9 Tips to Master the Art of Playing from a Leadsheet

Piano Tips

Sep 7

Whether you're a beginner or an experienced pianist, the skill of playing from a leadsheet is invaluable for adult piano stundents to learn how to improvise, play along with a singer, or simply expand your piano repertoire quickly.

Below is a comprehensive practice routine to help you master playing leadsheets to become a versatile pianist at any age, which is the exact skill we focus on in the VIRTUOSO Piano Club.

1. Understanding Leadsheets

Before diving into a practice session, it's crucial to grasp the basics of leadsheets.

A leadsheet typically consists of a melody line and chord symbols, providing the essential elements of a song.

Here's how to get started:

Melody Line: Begin by playing the melody with your right hand, ensuring you can read the notes correctly.
Chord Symbols: Learn to recognize chord symbols (e.g., C, G7, Am) and know their corresponding notes and scales. This is the material your left hand will be playing.

2. Warm-Up Exercises

Like any piano practice routine, warming up is essential.

Spend about 5 minutes on these exercises each time you sit down to play:

Scale Practice: Run through the major or minor scale of the leadsheet you are working on to familiarize yourself with the key signature.
Chord Inversions: Practice various chord inversions to increase your flexibility when transitioning between chords. A common chord progression to use for this is I - IV - V - I or vi-ii-V-I or the Axis progression: I - V - vi - IV.

3. Playing the Melody

Start by playing the melody from your leadsheet.

Focus your attention on:

Timing: Use a metronome or play along track to maintain a steady rhythm.
Musicality: Add dynamics and expressiveness to the melody. Your goal is to create the “singing” style, also known as cantabile in Italian.

4. Chord Progression Practice

Next, concentrate on the chord symbols and moving from chord to chord with smooth voice leading:

Chord Changes: Work on transitioning smoothly between the each chord’s tones with minimal movement in each voice.
Chord Inversions: Incorporate different chord inversions for variety.
Rhythmic Patterns: Experiment with various rhythmic patterns for your chord accompaniment.

5. Integration

Now, it's time to bring it all together:

Play Along with Recordings: Use backing tracks or original recordings to play along with, this keeps practicing fun and helps you develop your sense of timing and groove.

6. Improvisation

Once you're comfortable with the basics, venture into improvisation:

Scales: Experiment with scales that match the song's key.
Arpeggios: Use arpeggios to create interesting and dynamic improvisations.

7. Song Selection

Choose a variety of songs from different genres and difficulty levels. This will keep your practice routine fresh and challenging.

8. Consistency

Consistency is the key to mastering any skill. Dedicate a specific amount of time weekly to practicing from leadsheets. A good starting goal is to aim for praciting 5 times a week in short 10 minute sessions.

9. Seek Guidance

Consider taking lessons or seeking feedback from a piano teacher to ensure you're on the right track and to receive personalized advice. If playing from leadsheets is your primary goal consider trying a 2 week free trial of the VIRTUOSO Piano Club, a live online group piano lesson hosted twice a month, designed for adult learners.

Remember, learning to play from leadsheets is a skill anyone can learn as long as you are willing to remain patient and persistent. The average adult piano student will see significant progress over using these tips.