How to Sound Like a Pro on the Piano (Even If You’re a Beginner)

Piano Lessons

22 Apr

Have you ever listened to someone play the piano and thought,

“Wow, that sounds absolutely

amazing!”? Truth is most times is not just about what they are playing, but HOW they are

playing it. Even if you’re a beginner, a few small tricks can instantly make your playing sound

much cooler.

Here are some simple tips to take your piano playing to the next level:

A well-used sustain pedal creates a rich, full sound and smooth transitions between notes.

But the most important thing is HOW you use it. Don’t keep the pedal down all the time. Make

sure you lift and press the pedal as you play a new chord as this avoids a muddy sound. Don’t

overuse it and lift it regularly to keep the music clear.

Instead of just playing block chords, you can use left-hand patterns to make your music sound

more interesting! For example, you can use broken chords, which means playing the notes of

the chord one at a time, in a flowing pattern, instead of all at once. You can also try playing the

root note of the chord in octaves for a stronger sound.

Instead of playing everything exactly as written in your music sheet, you can add little extras to

make the music more expressive. How? By using grace notes for a bluesy touch or spreading

your chords; that is, instead of playing all the notes of the chord at once, roll them from lowest to

highest for a softer effect. Simple runs are another great option: try a quick scale up or down at

the end of a phrase to create a smooth transition. Before you try this, make sure you know the

key in which your song is written.

Dynamics bring music to life and prevent it from sounding dull. You can start your song playing

softly and gradually get louder as you reach the chorus. Emphasize the melody by playing it

slightly louder than the left-hand accompaniment. You can also try adding a soft ending to your

song for a more emotional effect.

Confidence can make even any song sound impressive. Try not to hesitate when playing.

If you make a mistake, don’t stop: keep going and most people won’t even notice!

Sit up straight, relax your hands, and don’t forget to enjoy the music.

-Agustina Rivas