Parallel octaves and contrary octaves. An octave, of course, is the same note separated by 8 keys. This podcast is about how to use octaves both in parallel and in contrary motion. Click (or double-click — sometimes it takes a couple clicks to get it started) on the player below:

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There are many ways you can make your right hand part fuller, and on other videos we have looked at parallel 6ths, parallel 3rds, etc. On this video I demonstrate how to “comp” under the melody for a rhythmic-chording style.

There are many many techniques you can use to make most any song more interesting. For example, you can add arpeggios, fillers, chord substitutions, color tones, runs, counter-melodies and on an on. In this short video I demonstrate 7 of those ways:

There are many ways to break up chords into various patterns, including the open-voiced arpeggio, the 2-1 and 3-1 breakups, the pentatonic run, the Alberti bass, the Kansas City Bass, and on and on. But one of the best ways to get a contemporary and professional sound in your right hand is to use the 4-note “straddle” technique.

Instead of playing all 4 notes of a chord at once, you play just 2 and straddle the note inbetween. Then invert the chord up or down and do the same on the next inversion. It sounds complicated, but you’ll understand it when you watch this short video: