{"id":3717,"date":"2021-05-14T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-05-14T15:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/?p=3717"},"modified":"2023-09-12T10:28:51","modified_gmt":"2023-09-12T17:28:51","slug":"gymnopedie-no-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/gymnopedie-no-1\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Play Gymnop\u00e9die No. 1 on Piano (Easy Classical Piano Lesson)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Gymnop\u00e9die No. 1 by Erik Satie<\/strong> is <em>such <\/em>a beautiful song to play on the piano!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In this tutorial, I&#8217;ll teach you how to play this lovely classical tune. We&#8217;ve simplified the <a href=\"https:\/\/imslp.org\/wiki\/3_Gymnop%C3%A9dies_(Satie%2C_Erik)\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">original sheet music<\/a> for this tutorial, but I&#8217;ll also show you how to play it so it sounds more like the original.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This is a lovely, relaxing tune that sounds great at a slow pace, so it should be friendly for beginners. <strong>Try not to speed up, though!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/pianote-blog.s3.us-east-2.amazonaws.com\/wp-content\/Gymnopedie%20No.%201\/276439-resource-1614022132%20with%20fingers.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">&lt;&lt;Download the simplified sheet music here!>><\/a><\/strong><\/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 Your Go-To Place for All Things Piano<\/b><\/h2><p>Subscribe to <i>The Note<\/i> for 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:20px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"font-size:32px\"><strong>\ud83d\udc53 Key Specs<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Some things to keep in mind when playing Gymnop\u00e9die No. 1 on piano:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/5\/58\/Ericsatie.jpg\" alt=\"Black and white photograph of Erik Satie, composer of Gymnop\u00e9die No. 1 on piano. Middle-aged man in suit with thoughtful expression, scraggly beard, and glasses.\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Erik Satie circa 1920 \u2014 a thoughtful and dapper French dude.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>We&#8217;ll be in the key of D major, <\/strong>which means that by default, all Fs and Cs are sharped<em>.<\/em> As a warm-up, you can play the D major scale a few times to get into F# and C# mode<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>But watch out for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/music-symbols\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">naturals<\/a>! <\/strong>When a note gets natural&#8217;ed, it means all instances of the same note in that measure also get &#8220;cancelled out.&#8221;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The time signature is 3\/4, <\/strong>so get into a waltzy 1-2-3, 1-2-3 rhythm!<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Adding pedaling<\/strong> will make a big difference to this piece. Learn how to master pedaling <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/how-to-use-the-sustain-pedal\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">here<\/a>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Phrasing and expression <\/strong>are also super important! Check out the third exercise of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/most-important-piano-exercises\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">this tutorial<\/a> for a rundown on expression and dynamics.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<iframe class=\"email-form-include-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/weekly-email\" frameborder=\"none\"><\/iframe>\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\" style=\"font-size:32px\"><strong>The A Section<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>We&#8217;ll start with the left hand. It&#8217;s a pretty simple pattern, rocking between what&#8217;s essentially a <strong>G major triad (G to B-D)<\/strong> and a <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/understanding-7ths\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Dmaj7<\/a> chord (D to A-C#).<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When you&#8217;re ready, add in the right hand melody. Start sloooooow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<video playsinline=\"\" autoplay=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/pianote.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com\/blog\/2021\/Gymnopedie%20No.%201\/gymnopedie%20main%20theme.mp4\" loop=\"\" muted=\"\" width=\"100%\"><\/video>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:100%\">\n<p>In the original piece, <strong>that bass note is an octave lower.<\/strong> You can play the Gs and Ds an octave lower if you prefer. Just keep in mind that <strong>this will require a little more focus<\/strong> as your left hand will be reaching across a larger distance.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<video playsinline=\"\" autoplay=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/pianote.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com\/blog\/2021\/Gymnopedie%20No.%201\/gymnopedie%20down%201%208ve.mp4\" loop=\"\" muted=\"\" width=\"100%\"><\/video>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><span class=\"blue-text-block\">\ud83d\udcdc\ud83c\udfb9<b><i> HISTORY BITE!<\/i><\/b> Erik Satie was a bit of an <a href=\"https:\/\/flypaper.soundfly.com\/diversions\/composer-erik-satie-was-weirder-than-you-realize\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">eccentric<\/a>. He only ate foods that were white, filled his apartment with 100 umbrellas, and didn&#8217;t even consider himself a musician, among other things. The French composer was somewhat of an outsider in his own time, but his work has attracted more attention through pop culture in recent decades.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:25px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"font-size:32px\"><strong>The B Section<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There are a few <strong>chord changes<\/strong> in the B section, so go slow! <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>You&#8217;ll also run into several naturals. <strong>Remember the rule with naturals:<\/strong> once a note gets a natural in a measure, for the rest of the measure, it&#8217;s also un-sharped (or un-flatted).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>And watch out for that <strong>low D<\/strong> I&#8217;ve notated \u2014 trust me, though, it&#8217;s worth it!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns are-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-9d6595d7 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:33.33%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/upload.wikimedia.org\/wikipedia\/commons\/5\/52\/Santiago_Rusi%C3%B1ol_-_Portrait_of_Erik_Satie_Playing_the_Harmonium_-_Google_Art_Project.jpg\" alt=\"\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">A sketch of Erik Satie at the piano.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:66.66%\">\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p>\u201cWhen I was young, people used to say to me: Wait until you&#8217;re fifty, you&#8217;ll see. I am fifty. I haven&#8217;t seen anything.\u201d<\/p>\n<cite>Erik Satie, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.goodreads.com\/book\/show\/148576.A_Mammal_s_Notebook\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">A Mammal&#8217;s Notebook<\/a><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/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 Get a Head Start on Classical Piano \u2728<\/b><\/h2><\/center><img decoding=\"async\" style=\"display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;\" src=\"https:\/\/www.musora.com\/musora-cdn\/image\/quality=85\/https:\/\/pianote.s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com\/blog\/2022\/Beginner%27s%20Guide%20to%20Classical\/victoria%20theodore%20beginner%20classical%20guide.jpg\"><p>Love classical music but not sure where to start? Head over to <b>Classical Piano Quick Start<\/b>, four free lessons designed for beginners taught by <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/victoria-theodore\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Victoria Theodore<\/a>. Victoria is a classically trained pianist with degrees from Oberlin College and Stanford University. She has also shared the stage with stars like Beyonc\u00e9, Stevie Wonder, Prince, and more. Start your classical journey with Victoria today!<\/p><br><center><a class=\"join\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/classical-piano\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">GET 4 FREE CLASSICAL LESSONS<\/a><\/center><br><\/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\" style=\"font-size:32px\"><strong>Tying It All Together<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>For a demo of how the song sounds as a whole, watch me play through the entire piece at the end of the video.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>This is a pretty simple song, but you can do a lot with it. <\/strong>When you&#8217;re first learning, break it up into little sections to make it less overwhelming. Then, when you&#8217;ve mastered the song, add in your own <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/what-are-dynamics\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">dynamics<\/a> and phrasing. Interpret it with <em>your <\/em>unique take.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Happy practicing!<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<iframe class=\"email-form-include-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/weekly-email\" frameborder=\"none\"><\/iframe>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>We&#8217;ve simplified the original sheet music for this tutorial, but I&#8217;ll also show you how to play it so it sounds more like the original.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":39,"featured_media":3788,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[837,508],"tags":[1133],"class_list":["post-3717","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-classical-songs","category-song-tutorials","tag-survey"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3717","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=3717"}],"version-history":[{"count":37,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3717\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":15329,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3717\/revisions\/15329"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3788"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3717"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3717"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pianote.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3717"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}