Session 14: Accompaniment Styles

Overview

Phase: 3 — Integration
Duration: 1 hour
Prerequisites: Completed Sessions 1-13. Can play 7 chords (C, F, G, Am, Dm, Em, D). Understands chord inversions, voice leading, and the I-V-vi-IV progression. Has played “Tum Hi Ho” with arpeggios.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this session, you will be able to:

Play three LH accompaniment styles: block chords, broken chords (arpeggios), and Alberti bass
Understand and use the sustain pedal with correct technique
Apply legato pedaling (change pedal on chord changes)
Play a simplified “Imagine” arrangement with sustain pedal
Use the CT-X9000IN rhythm accompaniment to enhance practice

Materials Needed

Casio CT-X9000IN keyboard (Grand Piano tone — Tone 000, metronome ready)
Sustain pedal connected to the SUSTAIN jack on the back of the CT-X9000IN (if you have one — see CT-X9000IN Tips for alternatives if you do not)
This lesson plan open beside you

Warm-Up (5 minutes)

A Minor Scale

RH and LH separately at 55 BPM, one time each.

C Major Scale

RH and LH separately at 66 BPM, one time each.

I-V-vi-IV Chord Pattern

LH: C (4 beats) → G (4 beats) → Am (4 beats) → F (4 beats)

Play twice with block chords. Then play twice with the arpeggio pattern from Session 12.

Theory (10 minutes)

Three Ways to Play the Same Chords

You already know two ways to play chords: block chords (all notes at once) and arpeggios (notes one at a time going up). Today you learn a third style and master all three.

Style 1: Block Chords All chord notes pressed simultaneously. You have been doing this since Session 7.

C chord: C(5)+E(3)+G(1) — all at once, hold

Sound: Solid, rhythmic, strong. Good for rock, hymns, marches.

Style 2: Broken Chords (Arpeggios) Chord notes played one at a time, usually bottom to top. You used this in “House of the Rising Sun” and “Someone Like You.”

C arpeggio: C(5) — E(3) — G(1) — one note at a time

Sound: Flowing, gentle, romantic. Good for ballads, classical.

Style 3: Alberti Bass A specific pattern named after the 18th-century composer Domenico Alberti. The notes alternate: bottom-top-middle-top.

C Alberti bass: C(5) — G(1) — E(3) — G(1) — repeating

Sound: Rolling, elegant, classical. This is the accompaniment pattern in countless Mozart and Beethoven pieces.

The Sustain Pedal

The sustain pedal is the rightmost pedal on a piano (or the single pedal that connects to your CT-X9000IN). When you press it, every note you play continues to ring even after you lift your fingers from the keys.

What it does physically: Inside an acoustic piano, pressing the sustain pedal lifts the dampers off the strings, allowing them to vibrate freely. On your CT-X9000IN, it does the same thing electronically.

Why it matters: The sustain pedal transforms your playing. Chords that sounded choppy and disconnected suddenly become smooth and flowing. Arpeggios blend into rich, full harmonies. It is like the difference between speaking in short, clipped sentences and speaking in flowing, connected prose.

The golden rule: Change the pedal when the chord changes. If you hold the pedal through a chord change, the notes from both chords ring together and create a “muddy” clash.

Technique (15 minutes)

Accompaniment Style Practice

Alberti Bass — C Chord:

X:1 T:Alberti Bass - C Chord M:4/4 L:1/4 K:C clef=bass "5"C,/2 "1"G,/2 "3"E,/2 "1"G,/2 "5"C,/2 "1"G,/2 "3"E,/2 "1"G,/2 | "5"C,/2 "1"G,/2 "3"E,/2 "1"G,/2 "5"C,/2 "1"G,/2 "3"E,/2 "1"G,/2 |

Play at 60 BPM. Each click = one beat. You play 2 notes per click.

Alberti Bass — Full I-V-vi-IV:

X:1 T:Alberti Bass - I-V-vi-IV M:4/4 L:1/4 K:C clef=bass "C""5"C,/2 "1"G,/2 "3"E,/2 "1"G,/2 "5"C,/2 "1"G,/2 "3"E,/2 "1"G,/2 | "G""5"G,,/2 "1"D,/2 "3"B,,/2 "1"D,/2 "5"G,,/2 "1"D,/2 "3"B,,/2 "1"D,/2 | "Am""5"A,,/2 "1"E,/2 "3"C,/2 "1"E,/2 "5"A,,/2 "1"E,/2 "3"C,/2 "1"E,/2 | "F""5"F,,/2 "1"C,/2 "3"A,,/2 "1"C,/2 "5"F,,/2 "1"C,/2 "3"A,,/2 "1"C,/2 |

Repeat 3 times. The pattern is always: bottom-top-middle-top, bottom-top-middle-top.

