version became the hit we know and love today. Here, we\u2019ll play \u201cTake On Me\u201d on the Roland JUNO-106, but the original song was created with the <a href=\"https:\/\/articles.roland.com\/take-on-me-a-ha\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Roland JUNO-60<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And now for our number one 80s keyboard riff&#8230;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"font-size:28px\"><strong>#1. &#8220;Don&#8217;t Stop Believin'&#8221; &#8211; Journey<\/strong> <meta charset=\"utf-8\">\ud83e\udd47<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-4-3 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Journey - Don&#039;t Stop Believin&#039; (Live 1981: Escape Tour -\u00a02022 HD Remaster)\" width=\"500\" height=\"375\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/VcjzHMhBtf0?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Our Keyboard: <\/strong>Roland V-Piano Grand<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cDon\u2019t Stop Believin\u2019\u201d was written by Jonathan Cain, Journey\u2019s keyboardist, who was thinking of quitting the music business. But every time he called home, his father would tell him, \u201cDon\u2019t stop believin\u2019,\u201d which eventually became the chorus and title of Journey\u2019s seminal, karaoke-worthy song.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-text-color has-cyan-bluish-gray-color has-css-opacity has-cyan-bluish-gray-background-color has-background is-style-dots\"\/>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>We hope you enjoyed these iconic keyboard riffs! The piano is a truly versatile instrument \u2014 even more so when it&#8217;s hooked up to a few electronics. And knowing your keyboard well can definitely translate into synth skills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For more synth action, check out our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/synthesizers-for-beginners\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">vlog<\/a> with Mr. Tuna, and let us know which 80s riff is your favorite on our YouTube video.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<iframe class=\"email-form-include-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/weekly-email\" frameborder=\"none\"><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The keyboard\/synth was king during the 80s. We count down the top 10 keyboard riffs of the era and recreate them on similar instruments.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":43,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1108],"tags":[1069],"class_list":["post-6534","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-musicianship","tag-gsotp"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6534","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/43"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6534"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6534\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":10421,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6534\/revisions\/10421"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6534"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6534"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6534"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}