Sup' guys, I need help with writing for the left hand on piano solos. I know most songs don't use block chords for the left hand because it sounds dull but i read in a composition book that your supposed to spread the chords out and progress that way. I tried that and it sounds good but from looking at different scores I noticed that a lot of the left hand parts aren't just chords starting from the tonic and ending on the last note of their respected chords.I noticed a lot of songs having the left hand start on the tonic then going up 5 whole steps, then going up 4 whole steps and then going up 3. What are some good methods that you all use to create good chord progressions. I didn't know whether i should have posted this in the chords thread created my Noir or not.

What style of music are you writing for? I'm guessing contemporary...but first tell me a little about the type of music you're writing.

...but first tell me a little about the type of music you're writing.

My spider sense tingles once again... it senses the type of music he's creating is Am-G-F-G-Am! :ph34r:

yeah, Noir7's right but from what I have heard on here it seems like the really good songs don't just spread out the chords on the left hand and have the melody on the right. How do you go about harmonizing the melody with JUST the piano without just speading chords out in the base.

Haha! My spider sense is always right!

Anyway, have a try at this: Use an easy key (A-minor) and arpeggiate that chord progression that you wanted to use (In your case, Am-G-F). When you reach the G, don't arpeggiate it -- use a normal chord, or even a glissando chord. When you reach to the F, then arpeggiate again. This is a very simple variation which usually works ;)

EDIT: Attached example midi.

Sounds easy enough. Thats exactly the answer i was looking for. For the longest time i didn't know hot to vary the chords for the left hand and kept getting stuck cause I didn't want to just keep using block chords but I think you have me on the right track now. Thanks!

Try and mess with the extensions of the chords...ie. instead of arpeggiating A-C-E, you would go A-E-C (of the next octave), etc...

And you don't have to give all of the arpeggios equal note values either.