left hand needs some help!!!

[lilleesie]

i just started playing for my church. i need help in what to do with my left hand. are there chording rules for the left hand besides just playing the octave that goes with your right hand chord? i can do my chords in my right hand, but my left hand is so boring. for example if i'm playing a song in C...for each chord in my right hand i play the accompanying octave in my left hand. (i.e. C/CEG, F/FAC, etc.). I've tried walking up (so going from C to E) or walking down. But what do you do when you're playing a C chord for a while...all I know is to keep hitting the C octave in my left hand. It gets really choppy and boring. any suggestions? Thanks!

[4hisglory]

Type out an example of something you would play and I can tell you how to make it fuller.

[PianoWizard]

Welcome to the LGM family "lilleesie"....Stay Blessed.

PianoWiz...

[diverse379]

I feel you bro

there are a few things that you may need to develop
first off

the left hand is your bass and rhythm so what ever you do in your left hand it must be steady and groove



the first thing you need to try is root 5 root

so when you are on your C chord you will play C G C
this is a real old traditional style but it moves you can do the same thing when you get to the F chord

The G chord you may want to just hang out on the G

this is just the first thing you should learn
you must learn how to rock your octaves

when you are playing octaves in your left hand rock them start with the pinky and rock to the Thumb or start from the thumb and rock to the pinky

this type of style is kind of like boogie woogie or barrel house

for Ballads you want to fill in the octave
maybe play a whole triad in your left hand

or play C and G

or C Bb or E

what ever you do the left hand must support the right hand both rhythmically and harmonically

I would suggest you get the Ethel Caffie austin Dvd

Gospel Piano she teaches traditional style and she starts from a basic level and takes you up to a high intermediate early advanced style

it is very easy to follow and she will get you started on the right track

[bustas_rhyme]

The best thing you could do is learn theory. You'd be amazed at what you sound like if you can learn what a major 13th chord is or chords like minor 11ths, or minor six add 9s. Learning theory is the key. Luckily there are plenty of resources here.

[fmason3]

What are some examples of songs you have to play every week?

[amandaag]

i believe i understand what you meant. Your left hand keeps playing One note octave key. For example, you play low C with your pinky and you play the C an octave higher with your thumb. I always find myself doing that all the time.

If you are playing the piano, it is more difficult to invent something to do with your left hand. But you can try playing bass lines with your left hand while your right hand plays chords, or your left hand can play chords while your right hand plays melody (which is very rare).

Or left and right hand can join up chords together (make some ninth chords or thirteenth chords).

But if you are playing the organ, it is better. You can just learn how to play the bass pedal, and just play some chords with your left and right hand.

[musallio]

Good question & great responses

You might also want to play the LH bass line as U are currently playing, but focus on spicing up your RH a bit by adding 7ths etc..
so U could sub the C/C-E-G for a C/B-E-G the F/ F-A-C for the F/E-(F)-A-C.

Powerchords as explained above, also transform your playing because U can arperggiate the chord