Piano & Keyboard All-in-One For Dummies
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As a beginning piano or keyboard player, you will start out with simple songs. Once you get some practice, you’ll be getting antsy for something more complicated. Feeling ready to play songs with more harmony? Each of the following songs explores different ways to use harmonic intervals.

“I’m Called Little Buttercup”:

<a href="https://dummies-wp-admin.dummies.com/WileyCDA/Section/id-821284.html"><b>“I’m Called Little Buttercup”</b></a>:

In this song the left hand plays single bass notes while the right hand plays the melody. The two parts move in different ways, so if you find it difficult to play at first, be patient and practice each hand separately until you feel comfortable with the notes. Then play hands-together.

“Marianne”

<a href="https://dummies-wp-admin.dummies.com/WileyCDA/Section/id-821285.html"><b>“Marianne”</b></a>

You can see and hear the harmonizing power of two-note harmony in this song. It may be helpful to play the melody, right hand only, along with the track a couple of times. Then try the left-hand part only. When you’re relaxed and confident, put both hands together.

“Aura Lee”:

<a href="https://dummies-wp-admin.dummies.com/WileyCDA/Section/id-821286.html"><b>“Aura Lee”</b></a>:

Adding a melodic interval below the melody in your right hand and adding your left hand to the mix is simple to do, and oh so satisfying. If you get lost as you play, just slow down and try each hand separately until you feel like putting them together again. (You may recognize the melody as a song made famous by Elvis Presley. Elvis used different lyrics.)

“Shenandoah”:

<a href="https://dummies-wp-admin.dummies.com/WileyCDA/Section/id-821287.html"><b>“Shenandoah”</b></a>:

In this piece both hands play the same rhythm, with the left hand mirroring the melody with a soothing harmony line. Listen carefully as you play to match rhythms with both hands, just like two voices singing together.

“Auld Lang Syne”:

<a href="https://dummies-wp-admin.dummies.com/WileyCDA/Section/id-821288.html"><b>“Auld Lang Syne”</b></a>:

Your left hand isn’t limited to single notes or certain intervals. The composer may give you seconds, fourths, or anything else. Give both hands a shot at some four-part harmony with this song, which mixes up several types of intervals in both hands. Practice each hand separately before putting the two together.

About This Article

This article is from the book:

About the book authors:

Michael Pilhofer, MM, holds a Master's in Music Education with a Jazz Emphasis from the Eastman School of Music, and a Bachelor of Music degree in Jazz Performance from the University of Miami.

Holly Day's work has appeared in Guitar One Magazine, Music Alive!, culturefront Magazine, and Brutarian Magazine.

Jerry Kovarsky is a regular columnist for Keyboard magazine and longtime product management guru with Casio, Korg, and other companies who have been instrumental in bringing keyboard technology into people's homes and onto stages and studios around the world.

Holly Day and Michael Pilhofer are co-authors of all editions of Music Theory For Dummies and Music Composition For Dummies. Blake Neely was a contributing author to the 2nd edition of Piano For Dummies. David Pearl is author of Piano Exercises For Dummies. Jerry Kovarksy is a contributing writer to Electronic Musician magazine.

Holly Day and Michael Pilhofer are co-authors of all editions of Music Theory For Dummies and Music Composition For Dummies. Blake Neely was a contributing author to the 2nd edition of Piano For Dummies. David Pearl is author of Piano Exercises For Dummies. Jerry Kovarksy is a contributing writer to Electronic Musician magazine.

Michael Pilhofer, MM, holds a Master's in Music Education with a Jazz Emphasis from the Eastman School of Music, and a Bachelor of Music degree in Jazz Performance from the University of Miami.

Holly Day's work has appeared in Guitar One Magazine, Music Alive!, culturefront Magazine, and Brutarian Magazine.

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