Piano Lesson on How to Improve your Arpeggio Technique

[@andykennedy2536]

the different arm position for arpeggio playing v scales that you talk about right at the start is really helpful thank you Graham

[@UUpianoman]

It´s been ten years since I first heard of you, and your teaching has so helped me to be free while playing. You bring love to your pedagogy. You are a lucky man, and we are lucky to have you.

[@LittleMrTom]

This is the best lesson of arpeggio for me. Big THANKS.

[@davidk7529]

omg The target practice part got me, that is perfect. I always do so much better with at least one clear reference point, whether a certain finger or key, and this is just the right exercise to use both to achieve accuracy. Thank you!

[@elroySF]

That paisley tie is amazing. I love it. And thanks for this lesson. Arpeggios are definitely something I need to practice more.

[@JawwadHafeez]

Excellent advice with great examples. Thumb under and thumb over confused my son and this tutorial is the best on tht subject. Thank u very much sir

[@rosemarielenske6308]

Thank you very much❤❤

[@artirjaj-l3481]

Absolutely amazing lesson as always thank you so much

[@michaelthomheadley]

These videos provide me with techniques for practice I otherwise would have never heard! Thank you for all the time and effort

[@declanomad]

For anyone else who had difficulty following the sevenths example starting on C. Mr Fitch played the four dominant chords that contain the note C, with C as the root, the third, the fifth and the seventh. As he said these are the dominant chords from the keys of F, Db, Bb and G, namely C7, Ab7, F7, D7, & then the diminished 7th.

[@jackielzh]

Thanks a lot!

[@stevenspringer7153]

Thank you! That helped me wrap my head around it!

[@fushionhomecook287]

Thx

[@user-nm6dr4uy3d]

Learn Piano adrenaline hit me like a fireball and by heart is racing. No time for boring lessons anymore! Imma fire like a rocket 💫🤟🏄🚀!!!!!!

[@CaptainCaveman782]

I'm glad he mentions the two methods of thumb under and over technique. I was told thumb under is dated and not to do it However I have zero issues but I have large hands. (can span a tenth)

[@WorstSanta]

I do these arpeggios as my teacher taught me to do. Starting from white notes is pretty easy and I can keep tempo high. It’s the back notes you start from where it starts to feel way more different. I’d love to see some recommendations on this, too. Thank you so much for the job done!

[@jimmypretzel4785]

Thanks a lot - lots of useful ideas and tips!

[@carolhayes2087]

Love this lesson- especially the idea of transitioning through different keys for the dominant 7th and diminished 7th arpeggios. What a great way to add a bit of interest to arpeggio practice! Thanks Graham :)

[@achaley4186]

Wow Graham! It took me about four days and lots of paper and pencil but I finally figured out part 2 of the ‘arpeggio bouquet’…the dominant 7th one….Holy Moses, that kicked my butt in a good way….I even figured it out in my key of the day today, which was A flat…and will continue on with it in my warm up on a different key each day. Thank you, I think! 🙂🙂🙂❤🙏🏼

[@annacannon6638]

Thank you very much. An excellent video which I have shared.

[@carolinewallis-newport1068]

Top man, helpful comments. I wish someone had taught me these things when I started out!

[@pianochad]

Brilliant demonstration, thank you very much.

[@AnthonyJones-zo7dy]

Wonderful lesson Graham... THANK YOU... I'm loving your instruction and yes I've subscribed to pianist magazine and your informative channel.. I wish I had your level of instruction when I first started many years ago. The methods you instruct certainly helps reduce the level of tension and potential injury to the hands and wrist. Again... EXCELLENT!.. All the continued VERY BEST!

[@LostInSpaceOfThought]

Amazing video. I'm so thankful that this video exists. Lesson which I always needed.

[@gregorsamsa4580]

The target practice seems a lot like one of the Feutwanger exercises you have on Informance. I’ve found those tremendously helpful.

[@BensMusicDojo]

I’m a beginner, but lots of years on the guitar, that first tip with the arm position is useful. Thanks

[@karolpiql]

FYI I ski for 20 years and play piano for 15 years, and yes good carving skiing feels very similar to smooth arpeggio playing :)

[@ST52655]

How do I get my thumb not to play louder than the other fingers when playing arpeggios? I have small hands and have to reposition my hands rather than tuck the thumb under. Thanks

[@artirjaj-l3481]

10:10 so lovely ❤️

[@surajrao1136]

Hello Graham! I have a problem. While playing the piano i have observed that i am flexing my middle and index fingers curved and upward when i hit a key with my ring finger. This happens especially in the left hand. This induces tension in my left hand's fingers. Can you please advice on how to correct this problem? Thank you for your tutorials. Regards!

