CHOPIN
Waltz in A minor
This next piece is also quite easy once you analyse the chords and patterns.
• The left hand plays the same chord progression Am, Dm G7, C four times
• The first Left Hand note of each bar is the ROOT note of the chord that follows
• The Right Hand very often uses a chord note at the start of each bar
Try the Left Hand chord progression before you play hands together
Notice how low the first A note is
                    Am                       Dm      (middle)           G7      (no 5th)               C   (middle)
            A                        D                          G                          C
   Count    1       2       3        1       2         3            1       2         3        1       2          3
                                    ALTERNATIVE LEFT HAND
There is another really easy way to play the left hand of this piece if you can
stretch your fingers far enough.
Instead of using a STRIDE - ie hitting a bass note and then moving your hand up
to play a chord - you use a broken chord which spans TEN notes. Try it!
           Am                   Dm                              G                          C
                C       C                F       F                      B         B                E          E
                E   E                    A       A                      D         D                G          G
        A                       D                               G                          C
                                                                                                                      8-28
                                  CHOPIN
                               Waltz in A minor
    E   A   B C    C       D E     F                  B       C    D   A       G   F       EF   E F#   E
    1   2                  1
              Am                   Dm                             G7                                   C
                                                          1
                                           (middle)                                                         (middle)
A   B   C     C        D   E   F                      B       C   D    A   G       B       C                     E
1                      1                                                                                          1
        Am                     Dm                                 G7                                   C
                                                      1                5   4       1
                                       (middle)                                                            (middle)
A   B   C     C        D   E   F                      B       C   D    A   G       F       EF   E F#   E
2
        Am                     Dm                                 G7                                   C
                       1                              1
                                       (middle)                                                              (middle)
C   D   E     E        F   G   A                      G           F#   G   D       F       E
                                                      1           2    1               2
        Am                     Dm      (middle)                   G7                                   C   (middle)
                                                                                                                        8-29