• Here Are Left Hand Ideas For Starters On The Piano

    in Beginners,General Music,Piano

    You arrived at this page because you’re interested in learning ideas for the left hand.

    One of the challenges most keyboard players face is knowing what to do with the left hand and that’s why we’re dedicating this lesson to studying the left hand extensively.

    There are a variety of stuff a beginner can apply on the left hand and it varies from notes to octaves and fifths. Let’s take a closer look at each of these.

    #1 – Use Of Root Notes

    A note is a musical sound of a precise pitch.

    The root note of a chord is one of the options of what can be played in the left hand to accompany a right hand chord. For example, given the C major triad:

    …where the root note is C:

    …the root note (which is C) can be played on the left hand:

    …against the C major triad on the right hand:

    Check out the C major triad (with the left hand note):

    Following the same procedure, you can play the root note of any given chord on the left hand.

    For the D minor triad:

    …the root note (which is D):

    …can be played on the left hand:

    …over the right hand chord.

    Application Of Root Notes

    Root notes can be applied over any chord progression. Check out this 1-4 chord progression in the key of C major using root notes on the left hand.

    Chord 1:

    Chord 4:

    #2 – Use Of Octave Intervals

    An octave (as an interval) is the distance between two notes that are an eighth apart.

    Duplicating the root note of any given chord produces an octave. In the case of C:

    …adding its duplicate produces its octave (“C-C”):

    One of the ways to reinforce the left hand is to duplicate the root note on the left hand by playing it as an octave.

    Instead of the left hand root note:

    …octaves can be used:

    …for a more reinforced left hand.

    Application Of Octave Intervals

    Here’s a 1-4 chord progression in the key of C major using octave intervals on the left hand.

    Chord 1:

    Chord 4:

    #3 – Use Of Fifth Intervals

    A fifth interval is the distance between two notes that are five steps apart from each other.

    Another left hand idea you don’t want to miss is the use of fifth intervals, which are basically formed by two notes that are five scale tones apart from each other.

    In the key of C major:

    …C and G:

    …are five scale tones apart (C, D, E, F, and G) apart:

    Therefore, C and G:

    …can be played over the C major triad:

    Check it out:

    “Here Are All The Fifth Intervals In The Key Of C Major…”

    For the first tone of the scale (C):

    …is (C-G):

    For the second tone of the scale (D):

    …is (D-A):

    For the third tone of the scale (E):

    …is (E-B):

    For the fourth tone of the scale (F):

    …is (F-C):

    For the fifth tone of the scale (G):

    …is (G-D):

    For the sixth tone of the scale (A):

    …is (A-E):

    For the seventh tone of the scale (B):

    …is (B-F):

    Fifth intervals are also easy to derive because they are basically a combination of the lowest and highest sounding notes in a chord. In the C major chord:

    …the lowest and highest sounding tones (which are C and G):

    …form a perfect fifth interval.

    Final Words

    For starters, practicing and mastering these left hand devices in all twelve keys can be challenging, however, it’s rewarding.

    All the best!

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    Chuku Onyemachi

    Head of Education at HearandPlay Music Group
    Onyemachi "Onye" Chuku is a Nigerian musicologist, pianist, and author. Inspired by his role model (Jermaine Griggs) who has become his mentor, what he started off as teaching musicians in his Aba-Nigeria neighborhood in April 2005 eventually morphed into an international career that has helped hundreds of thousands of musicians all around the world. Onye lives in Dubai and is currently the Head of Education at HearandPlay Music Group and the music consultant of the Gospel Music Training Center, all in California, USA.

    Related posts:

    1. “How Many Keys Are There On The Keyboard?” Don’t Say Twelve, And Here’s Why
    2. Tonal Organization: Notes, Scales, Intervals, Chords, Chord Progressions, Songs
    3. Who Else Is Interested In Learning What The Term Diatonic Means?
    4. A Breakdown Of The Sol-fa Notes Of Your Favorite Hymns
    5. The Application Of The Octave Transposition Technique In The Inversion Of Triads And Seventh Chords
    6. Who Else Wants To Understand The Harmonic Implication Of The Tritone?
    7. An Answer To The Question: What Are Extended Chords?


    Related posts:

    1. “How Many Keys Are There On The Keyboard?” Don’t Say Twelve, And Here’s Why
    2. Tonal Organization: Notes, Scales, Intervals, Chords, Chord Progressions, Songs
    3. Who Else Is Interested In Learning What The Term Diatonic Means?
    4. A Breakdown Of The Sol-fa Notes Of Your Favorite Hymns
    5. The Application Of The Octave Transposition Technique In The Inversion Of Triads And Seventh Chords
    6. Who Else Wants To Understand The Harmonic Implication Of The Tritone?
    7. An Answer To The Question: What Are Extended Chords?



    Tagged as: fifth intervals, left hand, left hand ideas, notes, octaves, root notes


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