Bringing Out Notes in Chords

Being able to bring out notes in chords or arpeggios is a very important technique that will allow you to keep the main notes of a musical passage in the right order of importance. I was first introduced to the technique by Maestro Abel Carlevaro when working Villa Lobos' Prelude # 1. The staff below from Villa-Lobos Prelude #1 requires that you be able to make a melodic notes sequence (the F-E-D#) stand out in a chord.

Unless you are the master of your fingers (worry not, it is my intention to eventually make you into one), the note that will want to stand out naturally is the B played by finger a. The piece requires the F played with the m to stand out. The way to achieve it is by combining these 2 techniques:

a) Bring finger m out more.

b) Apply Fijación.

There will be times when the best approach will be to apply a mixture of both protruding the m finger PLUS Fijación. Read all about Fijación here →

Read all about "Bringing Out Notes in Chords" here →

In the video I play staff #19 from Bach Fugue BWV 1000. The singing note passes from the a to the p and to the m in less than 15 seconds.