Chordal Tone

[zhiliang]

Dear all,

I would like to ask how one can improve the tone of chords or octaves? One can always hear from famous pianists how the octaves were made actually to sound like single note and everyone of the chords are so clear, distinct and singing. How can one do that? I am playing the Rach prelude Op. 23 No. 4, 5 and 6 and the very long chordal progressions in them, i am unable to make them sing and sound consistently.

Zhiliang

[JK]

Playing chords and octaves like this is all about the little finger, and occassionally the 4th. Make sure that the 5th finger doesn't collapse when you play, make sure it remains slightly bent and try and bring out the tops, if you do this in octaves and make the bottom note quieter you can get some very nice sounds. Also try and play as legato as possible.

Hope this helps a bit.

[zhiliang]

Playing chords and octaves like this is all about the little finger, and occassionally the 4th. Make sure that the 5th finger doesn't collapse when you play, make sure it remains slightly bent and try and bring out the tops, if you do this in octaves and make the bottom note quieter you can get some very nice sounds. Also try and play as legato as possible.

Hope this helps a bit.

Does it means that normally the thumb should be kept more quiet? And then voice the chords or the octaves by using the 5th or 4th finger? What about pieces with fast octaves? Like the Rachmaninoff's Prelude Op. 23 No. 5? Or the many chords in the beginning of the orchestral-piano reduction of the Chopin's Piano Concerto No. 1 Do we try connect them by alternating between the use of the 4th and the 5th finger and sometimes even the 3rd? Will that slow down a lot on the chordal progression?

Zhiliang

[JK]

Generally I would say that when playing octaves in the right hand if you want to voice the top then you will get a much better sound if the thumb is kept quiet, I do this by transfering the weight of the hand/arm to the 4th and 5th fingers. Only play legato chords/octaves if it is marked, this will slow you down at first but it is possible, the Chopin etude op.25 no.10 in Bm has very fast octaves all of which have to be played legato! As far as the rach prelude goes, it is vital that the middle section of this piece has voiced right hand chords which should be as legato as you can get them (only the top notes legato), it takes a lot of work but it is worth doing because it will improve the way you feel the phrasing and the sound you make.

Good Luck!

[zhiliang]

Dear JK,

Thanks for your advice. In fact, I have just tried out and i tried curving my 5th (or 4th finger) more and yeah, it works. It sounds out so much more that previously when i only used more weight and didnt realise that my 5th finger was like so "collapsible". Its like such a fundamental problem and i only realise it now. Thank you so much... Now i understand why Horowitz used to say that the 5th finger is like the most important finger where it actually teaches and guides the other fingers along. Many many music requires the 5th finger to bring out the melody.

Thanks once again,

Zhiliang