piano from “tiny dancer” by elton john | ToneDB

tiny dancer

elton john

piano

85% ai confidence

Tone Profile

A clear, resonant, and dynamic acoustic grand piano sound, characteristic of early 70s studio recordings.

Signal Chain

Instrument: Steinway Model D Concert Grand Piano

Amp: Acoustic Grand Piano

Microphone: Neumann U67 (pair)

Processing: Trident A-Range Console EQ, EMT 140 Plate Reverb

Other: Recorded at Trident Studios, London. Likely a spaced pair microphone technique over the hammers and soundboard.

Recording Notes

  • Recorded at Trident Studios, known for its bright and punchy sound.
  • The piano was likely meticulously tuned and maintained.
  • Minimal compression, if any, was likely used during tracking, perhaps more added during mixdown.
  • Use of studio plate reverb for ambience.
  • Elton John's dynamic playing style is crucial to the sound.

Recreation Tips

  • Use a high-quality Steinway D sample library.
  • Focus on expressive velocity control to mimic Elton John's dynamics.
  • Apply subtle EQ - perhaps a gentle boost in the high-mids for clarity and a slight cut in low-mids if needed.
  • Add a high-quality plate reverb emulation with a moderate decay time.
  • Avoid heavy compression; use subtle compression only if necessary to even out dynamics slightly.