Crossing the hands and playing the melody in the bass (below the chords) is an easy trick which doubles the performance minutes you get out of learning a piece!

Here's the lesson performance.

Here's the all-in-one teaching video. You might find it more convenient to work with the split-up segment videos which follow.

The new pattern

The new pattern puts the left hand chords on the second quaver in the group ('off the beat'),

Here is the music for the two versions.

Try counting and tapping the new pattern - even as you play, if you possibly can.

Performance and practicing tips

It's easy to make even simple music sound impressive if you know how - 'rolling the chords' is one of them.

It can be helpful to drop the rhythm altogether and just practice getting between the chords to build up your muscle memory.

The crossed-hands section

Now you cross the hands and play the melody in the bass.

The video addresses some difficulties, like playing with the hands very close together.

A medley performance

Each new version of Greensleeves you learn offers new opportunities for 'stitching together' longer medley versions. But it's important, if you're not to get lost, to have a clear idea of the overall plan.

1. The Lesson Five performance plays a two-chords-per-bar version, but chords off the beat, in the usual place on the keyboard.
2. Then the right had goes under and plays the tune in the bass. The left hand still plays off-the-beat block (unbroken) chords.
3. Then the right hand comes back to its 'normal' place to play just the second half of the piece to finish.

Transitioning between the sections is the most difficult thing. As you get towards the end of a section, you should be telling yourself what happens next, so you're not caught unawares and spoil your performance.

The scrolling MS video

Here is the scrolling MS video of the lesson performance. Don't be distracted by the music into thinking it's a test of your ability to read!

Approach any difficulties you have getting from start to finish scientifically. Don't just throw yourself at it over and over - it's frustrating and inefficient. Identify where you have the problem and what you need to know to solve it - then rehearse just that bit.

In the next lesson, you learn more chords and change chords more quickly, so make sure the Lesson Five performance is secure before going on.

Thanks for learning with MUSICARTA! Come back soon!