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Techniques of the PROs

Technique 1: Straddles. Leaving one of more notes outof a chord to create an open feeling.

Technique 2: 2/1 & 3/1 Breakups. Breaking a chord upby playing part of the chord & then the rest of the chord.

Technique 3: Waterfall Chords. Broken chords

cascading down from the top of the keyboard similar to awaterfall.

Technique 4: Tremolo-Fired Runs. Rapid-fire runsmade of chords, but starting with a tremolo.

Technique 5: Half-Step Slides. Approaching the nextchord from 1/2 step above or below.

Technique 6: Suspensions. Using the 4th as a"hangover" instead of the 3rd.

Technique 7: Chord Substitutions. Harmonizing songsusing different chords than the traditional ones.

Technique 8: Voicing in 4ths. Stacking chords inintervals of 4ths instead of 3rds.

Technique 9: Turn-Arounds. A chord progression thatturns you around, like a cul-de-sac.

Technique 10: Introductions. Creating a front door forthe song.

Technique 11: Endings. Creating a back door for the

song. Technique 12: Transposing. Playing a song in a key

different than it was written in. Technique 13: Modulating. Getting from key to key

smoothly. Technique 14: Altering a Melody to Create a New

Melody. Using neighboring tones to craft a new tune. Technique 15: Inversions. Instead of always playing

chords in root position, using a variety of "upside down"

chords. Technique 16: Creating Original Chord Progressions.

Linking chords together creatively. Technique 17: Echoes - Rhythmic, Melodic, Harmonic.

The easiest way to begin the arranging process. Technique 18: Touch. The difference between a sledge

hammer and a pillow. Technique 19: II7 to V7 Progression. One of the most

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common chord progressions. Technique 20: Latin-American Rhythms. Using various

rhythm patterns such as Samba, Bossa Nova, Cha Cha,etc.

Technique 21: Locked Hands Style. Playing the melodyin both hands with a chord under the right hand melody.

Technique 22:Jazz Styles. Lush, offset beats, comping,

color tones, etc. Technique 23: Two-Handed Arps. The Flowing River Of

Sound. Using broken chords in both hands at the sametime.

Technique 24: Parallelisms. Parts moving the samedirection (such as 10ths, octaves, etc.)

Technique 25: Ragtime Techniques. Barrel-house andearly jazz styles.

Technique 26: Polytonality & Superimposition.

Playing in two keys at the same time, and playing twodifferent chords at the same time.

Technique 27: Delay-Catch-Up Technique. Fallingbehind the beat, then catching up.

Technique 28: Slash Chords. Chords over a left-handcounter melody.

Technique 29: Counter-Melodies. Creating a sub-tunethat is complimentary to the main tune.

Technique 30: Western Sounds. Wagon-wheel bassstyles, etc. Technique 31: Gospel Sounds. "Get on that church" and

"shouting" styles. Technique 32: 12 Bar Blues. The basis for thousands of

songs in all styles. Technique 33: Passing Tones. Tones that "pass

through" the current chord. Technique 34: Question-Answer Techniques.

Repeating a previous musical phrase but in a new way. Technique 35: Far-Out Harmonies. Extended chords,

altered chords.

Technique 36: Syncopation. Playing between the beats.

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There are other techniques the pros use, and new techniques arealways being invented. But for a list of worthy goals for an aspiringpiano player, this list will keep us busy for a long time

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