Comparing All Three Styles:

Play the C chord in all three styles, one after another:

X:1 T:Block Chord M:4/4 L:1/4 K:C clef=bass ["5"C,"3"E,"1"G,]4 |

X:1 T:Arpeggio M:4/4 L:1/4 K:C clef=bass "5"C, "3"E, "1"G, "3"E, |

X:1 T:Alberti Bass M:4/4 L:1/4 K:C clef=bass "5"C,/2 "1"G,/2 "3"E,/2 "1"G,/2 "5"C,/2 "1"G,/2 "3"E,/2 "1"G,/2 |

Hear the difference? Block chords are powerful. Arpeggios are flowing. Alberti bass is rolling and perpetual. Each style creates a different mood for the same harmony.

Sustain Pedal Technique

Physical setup:

Sit with both feet flat on the floor.
Place your right foot on the sustain pedal. Your heel stays on the floor.
The ball of your foot rests on the pedal surface. Press down gently with the ball of your foot.
Keep the movement smooth — no stomping. Think of it as “breathing” with your foot.

Basic Pedaling Exercise:

Step 1 — Feel the pedal:

Press the pedal down. Play Middle C with RH. Lift your finger off the key.
Is the note still ringing? (It should be — the pedal is holding it.)
Now lift the pedal. The note stops.

Repeat 5 times. Press pedal → play note → lift finger → note rings → lift pedal → note stops.

Step 2 — Pedal with chord changes:

Press pedal → Play C chord (C(5)+E(3)+G(1)) — hold 4 beats

Lift pedal briefly → Press pedal again → Play F chord (F(5)+A(3)+C(1)) — hold 4 beats

Lift pedal briefly → Press pedal again → Play G chord (G(5)+B(3)+D(1)) — hold 4 beats

Lift pedal briefly → Press pedal again → Play C chord — hold 4 beats

The key moment is the “lift-press” between chords. You lift the pedal to clear the old chord, then press it again immediately as you play the new chord. This transition should be quick — less than a second of silence.

Legato Pedaling (The Professional Method)

Legato pedaling is slightly different and sounds smoother:

Play the C chord. Press the pedal AFTER you play (not before).
When you are ready to change to F chord, play the F chord first, THEN lift and re-press the pedal.
The sequence is: play new chord → lift pedal → press pedal. (NOT: lift pedal → play chord → press pedal.)

This overlap means there is never a gap of silence between chords. The old chord rings until the new chord is already sounding. It creates a seamless, flowing transition.

Practice legato pedaling with I-IV-V-I:

C chord + press pedal — hold 4 beats
Play F chord → lift pedal → press pedal — hold 4 beats
Play G chord → lift pedal → press pedal — hold 4 beats
Play C chord → lift pedal → press pedal — hold 4 beats
Lift pedal.

Repeat 5 times at 60 BPM. Listen for muddy sound — if two chords clash, you are not lifting the pedal at the right moment.

Common pedal mistake: Pressing the pedal BEFORE playing the chord. This captures the old chord’s sound and causes muddiness. Always play first, then pedal.

Repertoire (20 minutes)

“Imagine” (John Lennon) — Simplified with Pedal

“Imagine” is one of the most iconic piano songs ever written. The original uses a flowing LH pattern with sustain pedal throughout — exactly what you are learning today.

Tempo: 72 BPM (calm, reflective) Time Signature: 4/4 Key: C major

Right Hand (Melody):

Place RH with finger 1 on Middle C:

Left Hand (Broken Chord Accompaniment with Pedal):

Use a simple broken chord pattern. The sustain pedal blends the notes together. The LH part is notated in the V:2 staff above.

Pedaling plan:

Hold the sustain pedal throughout each measure.
At the start of each new measure (when the chord changes), quickly lift and re-press the pedal.
During measures where the chord stays the same (like Measures 1 and 3, both C), you can hold the pedal through or change it — either works.

Learning approach:

Step 1: LH broken chords with pedal (5 minutes) Practice the LH pattern without RH, but WITH the sustain pedal. Focus on clean pedal changes at each chord change. Play all 16 measures. The broken chords with pedal should sound lush and full — like the notes are melting into each other.

Step 2: RH melody alone (3 minutes) Simple melody — mostly steps within C position plus reaching to A. Practice Measures 1-8 (verse), then 9-16 (chorus).

