Introduction
Sometimes there can be issues with uneven playing, such as when performing scales or playing chords.
In particular, when a chord should be played with all notes being struck at the same time, and lasting for the same duration, there can be slight variations which cause minor arpeggiation, or a split chord, to occur.
Many times this is minor, and minuscule variations are to be expected in human performances even by proficient players, from time to time. However, if it becomes noticeable, it’s important to be able to analyse what the issue is, so the pianist can work on improving and correcting the playing technique.
Possible Solutions
You could seek the help of a piano tutor, but that is expensive and they won’t always be around when you’re practicing.
You could record your performance and listen back to it, to try to identify which notes are being played out of time or irregularly, but this requires a good ear and doesn’t immediately translate to what notes are played and by which fingers.
Online tools may also offer guidance on improving playing style, but they may not be tailored to you and could be unreliable.
The Visual Method
This method works for anyone using a digital piano or keyboard with some form of MIDI output, and access to a computer with DAW.
We use Logic Pro for this example but any DAW with the ability to display musical notes on a piano roll style grid will do just fine.
- Open your DAW, start a new project, load an appropriate piano sample into a track.
- Start recording, then play a piece of music, either prepared or improvised. Play runs of scales and/or chords.
- Do NOT apply any quantisation to the track you have recorded. Open the piano roll editor (some DAWs may name this as something else). Turn off any grid snapping.
- Zoom in to a view where you can see all the notes in a particular scale run or chord. Increase the horizontal resolution, if necessary, so any discrepancies in playing are more noticeable.
You should now be able to see where there are any significant variations in timing or key depression/release. Time runs left to right. Particularly with chords, you can see which notes are being struck or released early or late.
With all quantising and grid snapping turned off, you can highlight/select a run of notes or a chord and drag it to the nearest bar or beat division. This can make it clearer which notes are significantly out of time.
The goal is not to attempt absolute “perfection”, because human variance is both inevitable and, often, desirable. We have automatic quantise for the times when absolute precision is required. However, this method will highlight any significant issues (which you or someone else will likely already have heard) and help you to pinpoint them, so you can work on improving.
The method is relatively quick, so you can record and review many times in a short space of time.
