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Shape the hand precisely before touching the keys. This is a powerful technique for playing chords, and not only chords!
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Suppose a block chord with 3 notes. Try holding two notes, while playing the remaining note in a relax way several times.
If you had to play several consecutive block chords, you could play the top notes using the usual finger, then the middle notes, then the base notes.
The trick is finding comfort and relaxation in playing each note separately and also together.
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Hi Michael,
I鈥檝e had the same problem from time to time. Here鈥檚 one way to remedy the problem: For the sake of easy explanation, let鈥檚 just say you are playing a c major chord with 4 notes in root position (C E G C). First play each note individually- right hand playing thumb on C repeat 4 times, then RH 2nd finger on E repeat 4 times, RH 3rd on G repeat 4 times, then RH 5 on C repeat 4 times. Next, start playing combinations of two notes at a time- C and E played 4 times, C and G, C and C. Then E and G, then E and C etc. until you鈥檝e played 4 repetitions cleanly of every possible combination of two notes. Next, do the same thing with all combinations of three notes of that same C major chord. Finally, play all four notes and try to produce four clean repetitions. Clean = all tones sound simultaneously and of the same volume. If you want a faster way, you can also simply do repetitions of the same chord but rolling from top to bottom, then bottom to top. Start slowly so that the time between each note of the chord in the roll is fairly long. Then, as you continue your repetitions, make the time between each note faster and faster until you are playing each note simultaneously rather than rolling. I hope that helps!
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Timothy Noah from the tonebase team here -- this is a good exercise!
On some of the repetitions, try using a grasping motion, as if trying to pull the keys towards yourself. This will help you get used to activating the right forearm muscles for each finger (and in correct proportion to make sure they sound together, well voiced, etc). -
Noah Hardaway
Thank you Noah!
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Thank you so much, Albert, Richard, Timothy and Noah. I can鈥檛 wait to try out your suggestions.
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The grasping by sort of a gentle very short clawback of the fingers on the chord is a good tip - this also helps the depression of the key by adding another downward force and stops you from tapping the chord, gives a more legato touch and better tone. Check -first without playing the chord - that the fingers are in the best position to press their key down with the best fulcrum - do some have to elongate, some have to bend more? Think of the different position of the hand and elbow in aligning the fingers according to where on the keyboard you are: if you鈥檙e high up the keyboard the elbow will have to swing out a little; playing chords directly in front of you, you may have to sit back a little and the elbow will be closer to the body. Don\t think of the chord as just a hand/fingery thing - the wrist and forearm should be involved for weight, transferring to next chord, often thing about a natural spring off the chord to get to the next notes, using a slightly curved motion (in other words think beyond getting the notes to the keybed - people use the analogy of the follow through arm swing in tennis.
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Nigel Rogers Thank you, Nigel, for your suggestion. I will try it.
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