Step 3: Both hands with pedal (7 minutes)

Measures 1-4, both hands + pedal, 3 times.
Measures 5-8, both hands + pedal, 3 times.
Measures 9-16, both hands + pedal, 3 times.
Full 16 measures.

Your foot, left hand, and right hand are all doing different things. This is a significant coordination challenge. Be patient — it may take several days of practice.

Dynamics:

Verse (Measures 1-8): Soft, dreamy (p to mp). “Imagine” is a gentle invitation.
Chorus (Measures 9-16): Slightly stronger (mf). The conviction builds.
Measure 15-16: Diminuendo to the final C. Let the pedal hold the sound as it fades.

Review & Homework (10 minutes)

Summary

Today you significantly expanded your accompaniment toolkit:

Three accompaniment styles: block chords, broken chords (arpeggios), Alberti bass
The sustain pedal: what it does, how to press it, when to change it
Legato pedaling: play the new chord first, THEN change the pedal
“Imagine” with sustain pedal — your first fully pedaled arrangement

Ear Training Exercise: Style Recognition

Play the I-V-vi-IV progression (C-G-Am-F) in all three styles:

Block chords — notice the punchy, rhythmic quality.
Broken chords — notice the flowing, gentle quality.
Alberti bass — notice the rolling, perpetual quality.

Now close your eyes and play one of the three styles at random. Can you identify which style you are playing just by the sound? This seems obvious, but the ability to consciously choose an accompaniment style based on the mood you want is a key musical decision.

Self-Check Questions

What is the Alberti bass pattern? (Answer: Bottom-top-middle-top, repeating — for example, C-G-E-G for a C chord)
When do you change the sustain pedal? (Answer: When the chord changes — lift briefly and re-press)
What is legato pedaling? (Answer: Playing the new chord first, then lifting and re-pressing the pedal — so there is no gap between chords)

Practice Homework (Before Next Session)

Alberti bass drill — C-G-Am-F, Alberti bass pattern, 3 times through at 60 BPM. (3 minutes daily)
Sustain pedal exercises — C-F-G-C progression with pedal changes, 5 times. Focus on clean transitions (no muddiness). (3 minutes daily)
“Imagine” — LH with pedal alone 3 times. Both hands with pedal 3 times at 72 BPM. (6 minutes daily)
Scales — C major and A minor, RH and LH, 1 time each at 66/55 BPM. (2 minutes daily)
Review — “Tum Hi Ho” once through, both hands. (2 minutes daily)

Total daily practice: approximately 16 minutes.

Common Mistakes to Watch For

Muddy pedal sound: If the notes from two different chords blend together in an ugly way, you are not lifting the pedal at the chord change. The fix: lift the pedal COMPLETELY (hear the sound cut), then press it again with the new chord.
Pedal stomping: The foot movement should be gentle and smooth, not a stomp. Your heel stays on the floor. Only the ball of your foot moves. Think of it as breathing: gentle inhale (press), gentle exhale (lift).
Forgetting the pedal: It is tempting to focus so hard on both hands that your foot forgets to work. Practice the LH + pedal combination first (no RH) until the foot becomes automatic. Then add the RH.
Alberti bass: uneven notes: All four notes in the pattern (C-G-E-G) should be the same volume and length. Finger 5 (pinky) tends to be too soft and finger 1 (thumb) too loud. Consciously balance the sound.

CT-X9000IN Tips

Connecting a Sustain Pedal

The CT-X9000IN has a SUSTAIN jack on the back panel. You need a standard keyboard sustain pedal (sometimes called a “damper pedal”). Casio’s SP-3 or SP-20 works, as do most universal keyboard sustain pedals.

To connect:

Turn off the keyboard.
Plug the sustain pedal’s cable into the SUSTAIN jack.
Turn on the keyboard.
Press the pedal — you should see the sustain effect when playing notes.

If you do not have a sustain pedal yet: You can still practice the exercises by manually holding notes longer with your fingers. The sound will not be as rich, but the coordination skills are the same. However, I strongly recommend getting a sustain pedal before Session 15 — it costs very little and transforms your playing experience.

Using Rhythm Accompaniment with “Imagine”

“Imagine” has a gentle, rocking feel. Try Rhythm 005 (Pop) or a similar soft rhythm at 72 BPM. The rhythm section adds a subtle pulse that keeps you in time while the sustain pedal provides the lush sound.

Recording with Pedal

This week, record yourself playing “Imagine” with the sustain pedal (if available). Play back and listen specifically for:

Muddy spots where the pedal was not changed
Gaps where the pedal was lifted too early
The overall “warmth” of the pedaled sound vs. unpedaled