Alberti Basses

[f flat minor]

Okay, so I recently decided to start Mozart/Hummel Symphony #40, which starts with Alberti Basses in the left hand (with another voice that acts as an obstacle, see why), I went on with the first couple of bars and I found out that the left hand and right hand were not aligned and horribly out of sync. Its not with playing the alberti basses per se but having to play along with the right hand, flawlessly. I may sound ridiculous right now, but for the stiffness of my hands, alberti basses is the hardest aspect of technique for me, and I wish to perfect it, so please guide me as to how. Thanks in advance.

[anacrusis]

The stiffness of your hands might be the problem. The more tense you are, the more difficult it becomes to be in control of the subtle adjustments needed for accuracy and feeling the pulse.

I'd advice you to make sure your hands and wrists are totally supple, basically like when they're relaxed and hanging next to your body when you stand up. Practice the Alberti basses and try to maintain this. If this means you have to play really really realllllyy slowly, then that's what you'll have to do. If you practice too fast so you become tense, you'll just continue teaching yourself to be tense.

[dw4rn]

Hi f flat minor,

Could you tell us a bit more about what you find so hard with Alberti basses? You mention stiffness - how do you notice this stiffness when you play them?

Do you hold the bass notes? Holding a key down with one finger while the others are moving can trigger stiffness. In that case, maybe practice the Alberti basses without holding the bass note.

And slowly, making sure that you're not just moving the fingers but that the hand and arm are loose, making small supportive movements.

Could you post a video? 

[f flat minor]

Hi f flat minor,

Could you tell us a bit more about what you find so hard with Alberti basses? You mention stiffness - how do you notice this stiffness when you play them?

Do you hold the bass notes? Holding a key down with one finger while the others are moving can trigger stiffness. In that case, maybe practice the Alberti basses without holding the bass note.

And slowly, making sure that you're not just moving the fingers but that the hand and arm are loose, making small supportive movements.

Could you post a video?

For me, using alternate fingers is harder than having to use consecutive fingers, in short,

[f flat minor]

Oh, and I do hold the bass note because there is a second voice, the notes of which are to be held for a longer duration, and I feel difficulty in playing them out of sync even otherwise, but I play the left hand perfectly without playing the right hand. I hope you get what I mean