2022 our 25th year online!

Welcome to the Piano World Piano Forums
Over 3 million posts about pianos, digital pianos, and all types of keyboard instruments.
Over 100,000 members from around the world.
Join the World's Largest Community of Piano Lovers (it's free)
It's Fun to Play the Piano ... Please Pass It On!

SEARCH
Piano Forums & Piano World
(ad)
Who's Online Now
64 members (Animisha, aphexdisklavier, benkeys, 1200s, akse0435, AlkansBookcase, Alex Hutor, AndyOnThePiano2, amc252, 11 invisible), 1,855 guests, and 264 robots.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Hop To
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 601
dannac Offline OP
500 Post Club Member
OP Offline
500 Post Club Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 601
Approx 3 yrs experience.

Left hand better/faster at arpeggios than right hand .....

Is this normal ?

Having tough time getting right hand to be as accurate/efficient on arpeggios/runs/fillers.

Any advice appreciated.

Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 753
500 Post Club Member
Offline
500 Post Club Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 753
It is very normal for two reasons

1) The left hand (when using traditional fingering) never has to perform finger changes over a 4th interval in arpeggios

2) The left hand begins with an upward movement (towards the center) which involves "finger over" movements instead of "finger under" movements. This makes the L.H. feel easier because you start with an easier movement to begin with.


Music is the surest path to excellence

Jeremy BA, ARCT, RMT
Pianoexcellence Tuning and Repairs
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 8,949
8000 Post Club Member
Offline
8000 Post Club Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 8,949
There are many factors to consider...

Are you left-handed?

Alternatively, if you are right-handed, then maybe your right arm has too much muscle tension. I have this problem prior to college--my right arm is significantly larger and stronger than my left arm. Yet as I was learning a new technique in college, my left arm was quicker to "un-learn" the bad habits because it has less muscle tension. When you have too much tension, it slows you down.


Private Piano Teacher and MTAC Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 17,391
M
Yikes! 10000 Post Club Member
Offline
Yikes! 10000 Post Club Member
M
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 17,391
In order to speed up the RH arpeggios, be sure that you aren't twisting your wrist/hand to cross under that 4th. Instead, do a little leap and keep the wrist perpendicular (horizontally) to the keyboard.

As for runs, do you practice scales? Perhaps spend extra time on the RH, but generally working them together is best (and more efficient). Try practicing them in rhythms and staccato.


private piano/voice teacher FT

[Linked Image]
[Linked Image]
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 601
dannac Offline OP
500 Post Club Member
OP Offline
500 Post Club Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 601
Thanks for the replys ......

I am right handed.

Another thing I've noticed is .... I can easily play octaves with my left hand.

But while playing a chord with my right hand and trying to grab the octave with my pinky ...

I have to sort of twist my hand a little or I'm most likely to hit the 7th or key right before the octave.

I put my palms together, and both hands/fingers are the same size and stretch the same.

Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 17,391
M
Yikes! 10000 Post Club Member
Offline
Yikes! 10000 Post Club Member
M
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 17,391
Hmm, could it be that you are sitting at an angle to the keyboard, or too close? Be sure you give yourself plenty of distance so you don't twist you wrist. How do you do with straight octaves in the RH (not octave chords)? If those are good, then practice playing just octaves in any pieces where you have octave chords, and then gradually incorporate one middle note at a time from the chords.


private piano/voice teacher FT

[Linked Image]
[Linked Image]
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 601
dannac Offline OP
500 Post Club Member
OP Offline
500 Post Club Member
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 601
I do OK with octaves in right hand ....

Thanks, I'll try your suggestions.

Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 431
M
Full Member
Offline
Full Member
M
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 431
I'm right handed, and yet my left hand tends to be more accurate with the technical stuff.


Clarinet and Piano Teacher based out of Toronto, Canada.Web: http://donmillsmusicstudio.weebly.com
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 17,391
M
Yikes! 10000 Post Club Member
Offline
Yikes! 10000 Post Club Member
M
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 17,391
I think it's interesting that whether one person is right or left handed, it may not necessarily carry into piano.


private piano/voice teacher FT

[Linked Image]
[Linked Image]
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 8,949
8000 Post Club Member
Offline
8000 Post Club Member
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 8,949
It's probably a tension problem! If you're righthanded, chances are your right forearm has more muscle tension, causing fatigue and an array of technical problems at the piano.

You can't play with ease until you overcome the tension problem. It can't be solved overnight.


Private Piano Teacher and MTAC Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 611
S
500 Post Club Member
Offline
500 Post Club Member
S
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 611
being left-handed doesn't make the left hand easier on the piano. I'm a southpaw and have little difference in relative dexterity than most RH people.


SantaFe_Player
Heels down, and tickle the bit.

Moderated by  platuser 

Link Copied to Clipboard
What's Hot!!
Piano World Has Been Sold!
--------------------
Forums RULES, Terms of Service & HELP
(updated 06/06/2022)
---------------------
Posting Pictures on the Forums
(ad)
(ad)
New Topics - Multiple Forums
Estonia 1990
by Iberia - 04/16/24 11:01 AM
Very Cheap Piano?
by Tweedpipe - 04/16/24 10:13 AM
Practical Meaning of SMP
by rneedle - 04/16/24 09:57 AM
Country style lessons
by Stephen_James - 04/16/24 06:04 AM
How Much to Sell For?
by TexasMom1 - 04/15/24 10:23 PM
Forum Statistics
Forums43
Topics223,390
Posts3,349,248
Members111,632
Most Online15,252
Mar 21st, 2010

Our Piano Related Classified Ads
| Dealers | Tuners | Lessons | Movers | Restorations |

Advertise on Piano World
| Piano World | PianoSupplies.com | Advertise on Piano World |
| |Contact | Privacy | Legal | About Us | Site Map


Copyright © VerticalScope Inc. All Rights Reserved.
No part of this site may be reproduced without prior written permission
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission, which supports our community.