Translate:
Categories
Lessons (57)
Sheet Music (63)
Articles (17)
Links (39)
Reviews (10)
Reference (4)
Music Tools (6)
Advertisements

Zebra Keys

Improvisation

Lesson 36 - Adding Harmony Notes in the Right Hand

printable version

I. Index


1.  Introduction
2. Step 1: Playing One Note Melody Lines with the Right Hand
3. Step 2: Adding Harmony Notes in the Right Hand
4. Conclusion


II. Content


1. Introduction
In this lesson, you will be playing two notes in the right hand instead of one. The extra note in the right hand will be a note from the left hand chord. This extra note will give the song a bigger sound. We are basically adding harmony notes in the right hand.
Step 1: We will take a look at "America", in which the right hand plays a single note melody line.
Step 2: We will take a look at "America", in which the right hand plays an extra note. This extra note will be a note taken from the left hand chords.


2. Playing One Note Melody Lines with the Right Hand
Below is an animation of "America", in which the right hand plays a single note melody line.










3. Step 2: Adding Harmony Notes in the Right Hand
Below is an animation of "America", in which the right hand plays an extra note. This extra note comes from the left hand chord. For example, in the 1st measure of "America" below, the chord in the left hand is the C major chord, which is made up of the notes C, E, G. You will be taking one of these notes, G, and letting the right hand play it as well. So basically, you are playing two G's, one G played in the left hand, and another G played in the right hand.

Take a look at the second measure. The chord being used is the G major chord, which is made up of the notes G, B, D. You will be taking one of these notes, G, and letting the right hand play it as well. So there are now two G's, one G played in the left hand, and another G played in the right hand. Notice that in order to make room for this extra note, you will have to play the right hand melody one octave higher.

So how do you decide which note from the left hand chord should be played with the right hand as well? In this lesson, the extra note in the right hand is the chord note from the left hand that is closest to the melody note in the right hand. For example, in the first measure, the chord in the left hand is the C major chord, which is made up of the notes C, E, G. Any of these three notes can be used as the extra note in the right hand. G was used because it happens to be the closest note to the melody note of C, which makes it easier to play. Keep in mind that whatever note you decide to use as your extra note, that note should not be higher than the melody note. This is because the highest note in any song is the easiest to hear, so it should be reserved for the melody note.










4. Conclusion
Congratulations, you have just played "America" with the right hand playing a harmony note along with the melody note. Playing this extra note gives the song a bigger sound. This is one of many different techniques you can use to make the songs you play sound more interesting. Try this technique with other songs as well!


Custom Search

return to menu