Do you ever feel frustrated when you come to a spot in the sheet music that only has one chord listed for a couple of measures?

What can you do to make the song sound interesting when the chord is just sitting there to be held for such a long time?
Note: guitarists can strum that one chord, but as a pianist you need to do something. Otherwise, you end up just holding one chord. Dull!

One of the tools that pianists (and guitarists) use quite often is something that I call the “handi” variation (I know, “handy” ends with a “y”).
What you need to create variety in your playing is something that comes in handy.

The “handi” variation is commonly known as the minor line cliché.

• minor: because it works for minor chords
• line: because it features a descending line of notes
• cliché: because it tends to be used a little too often

Here’s an easy way to know when you can use the minor line cliché:

When the same minor chord is played for two (2) or more measures, you can create variety by lowering the root of the chord by half steps.

Here’s an example:
The sheet music shows a G minor chord on top of the staff and no other chord appears until two measures later.
In case you need help identifying minor chords, take a look at the Music Theory page of my website: http://www.edmascari.com/musictheory/
Building Block No. 4:
Finding the Fast Way to Double What You Know Already: Minor Triad

Start by playing the G minor chord (G-Bb-D) and holding it for two counts.
Next, lower the root (G) by ½ step to Gb. Sustain this chord (Gb-Bb-D) for the remaining two beats of the measure. Continue this approach by beginning the next bar by lowering the root once again by ½ step to F (F-Bb-D). Finish this two measure sequence by moving the F to E (E-Bb-D) for the final two beats of the second measure. There you have it. It’s that simple!

Tips for using the “handi” variation aka the minor line cliché:

• For left hand chord playing, use the fingering 5-3-1 for the first two chords and then switch to 5-2-1 to avoid unnecessary stretching.

• In addition to sustaining these four chords for two beats each, you can play them in an um-pah pattern.

o    See my website: www.edmascari.com/simplesongs/ for an example of what an um-pah pattern is.
http://www.edmascari.com/downloads/simplesongs/WhenTheSaints.pdf

• As an alternative to using an um-pah pattern, you can create added variety by combining “handi” variation with the Alberti bass.

o    See my website: www.edmascari.com/simplesongs/ for an example of what an Alberti bass pattern is.
http://www.edmascari.com/downloads/simplesongs/MichaelRowedTheBoatAshore.pdf

• If you are playing a song that uses chords of four tones, (remember my Blog post: Chords: Four Notes or Four Tones?), but don’t show it the “handi” variation chords remain as three tone chords.

Here are three examples of songs that include (or would work well if you use) the “handi” variation aka the minor line cliché:

• My Funny Valentine – begins with “handi” variation, varies it in verse 2 as well as in verse 3.
• Bewitched, Bothered & Bewildered – has a bridge which lends itself beautifully to incorporating the “handi” variation three times in a row.
• Anything You Can Do – has a bridge which works nicely with an um-pah pattern applied to the “handi” variation.

Here’s a helpful hint for spotting the “handi” variation aka the minor line cliché in some pieces of sheet music.
This is because there are several ways that composers and arrangers tell pianists to use the “handi” variation aka the minor line cliché.
These include any combination of the following chords:

• Gm – Gm/Gb – Gm/F – Gm/E
• Gm – Gm/maj7 – Gm/7 – Gm/6
• Gm – Gb+ -Bb/F – C9
• Gm cliché

Action Items:

Here are two things you do immediately to create variety in your song playing by incorporating the “handi” variation aka the minor line cliché.

First, look at a few of your pieces to see if there are any “hints” provided by the sheet music to get you started with playing this chord pattern.

Second, find some places in your songs where the same minor chord is played for two (2) or more measures. Next, create variety in your music by lowering the root of the chord by half steps.

Need some help learning how to create variety in your own piano playing by using “handi” variation aka the minor line cliché?
Contact me with your questions at ed@edmascari.com.
Or find out more about how taking piano lessons will give you the tools you need to play the piano better and enjoy learning how to play the music you love.