[@nawazsayed7110]

How to read sheet music notes faster while playing piano?

[@RUT812]

Keep finding new music to play. Don’t practice them; just play through them. That’s what helped me, and my sight reading ability is extremely good now.

[@nawazsayed7110]

@@RUT812 Thanks for your reply.

[@RUT812]

@@nawazsayed7110 Absolutely! I have played & sung professionally for decades. It all started when I was 12 & our church needed a pianist. I had to learn to play the hymns, which helped me learn to play in all keys. In addition, I had to play praise & worship songs by ear because there was no written music available. Then I just kept taking piano lessons & got to the point where I could sight read easily. From there I started accompanying the adult choir, teen choir, & various vocal & instrumental ensembles, & I started singing & playing in a small band & professionally for weddings. I was simply exposed to a lot of different music. That’s what you need to do. I suggest downloading free music from MuseScore & other places. Choose pieces that are no harder than your current playing ability. The idea is to read & read & read. Lastly, I will tell you what my piano teacher taught me. If you have a piece that has an arpeggio in it, take a pencil & write what arpeggio it is (for example, “C# arpeggio). Do the same for scales & chords. This will help you identify patterns in the music. After a while, you’ll get really good at it, & your sight reading will substantially improve. After performing & playing for a couple of decades, I opened up my own home piano studio & started teaching. I am now retired. I wish you the best!

[@nawazsayed7110]

@@RUT812 Thanks for your suggestion . I tried your previously given idea and found it's really works and observing that there's a improvement in my sight reading. Thanks again for your valuable ideas. Wish you and your family always have a good time forever. I hope that you will give your valuable tips for playing piano. I want to know that which books are best for beginners to play piano especially for Latin pieces and which is the best keyboard (Casio, Yamaha or Roland). Now I am playing on Roland EX 30 keyboard. Thanks once again for your response. Have a nice day.

[@velcroman11]

Elbows out?? My very first piano teacher would tick me off, if my elbows stuck out. She would say “put your elbows in. You are learning to play the piano, NOT learning to fly!” Miss Sonta, a wonderful teacher.

[@fryderyckchopin484]

Has this elbows position worked better for you?

[@RUT812]

He’s not moving his elbows up and down.

[@clivegovier2871]

Graham called it the KFC method, which he said was a NoNo. Recommended only a slight raising of the elbow, to make the transition.

[@JustMe-999a]

Maybe she's an idiot

[@spicy7302]

If you keep your elbows inside, stuck to your body, you are 1. tensing up gradually and 2. restricting your movement range. You're not learning to play the piano, you're learning how to move your arms ergonomically, as piano technique is essentially mostly a choreography of correct movements in order to have the least tension possible.

[@I_SuperHiro_I]

KFC Elbow 😂

[@vernenfelcher6442]

Ｐｒⓞм𝕠𝕤𝐌 👇

[@dkant4511]

KFC Elbow 😅

[@velcroman11]

Yes, I heard the break. The “old school way” you played legato. The “thumb over” breaks the legato. The break is there with the thumb over technique.

[@mango0tree6]

Probably true for classical composers. However, with the romantics, such as this example by Mendelssohn, it is possible to use the pedal, isn't it? I honestly don't think such a subtle "break" is enough to disqualify such a useful technique; especially when trying to release the annoying body tension.

[@AtomizedSound]

The “break”was so subtle that you are splitting hairs by basing it as a true break. It all depends upon tempo of piece and arrangement too

[@tastinapraznine]

@@AtomizedSound They're not splitting hairs, they're pointing out that it's audible where Mr Fitch insists multiple times on it being imperceptible. It may be subtle, but it's there in this specific example they're commenting on. The comment is not about the usefulness of this technique in general.

[@davidtobin4034]

OR, you could play 5th degree with the thumb, essentially mirroring the left hand fingering, which puts the awkward interval of the fourth (5th degree to the tonic) under two and one fingers