Piano Technique: Playing Melody as Octaves

Usually melody notes are played using single finger. However, we can also play multiple notes together for melody. Playing as Octaves is one such approach:

An octave is the distance between one note (say C note) to the same note appearing for first time higher up the Piano. So when you play these two consecutive C notes (or any other note for that matter), you are playing Octaves.

How to Play Melody as Octaves

You can play entire melody as Octaves. When you do that, you will be using only two fingers - thumb and the pinky. You play the bottom note (say the C note) with the thumb, stretch your pinky to reach the C note one Octave (next C note above the note that you are striking with your thumb) and then play both these notes together.

Once you achieve this, you keep your hand in this Frozen position for playing the Octaves. You then play the entire melody in this frozen position, where your hand will keep moving over the keyboard striking the melody keys with the thumb striking the lower note and the pinky striking the same note one step higher. Remember that you will be striking with both the fingers together, and hence, this will produce a very strong sound.