Chimes for December

Chimes can be the easiest way to improvise on the piano. A young student can learn how to chime in a few minutes at a piano lesson. The sound is beautiful even though it is so easy.

The first step is understanding what harmonic intervals are. Then you can form musical Chimes. Study the chart below. It shows the different intervals. An interval is the distance between two notes. The intervals shown are harmonic intervals (two notes played simultaneously).

A lovely chime can be formed on the piano by following this simple formula:

1. Form an interval of a fourth in the right hand (below the melody note), then form an interval of a sixth in the left hand (below the same melody note an octave lower). For example: If the melody note is C, the right hand plays G-C and the left hand plays E-C.
2. Hold the damper pedal down the whole time you are playing a song of chimes.
3. Play the chimes as high as possible on the piano for the most authentic sound. Try starting at the very top of the keyboard, which is C.
4. The fingering for the right hand is 2-5. The fingering for the left hand is 5-1.

Once you can chime a scale,next try to chime several steps or skips in a row. Then practice short jumps followed by steps and just form your own sequences. Any melody will sound nice in chimes when you hold the pedal down and play in the highest octave of the piano.

The door bells on many homes play the Westminster Chime. The notes in that melody are: E-D-C-G, G-D-E-C.Those two famous phrases sound lovely when chimed on the piano. Try it.

After you can play a scale in chime position, you may begin to chime other songs. Some of the easiest carols to chime are: Joy to the World, The First Noel, and Silent Night. Play them in the key of C.