The key to nailing the four-bar section we’re looking at here? The two hands never play at the same time: The left hand plays a chord, then the right hand plays three eighth-notes in response. I recommend tapping the rhythms on a table before you try this phrase at the keyboard. This will help you coordinate your hands without worrying about the notes.
Captions for keyboard diagrams appear above the corresponding graphic. Audio examples coming soon!
Ex. 1. Here’s the strong, opening left-hand chord, a
C# octave with the fifth thrown in, but no third.
Ex. 2. The second left-hand chord still has an octave, but rather than
including the fifth, the middle note is one half step higher. This
yields a whole new chord: a
Bmaj with
D# in the bass.
Ex.
3. The third left-hand chord, which opens the phrase’s second measure, is a powerful
G# octave with a fifth in the middle and no third.
Ex. 4. Move your left hand down a whole step for this next chord, an
F# with no third.
Ex. 5. Two beats later, drop the same chord shape down a fifth to
B.
Ex. 6. To end the four-bar phrase, move up a 4th and play the same chord shape in
E.
Ex. 7. Here are the chords and figure from the previous examples written
out in traditional notation. Go through this slowly, count along, and
remember that the two hands never hit notes at exactly the same.
Practice and soon you’ll be
rocking like the Fray!
