Using Contrasting Piano Styles In "Over The Rainbow"

“Over The Rainbow” Piano Styles

Good morning. This is Duane. Today, I’d like to talk about Â using contrasting piano styles in a song to make it more interesting. I think I’ll pick “Over the Rainbow.” I think everybody probably knows that song. I’m going to do just two styles. You know there’s hundreds of styles, but I’m just going to use two. I’m going to use an arpeggio style. That means breaking up the chords like that. It’s a smooth style. Then, I’m going to use a chording style. Just those two styles, okay? By contrasting those two, you get a nice contrast, and you create more interest in your piece. Let me say I’m playing the introduction to “Over the Rainbow.”

(Duane illustrating contrasting piano styles on the piano.)

You see, just by using two styles you make the piece more interesting. As I indicated, there’s lots of different styles you can use, but just by using two, notice that I played the first time through … The first verse through using arpeggios. The second time, I used a chording style, and that’s all. That’s the only contrast. Okay? By going back and forth, between those two styles, you create a lot more interest in your playing, than you would if you used the same style all the way through. That’s my point, okay? Thanks for being with me. If you enjoy these little tips, come on over to playpiano.com, and sign up for our free series of tips. There are videos, and there are newsletters, and stuff like that. I think you’ll like it. Come on over, if you haven’t already, and sign up. Thanks for being with me, and we’ll see you tomorrow with another little idea of some sort. Bye-bye for now.