Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Adult Beginners Forum Playing Perfect Chords - Advice?

Hi,

Any advice on how to play perfect chords, such that all notes are played at the exact same time? This seems to be a problem that is very difficult for me to overcome. This is the case, even when playing just two notes. I can practice the same chord over and over to perfection, but when I am going through a passage, imperfect chords pop up frequently. Is this just a matter of patience, or is there some kind of exercise you can recommend for this?

Thanks!

maybe you need to practice the chords with the passage (or at least a few notes before and after the chords). it takes practice, and i too don't always strike a chord with all my fingers down at the exact time. the problem is mainly that not all fingers have the same strength when they strike a chord. also, keeping all fingers in contact with the keys (or at least the same distance between fingers and keys) before pressing down the keys will help the timing.

I'm no expert but you might playing from the elbow, rather than the fingers. By this, I mean, think of your fingers as being frozen in place and apply the force through the elbow as though it was a lever.

thank you for the responses. i will try those methods. i think overall, i just need to stick with it... was just wondering if others have had a lot of problems with it and have some testimony of how they overcame it

My teacher has me run through a spectrum of major chord inversions, with pedal, trying to get them legato. She stresses tone - playing them with a bounce (that's the best way I can describe it). Simple exercise, but effective.

I have the same (occasional) problem with playing "perfect" chords" - not all notes sound at the same time. It sometimes happens even when I am playing 2 notes at once.

It happened much more often 6 months ago, so I'm assuming that, with practice, this problem will disappear. Keep at it.

Bob