{"id":187,"date":"2023-11-17T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-11-17T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/fake-being-awesome\/"},"modified":"2023-11-16T16:02:34","modified_gmt":"2023-11-17T00:02:34","slug":"fake-being-awesome","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/fake-being-awesome\/","title":{"rendered":"Piano Hacks: Tricks to Sound Awesome on the Piano"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The piano can take a lifetime to master. But! Knowing a few \u201cpiano hacks\u201d can instantly make anyone sound really, <em>really<\/em> good. So, if you\u2019ve just started learning but want some flashy skills, keep reading (or watching!). Learning cool tricks won&#8217;t just make you look impressive at parties; they&#8217;ll also keep you motivated and set you up for success for when you learn more advanced skills.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-rank-math-toc-block\" id=\"rank-math-toc\"><p><strong>Piano Hacks:<\/strong><\/p><nav><ol><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#the-pentatonic-scale\">The Pentatonic Scale<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#pedal-tone\">Pedal Tone<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#inverted-pedal-tone\">Inverted Pedal Tone<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#grace-notes\">Grace Notes<\/a><\/li><li class=\"\"><a href=\"#improvise-with-the-c-major-scale\">Improvise With the C Major Scale<\/a><\/li><\/ol><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<span class=\"blue-text-block\"><center><h2 style=\"font-size:22px\"><b>\ud83c\udfb9 Your Go-To Place for All Things Piano<\/b><\/h2><p>Get exclusive interviews, fascinating articles, and inspiring lessons delivered straight to your inbox. Unsubscribe at any time.<\/p><iframe class=\"email-form-include\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/weeklyemail\" frameborder=\"none\"><\/iframe><\/center><\/span>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"the-pentatonic-scale\" style=\"font-size:32px\"><strong>The Pentatonic Scale<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>The <strong>pentatonic scale<\/strong> is a five-note scale that\u2019s popular <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/science\/punctuated-equilibrium\/2010\/dec\/17\/1\">around the world<\/a>. All the black keys make up a pentatonic scale, and they form a unique, distinct sound.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/14095351\/pentatonic-scale-1024x704.png\" alt=\"Piano keyboard diagram with black keys colored in red. Piano hacks.\" class=\"wp-image-15922\" style=\"width:422px;height:290px\" width=\"422\" height=\"290\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/14095351\/pentatonic-scale-1024x704.png 1024w, https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/14095351\/pentatonic-scale-300x206.png 300w, https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/14095351\/pentatonic-scale-768x528.png 768w, https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/14095351\/pentatonic-scale.png 1082w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 422px) 100vw, 422px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>The magical thing about the pentatonic scale is that it sounds good whether you play it chaotically or in a more organized way. Try a random glissando up and down the keyboard. Then try playing chords and melodies with the black keys (don\u2019t overthink this, just explore).&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Things naturally harmonize in the pentatonic scale, and because there are no semitones, pentatonic notes don\u2019t clash.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"box-snippet\">\n<div class=\"shadow\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"content\">\n<div><i class=\"fas icon fa-piano\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><\/div>\n<div class=\"text-container\">\n<b>Understand the Pentatonic Scale:<\/b> It\u2019s one of our favorite piano hacks, and if you want to delve into the theory behind the scale and more ways to use it, check out these lessons:\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/pentatonic-scale-piano\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The Mighty Pentatonic Scale<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/piano-scales\/#pentatonic-scale\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Piano Scales: Types of Scales and How to Apply Them<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"pedal-tone\" style=\"font-size:32px\"><strong>Pedal Tone<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This one is simple: play different chords with your right hand while playing a consistent bass note with your left. That left-hand note is called a <strong>pedal point<\/strong> or <strong>pedal tone<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<video playsinline=\u201c\u201d autoplay=\u201c\u201d src=\"https:\/\/pianote.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com\/blog\/2023\/Piano%20Hacks\/Pedal%20Tone.mp4\" loop=\"\" muted=\"\" width=\"100%\"><\/video>\n\n\n\n<p>Magically, it works well with any chord! Yep, even an Eb major chord over the C. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Now, some chords will create more tension with the pedal tone. But this tension creates a richer, more sophisticated chord.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>If a chord you\u2019re playing over the pedal tone sounds a little<em> too<\/em> crunchy for your taste, try moving to a chord near it. You might just resolve the crunchiness!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"inverted-pedal-tone\" style=\"font-size:32px\"><strong>Inverted Pedal Tone<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>This is essentially the same idea but flipped around. Play a pedal tone with your right hand, high up on the keyboard, and play different chords with your left hand.