Keeping things simple is what I’m all about when it comes to piano. (At least, as simple as possible.) But simple doesn’t have to mean dull and repetitive. Learning a new improv pattern or chord variation can really spice things up!
Just the other day, I was playing a song using the “Annie Rollover,” a new left hand pattern that I learned from my Student Happiness Manager, Annie. My wife actually stopped in her tracks to ask what I was playing: she noticed that something sounded different! But is this a super-complicated, advanced technique? Not at all. It’s just a variation of skills that even relative newbies can learn to play after going through my Piano In 21 Days course.
A Left-Handed Pattern from Annie
If you’re already a part of my student community, you probably know Annie. She’s an amazing part of my team and is always ready to pitch in when my students need pointers or encouragement. When she showed me this cool left-handed pattern she often uses, I knew we had to name this technique after her. That’s how the “Annie Rollover” was born!
So, what is the Annie Rollover? It’s a left-handed pattern that is ideal for playing chord-based songs, and works even for people with smaller hands.
An Example
Let’s look at an example: Cmajor. If you play a Cmajor chord in your right hand, how can I play the Annie Rollover in the left?
I strongly recommend you watch the video above to follow along visually until you get the hang of it. But the Annie Rollover goes like this:
- Place your right hand with the thumb on C, and place your left hand with the pinky at the corresponding C lower down on your keyboard.
- Remember the keys in the scale of C that you could play in your left hand. You’ll be using these: 1, 5, 8, and then 9, 10, and sometimes the 9 again.
- Try it! Play:
- The 1 with your left pinky
- The 5 and 8 with your pointer finger and thumb, respectively
- Roll your whole hand over to the right and play the 9 and then the 10 with your finger and thumb. Then return to 9 if desired.
- Return to the 1 and continue through the same sequence.
Notice that by rolling your hand (and really your elbow as well) over to play the 9 and 10, you can seamlessly add in more notes from the scale without having to completely lift and reposition your hand. It’s a lot easier to keep track of where you are and move back to the beginning of this particular pattern this way!
Trying a Full Progression
In the video, I continued this with a repeating chord progression of Am, G, F, C. Using this pattern in the left hand really spices up this tune! The extra notes I can play within the scale thanks to the rollover are a great way to add variety.
Once you’re comfortable with the Annie Rollover, don’t forget that you can continue to use our normal improv patterns in the right hand: inversions, arpeggios, and so on. You’re going to be amazed at how nuanced your playing sounds when you put all these different aspects together!
Give it a Try
Are you ready to give the Annie Rollover a shot? I know Annie will be thrilled to hear that more people are using this relatively simple yet effective upgrade to left-hand technique! Don’t be nervous: if you have gone through my Piano In 21 Days course, you can learn this pattern.
That said, if you need something a little more basic to get you started, check out my free 5-day workbook. It’s a great way to get your feet wet in chord-based playing, and will help you decide if you like the way I teach. If all goes well, I hope you stick around! 😉