piano from “tiny dancer” by elton john | ToneDB
tiny dancer
elton john
piano
Tone Profile
The piano sound is bright and clear, with a slightly compressed and warm tone that supports the song's emotional weight. It blends clarity with a touch of vintage character, offering both presence and warmth.
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The Story
Elton John's piano on "Tiny Dancer" was recorded at Trident Studios in London with producer Gus Dudgeon and engineer Ken Scott. The signal chain featured a Yamaha CF6 grand piano captured with a Neumann U87 microphone and compressed through an LA-2A compressor, creating the song's characteristic warm yet clear piano sound with gentle compression evening out the dynamics.
Production Credits
Producer: Gus Dudgeon
Engineer: Ken Scott
Recorded at: Trident Studios, London
Signal Chain
Instrument: Yamaha CF6Shop on Reverb
Microphone: Neumann U87Shop on Reverb
Processing: LA-2AShop on Reverb
Recreation Tips
- Start with a high-quality grand piano, preferably a Yamaha CF6 if available.
- Use a Neumann U87 or similar condenser microphone to capture a balanced and detailed sound.
- Apply gentle compression using an LA-2A or similar compressor to add warmth and sustain without sacrificing clarity.
- Experiment with microphone placement to find the sweet spot that captures both the piano's direct sound and the room's ambience.
Original Gear
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- Yamaha CF6Shop on Reverb(keyboard)
- Neumann U87Shop on Reverb(mic)
- LA-2AShop on Reverb(compressor)
Substitutions & Recommendations
Alternative to: Yamaha CF6 grand piano
Sampled from a Yamaha C7 grand piano with multiple mic positions and dynamic layers to capture the bright, clear tone of the original
Alternative to: Neumann U87 microphone
Large diaphragm condenser with similar frequency response characteristics for capturing piano detail and room ambience
Alternative to: LA-2A compressor
Faithful emulation of the original LA-2A's optical compression that adds the same warm, musical compression heard on the recording
Alternative to: LA-2A compressor
Hardware recreation of the LA-2A circuit providing the same smooth optical compression and tube warmth as the original
Alternative to: Yamaha CF6 grand piano
Features Yamaha CFX grand piano samples with weighted action, providing access to similar Yamaha grand piano tones in a digital format
Alternative to: Neumann U87 microphone
Modern version of the exact microphone model used on the original recording, maintaining the same capsule design and sonic character
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