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<video playsinline=\u201c\u201d autoplay=\u201c\u201d src=\"https:\/\/pianote.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com\/blog\/2023\/Piano%20Hacks\/inverted%20piano%20tone.mp4\" loop=\"\" muted=\"\" width=\"100%\"><\/video>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"grace-notes\" style=\"font-size:32px\"><strong>Grace Notes<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>A grace note is a short note played just before a main note. In standard notation, you\u2019ll see it as a tiny note. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The grace note is usually the note right next to the main note, either a whole or half step away. Grace notes create tension that is instantly resolved and they make notes and chords sound more interesting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"576\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/14102226\/grace-notes-screencap-1024x576.png\" alt=\"Overview of hands playing piano with standard notation underneath showing grace notes. Piano hacks.\" class=\"wp-image-15923\" srcset=\"https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/14102226\/grace-notes-screencap-1024x576.png 1024w, https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/14102226\/grace-notes-screencap-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/14102226\/grace-notes-screencap-768x432.png 768w, https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/14102226\/grace-notes-screencap.png 1280w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>For example, say you\u2019re playing a C major triad (C-E-G). Now try playing E-flat as a grace note right before E. Sounds cool, doesn\u2019t it? The E-flat essentially resolves <em>into <\/em>the C major triad.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<video playsinline=\u201c\u201d autoplay=\u201c\u201d src=\"https:\/\/pianote.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com\/blog\/2023\/Piano%20Hacks\/grace%20notes%20a%20pentatonic.mp4\" loop=\"\" muted=\"\" width=\"100%\"><\/video>\n\n\n\n<p>You can slip into that C major triad from the E-flat using the same finger. Jazz and blues pianists love using this technique.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You can do this with melodies too. Grace notes imitates how a singer might slide into certain notes of a melody. Just try not to overdo it \ud83d\ude09<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"improvise-with-the-c-major-scale\" style=\"font-size:32px\"><strong>Improvise With the C Major Scale<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"How To Fake Being Awesome At The Piano\" width=\"500\" height=\"281\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/BXqGi1QuA5w?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>This is one of our favorite piano hacks of all time. The concept behind this is pretty simple: notes from the same scale sound good together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s use C major as an example. Play a C major triad with your right hand (C-E-G). You can also just play C-G if full triads don\u2019t feel comfortable yet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Then, play <em>any <\/em>white note with your left hand. Any white note! Explore, play around, and see what you can come up with!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Why does this work? All the white notes on the piano keyboard belong to C major. So when we play white notes with a C major chord, they\u2019ll always sound good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"box-snippet\">\n<div class=\"shadow\"><\/div>\n<div class=\"content\">\n<div><i class=\"fas icon fa-piano\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i><\/div>\n<div class=\"text-container\">\n<b>Try this with a chord progression!<\/b> Take this concept to the next level by using chord progressions. For example, try playing a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/pop-piano-chord-progressions\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">I-V-vi-IV chord progression<\/a> in one hand and improvising with notes from the C major scale in your other hand.\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>We hope you enjoyed these secret piano hacks! Now go and impress your friends. But more importantly, have fun.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<span class=\"blue-text-block\"><center><h2 style=\"font-size:22px\"><b>\ud83c\udfb9 Learn Piano With Real Teachers<\/b><\/h2><p>The best way to learn piano is with real teachers, but not everyone has the time and money for a private instructor. At Pianote, you can get real feedback from real experts\u2026all from the comfort of your own home. Explore our Method and community yourself with a free 7-day trial.<\/p><p><\/p><a class=\"join\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/trial\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">TRY PIANOTE FOR 7 DAYS<\/a><\/center><p><\/p><\/span>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Learn some easy piano hacks to instantly sound awesome at the piano. Perfect for impressing people at parties.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":39,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1110,1108,509],"tags":[1069],"class_list":["post-187","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-improvisation-musicianship","category-musicianship","category-technique","tag-gsotp"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/187","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/39"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=187"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/187\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15949,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/187\/revisions\/15949"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=187"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=187"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=187"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}