Pieces › In the spirit of the hits

The gospel ballad

Octaves in the left hand, chords in the right

The great pop piano ballads rest on a simple recipe: octave bass notes in the left hand (thumb and pinky) and steady chords in the right hand.

The progression C – G – A minor – F, then C – G – F – C, is the one from the verses and choruses of Let It Be.

Heard in: Let It Be (The Beatles), Someone Like You (Adele), Imagine (John Lennon)

Tips

• Octave = 8 white keys: pinky at the bottom, thumb at the top, your hand wide open.
• Play the chords smoothly, with a relaxed wrist.

Left-hand octaves

One octave per measure (fingers 5 and 1). The computer plays the chords.

The full ballad

Quarter-note chords on the right, whole-note octaves on the left.