I learned somewhere that when you're playing chords, the left hand should always play the root (or root + 5th). So to tell what chord is being played, you can just look at the note on the left hand. I heard that's how it's is usually for commercial music (r&B and hip hop). Is this right?
For piano players, should left hand always play the root?
- Thread starter digidoc
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bandcoach
Zukatoku - Mod Scientist
it could be then again it might not
at its most simplest yes you would only have the root of each chord as a bass note, however a "good" bass-line may well use notes other than the root of the chord to add variety and contrast over the duration of the track
more on this later
at its most simplest yes you would only have the root of each chord as a bass note, however a "good" bass-line may well use notes other than the root of the chord to add variety and contrast over the duration of the track
tracetraceon
New member
This does hold true for serveral cases, however the the chord being played in the left hand could be in a different inversion. So chord I in C major: C - E - G would become Ib: E - G - C. This can make it harder to identify the chord. Also the chord progression could be played in the right hand instead.
For hip hop it does seem usual for the lower, left hand, part to be playing simple chord progressions with the root in octaves in fifths in the left hand.
For hip hop it does seem usual for the lower, left hand, part to be playing simple chord progressions with the root in octaves in fifths in the left hand.
Prestige Worldwide
Member
Yeah cause you always wanna start wit the bass