Piano Technique: Grand Arpeggios

If you don't know what an arpeggio is please refer to my page on Arpeggios. A grand arpeggio is a simple arpeggio which moves from a lower octave to a higher octave in a predictable fashion.

In the simplest sense, a C grand arepggio starts at the lowest C note of the keyboard. Remembering that the close keys down the left side of the keyboard creates a muddy sound, one needs to start with the open position. The following is the way a simple Grand Arpeggio is played for a C chord.

1. Press down the sustain pedal from beginning to end of the arepggio
2. Start from the lowest C note in open position. Each note lasts approximately half beats. So play C-G, going up.
3. Now continue in the next octave in the closed positions C-E-G - Remember the notes are played one after the other.
4. You need to continue playing the same Chord notes in the next Octave. For this bring your left hand over the right hand and be ready to play in the next Octave, when your left hand is about to complete the chord notes. When left hand has completed the arepeggio part, start with the rigth hand immediately
5. For the next Octave, bring your left hand below the right hand (which will be busy playing) and once the right hand is completed with its playing, continue with the right hand and so on.
6. Now release the sustain pedal

Few Tips

1. The Grand arpeggio is usually played when ending the song or during a silent phase of the song( or wherever there is enough time to play this long arpeggio).
2. There is no specific time period for each note. Even though half beat is a good approximation, it is all up to the player on how interesting he can make it by changing the time period.
3. When you are using the grand arpeggio while ending a song, try stopping the arpeggio on the highest base note of the chord. If you are playing C chord Grand arpeggio, end the arpeggio on the highest C chord of the Piano. Also try slowing the arpeggio towards the end. Combined it creates a classy effect.
4. The above mentioned is just a simplest variety of the Grand Arpeggio. You can always experiment by rolling your fingers, intermittent forward and backward notes etc. However, at an overall level the arpeggio should move from the lower to higher register of the Piano