One way of emphasizing or making the right-hand melody notes sound richer is to play the notes simultaneously with both hands – i.e., use the Right and Left Hand fingers to play the melody notes at the same time.

You could do this for a dramatic introduction, or when you play the second part of the melody*, or even parts of the chorus (* Usually, the first part of the melody is to get the listener used to songs tune, so it shouldn’t be too embellished)

Also, as the video shows, instead of just playing single melody notes, you could also experiment the following way to make things even richer:

- play the right hand melody using with full chords (i.e., you’re playing the melody, at the same time holding notes of the chord you’re also playing with your Left Hand)

- at the same time, play that same melody with the Left Hand fingers using single notes.

Some folks say you shouldn’t change the key that a song has been composed in, or alter the song in any way…as if to do so is sacrilege or an insult to the original composer.

This is just PLAIN NONSENSE.

(Once again….) Based on the 1000+ songs I’ve heard over many years, I can state for a fact that any given popular song can be played and interpreted in so many different ways in different keys by different performers… very often yielding a better sounding product than the original version.

A performer often sings or plays in a different key (from the original) because it better suits his/her pitch, or a band is more comfortable playing a particular key. There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that – if the resulting music is great, because a good overall interpretation of a song is what really all that matters – not the key it was originally recorded in.

And I believe that most composers would indeed be proud and flattered that his/her song has been re-created, especially if done in ways that’s appreciated by many…because that’s an extended credit to his having composed it.

Going back to the piano, you simply cannot hope to even mimic an original version of a vocalist accompanied by say, an orchestra, even if you tried to, because the pianois a solo instrument with it own unique sound… not to mention you only have 10 fingers !

And key-wise, I have no qualms about revealing that I’m more comfortable transposing songs to the easier-to-play keys of C, D, F and G.

No big deal about this. I’ve heard so many songs sung or played in these keys, it’s pointless to even argue with anyone who, for instance, might claim that learning and playing in a harder original key somehow proves better musicianship.

Well, of course, if you were a formally–traind pianist in an orchestra or a well-paid accompanist who works a lot with vocalists and have to be versatile in playing any keys in order to suite the singer’s pitch preference, that’s well and fine. But most of us aren’t – we’re modest solo pianists, playing any darn key we like. And that’s just fine!

As I tell some singers that I accompany, if it has to be Db, let’s do C (one semitone down) instead; if Ab, let’s make it G; or, if you sing in Bb, that should be quite ok as Bb is quite easy, otherwise let’s do C (2 semitones away), etc. It always works.

My advice is, don’t play in a key you’re not comfortable with – you’ll likely stuff up in a performance. Just transpose your notes (you should master this by using my easy transposition) Play a few easy keys (C, F G) VERY WELL, then try the harder black keys later.

Victoria,

Here is your song request:

Two Words

The Prayer

Alan

The left hand is the all-important contributor to how your song sounds when you play it on the piano, because it does the following things to help to enrich and support the main melody that you play with your right hand:

- holding down a chord
- playing a series of notes (ie. an arpeggio manner)
- providing the ‘beat’ or tempo of the song in a strumming manner.
- playing ‘filler or countering’ notes that support the main melody
- providing bass when using the lower note

If one arrangement of a song sounds better than another, it often has to do with how the the left hand has been played. If you just hold down the chords and play the melody on the right hand, don’t expect your song to sound that great.

You should also not be just repeating the bass+strum pattern from start to end, as that would be boring. Instead, you would intersperse the pattern with short arpeggios on the chord, occasionally counter and also accenting the bass now and then to add variety.

The video in this blog illustrates the above points.

Thank you.

Welcome to my newly-launched (click Piano Lounge or on above menu tab).

I enjoy recording the songs I learn by hearing, as it’s a great way to share the music,  and hopefully bring on a smile or cheer to others.

But it’s not easy to record a complete song with minimal mistakes, without spending a lot of time on it.  There’s been many a take to most of these tunes - and into the wee hours of the morning - but when just one out of a few is done well, it’s always a great personal satisfaction.

Grab a drink, and come relax in the Piano Lounge.