How to Play Fast Arpeggios
An arpeggio is a broken chord. I like to use fast arpeggios in my hymn arrangements. So…how do I determine where to place a fast broken arpeggio? Anywhere a word can be stretched (broadened) or held if you were singing the hymn.
One of my free piano hymn arrangements entitled “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” contains a fast arpeggio on the second page. (Shown below)
This fast arpeggio consists of 12 notes. If you look closely, you’ll notice that I played 3 groups of one-octave arpeggios within the 12 note passage. Each group has four notes beginning and ending with note “G”.
I’m basically using a g minor one-octave arpeggio made up of the notes: G-Bflat-D-G
How to finger this? Use right hand thumb (of course) to start each group. For each group use the following fingering: 1 2 3 5
To properly blend this run into the arrangement…emphasize the right thumb at the beginning of the first group only; allowing the hand to relax and glide across the fast arpeggios in an even rhythmic flow. How to do this? Practice s-l-o-w 🙂
Careful not to play SO fast that it sounds “thrown in” …causing an interruption in the flow of thought.
Slow Motion Demo
Now…for the complete arrangement at regular tempo…
Tags: arpeggios, fast arpeggios, how to play fast arpeggios, what a friend we have in jesus
Hi,
I am serving as pianist at my church in Indonesia. I really found your blog very helpful and I love your arrangements.
I have downloaded some of the songs and started practising them. May I also request this song “what a friend I have in Jesus”?
Or if it is available at your store, I will be happy to purchase it.
Thank you. May God bless your ministries.
Thanks Cecilia for your encouraging words 🙂
I do have an advanced arrangement of “What a Friend We Have in Jesus” available on my page of FREE PDF arrangements.
Link: http://thechurchpianist.com/offertory-resources/free-music/
Thanks very much. 🙂