| "> | | | | too many bass notes together the effect can end up |
| Ah… the arpeggio. A miracle of cascading notes | | | | sounding "muddy." That is, you won't be able to |
| that produces a beautiful sound on the piano. To most | | | | differentiate the notes and you'll end up having sonic |
| it's a mystery how it's created. But to those who | | | | sludge. But, if you spread out the first few notes this |
| understand chords, it's just a matter of practicing until | | | | won't happen. That's why the open position chord is |
| the pattern is mastered. | | | | perfect to begin your left-hand arpeggio. For example, |
| Now, the arpeggio can be used either in the right or left | | | | let's say you want to play a C Major 9 arpeggio. |
| hand (or both together) but it's usually the left-hand that | | | | Of course, you'll begin with the C note (which is also |
| takes up this amazing technique. Let's look at how one | | | | the root note.) Now, we could play the third (e) but if |
| might use an extended arpeggio pattern to create an | | | | we do, chances are we'll end up with that "muddy" |
| improvisation. | | | | effect. No, A better way is to play the fifth followed |
| The first thing you need to know about most left-hand | | | | by either the octave or the seventh tone. |
| arpeggios is that they usually start below the middle of | | | | What I like to do is play a pattern that looks like this: |
| the keyboard. Most pianists begin their run below | | | | 1-5-8-9-3 - which means I'm playing these notes: |
| middle C and there's a good reason for this - bass | | | | c-g-c-d-e. This pattern produces a beautiful "new age" |
| notes! | | | | sound and is used frequently in New Age piano playing. |
| Those thunderous resonant bass sounds that | | | | For example, look at the lesson "Coming Home." Here |
| reverberate in the body are hit and the piano comes | | | | we play an extended arpeggio in the left hand and use |
| alive! | | | | over 2 octaves of the keyboard. It's quite an exercise |
| Now, you have to be careful here because if you hit | | | | and is a good one to get your left hand moving! |