{"id":1941,"date":"2020-09-29T10:57:17","date_gmt":"2020-09-29T17:57:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/?p=1941"},"modified":"2023-01-13T15:47:58","modified_gmt":"2023-01-13T23:47:58","slug":"how-to-play-piano-faster","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/how-to-play-piano-faster\/","title":{"rendered":"Play Piano Faster (In 5 Minutes!)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

I\u2019m going to show you a super-quick exercise to help you play piano faster\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In just 5 minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Now, it will take longer than 5 minutes to see the best results. But you can do this exercise in 5 minutes or less. And by doing it regularly\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019ll get super-speedy fingers in no time!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s get started!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First things first: Learn the exercise<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

To build speed we\u2019ll be using Hanon No.6. It\u2019s one of my favorite exercises.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Download the sheet music here<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you haven\u2019t seen this one before, spend some time learning the basic pattern and fingering.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Hanon<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Now, the focus will not be on the exercise itself, but those little adjustments to your hands and fingers that you can make to play piano faster.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Because it\u2019s those little physical changes that end up making the most difference to your skill level over time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\ud83c\udfb9 Faster Fingers \ud83d\udca8<\/h3><\/center>

Everyone wants to play fast.<\/p>

Being a speed demon on the piano dazzles and impresses. And it’s really<\/i> fun! But while playing fast can look<\/i> difficult, it’s absolutely doable if you know the right techniques and exercises. Introducing: Faster Fingers<\/a>, a 30-lesson course pack to get you there. Free with your Pianote membership!<\/p>

START PLAYING FAST<\/a>

<\/p><\/center><\/span>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Step 1: It\u2019s all in the wrist<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The key to developing speed with this exercise is in your wrist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What I mean by that is using slight rotations in your wrist to help get your fingers into position faster and more smoothly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This allows my fingers to just press straight down. I\u2019m not thinking of \u201cmuscling\u201d each of my fingers individually.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s only going to slow me down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The rotation in the wrist shouldn\u2019t be excessive. But slight enough to move your fingers into the correct position:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The other big thing to remember is\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Start SLOW.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I know I say this a lot, but that\u2019s only because it\u2019s so important. If this is new to you it will feel a little odd to use your wrist like that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So go slow, and make sure you\u2019re comfortable. I recommend starting at a tempo between 60 and 80bpm.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 2: Think ahead<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Another crucial way to increase your speed on the piano is to use your brain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You want to be thinking ahead as you\u2019re playing, so you can set yourself up for success.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here\u2019s what I mean.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As you play this exercise, it will be super important to be in the correct position at the start and the end of each pattern.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To do that, you want to be thinking about the top and bottom notes. Because if you get those correct, the rest will come naturally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s look at the opening measure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Hanon<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

As you play, notice that your thumb can gently slide up from that first C note to the D.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And that D is your next starting note. You\u2019re already in position for the next pattern.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 3: Start slow and memorize<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I know I said it before, but it\u2019s worth repeating\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

START SLOW (See I even yelled it there).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Going too fast too soon is a recipe for bad habits, frustration, and ultimately failure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To play piano faster with excellence means being able to keep a steady beat. So you\u2019ll want to use a metronome as you begin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The metronome is also a great way to track your progress. It\u2019s super encouraging to be able to SEE the difference in speed from day to day and week to week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You could even write it down in your practice journal as a source of motivation and to see how far you\u2019ve come!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Step 4: What about the left hand?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

You should absolutely practice this with your left-hand as well. And we\u2019ve included the left-hand fingering patterns on the sheet music.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Hanon<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

But here\u2019s what you need to know\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s completely normal to be slower in your left-hand than your right. People get so frustrated here because they think:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI can play at this bpm in my right-hand but my left-hand\u2019s slower.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That\u2019s normal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Our left-hand is often the weaker hand because it doesn\u2019t do all the crazy melody playing that the right-hand does.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So be kind to yourself. Drop the tempo down a little bit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Final Thoughts<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

This practice should take no longer than 5 minutes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But it\u2019s something you should strive to include in your regular practice routine<\/a>. Try it for a week, write down your starting tempo and see what progress you can make!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I hope you enjoyed this tip on how to play piano faster and good luck!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you really<\/i> want to see serious speed results, we have an entire training pack designed to do just that.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s called Faster Fingers<\/a>, and it\u2019s a detailed, guided lesson path to help you build speed and play with more control.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Have fun!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n