What piano did Little Richard use on Tutti Frutti?

Little Richard played a Steinway D acoustic piano during the "Tutti Frutti" recording session at J&M Recording Studio in New Orleans. This was the house piano at the studio and contributed to the song's bright, cutting tone.

How to get Little Richard's piano sound on Tutti Frutti?

Start with a bright piano sample or recording, add subtle overdrive or saturation for grit, boost high frequencies with EQ for clarity, and apply light compression. The original sound comes from a Steinway D recorded with an RCA 44 ribbon microphone in a small studio setting.

What microphone was used to record Tutti Frutti piano?

The piano on "Tutti Frutti" was recorded using an RCA 44 ribbon microphone at J&M Recording Studio. This vintage ribbon mic contributed to the warm, natural saturation and smooth midrange character of the recording.

Who recorded Little Richard's Tutti Frutti?

"Tutti Frutti" was recorded at J&M Recording Studio in New Orleans in 1955, engineered by Cosimo Matassa and produced by Bumps Blackwell. Matassa was known for his work with early rock and roll and R&B artists, helping create many classic recordings of the era.

piano from "tutti frutti" by little richard

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Tone Profile

The piano has a bright, energetic, and slightly overdriven sound, cutting through the mix with a raw and powerful presence. It's a classic rock and roll piano tone.

The Story

Little Richard's piano tone on "Tutti Frutti" was recorded at J&M Recording Studio in New Orleans in 1955, produced by Bumps Blackwell and engineered by Cosimo Matassa. The session used a Steinway D piano captured with an RCA 44 ribbon microphone. The bright, cutting sound comes from the natural characteristics of the Steinway combined with the warm coloration of the RCA 44 and the small studio's acoustics at J&M, which was known for its tight, present sound.

Production Credits

Producer: Bumps Blackwell

Engineer: Cosimo Matassa

Recorded at: J&M Recording Studio, New Orleans

Signal Chain

Instrument: Steinway D

Microphone: RCA 44

Recreation Tips

Use a bright piano sample or recording as your base.
Apply a touch of overdrive or saturation to add some grit and aggression.
Use EQ to boost the high frequencies for clarity and cut through the mix.
Add a touch of compression to even out the dynamics and increase sustain.

Original Gear

Steinway D(keyboard)
RCA 44(mic)

Substitutions & Recommendations

Native Instruments The Gentleman$99-$149

Alternative to: Steinway D acoustic piano

Sampled vintage upright and grand pianos with built-in saturation and vintage character that captures the raw energy of 1950s recordings

Golden Age Project R1 MKIII$199-$249

Alternative to: RCA 44 ribbon microphone

Active ribbon microphone that provides similar warm midrange character and natural saturation as vintage RCA ribbons

Spectrasonics Keyscape$349-$399

Alternative to: Steinway D acoustic piano

Includes authentic Steinway D samples plus vintage recording chain emulations that can recreate the 1950s studio sound

Royer R-101$1299-$1399

Alternative to: RCA 44 ribbon microphone

Modern ribbon microphone that captures the smooth, warm character of vintage ribbons with better output levels for contemporary recording

Plugin Alliance Black Box Analog Design HG-2$149-$199

Alternative to: 1950s recording chain saturation

Adds subtle harmonic saturation and compression that mimics the natural coloration of 1950s recording equipment

Sources

Frequently Asked Questions

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piano from “tutti frutti” by little richard | ToneDB