Common question about chords from Terry:
“Hi Tim, sorry to bother you. I know how busy you must be. I am practicing the progression chords in Lesson 1. I am wondering why you have us practice the chords with the right hand. I thought the chords of a song are played with the left hand while the right hand plays the notes of the song. Hope its not too dumb of a question. Terry”
Yes, I am busy, but I always answer student emails. Because you never know what answered question will help them find that breakthrough moment.
And when it comes to teaching chords in the right hand…here is why we do this.
Typically chords are taught in the left hand in order to be able to play complex melodies with the right hand, that can only be found on sheet music.
Well, we don’t read sheet music.
So we won’t be coming up against complex melodies.
What we do is learn how to pluck out the melody within the chord in the right hand. We play the octave stretch in the left hand which makes it sound deep, full, and rich.
But alas…
…this takes a little time and practice.
Not much time, but it isn’t something you can say, do this, and this will happen exactly at this time. It all depends on you and your consistency.
You absolutely do not need to read sheet music to play melodies in the right hand within the chord.
It may not be EXACT, but it will sound awesome.
If you want EXACT, you need to read sheet music.
We don’t teach that here.
The reason?…
I can’t read a lick of it, and I am the teacher.
Trying to learn almost kept me from actually being able to play the piano.
Tragedy avoided thank goodness!
So if you are ready to learn a different way. Especially if all the other things you’ve tried have left you less than impressed with your playing… Well…
…you can solve that here:
