Nathaniel School of Music

3 Piano Rhythm Techniques That Make Your Chords Groove

The 3-3-2 piano rhythm groups eight eighth notes in a bar as 3+3+2, placing the hits on beat 1, the 'and' of beat 2 and beat 4, and you can play it as single chord hits, as accents within continuous eighth notes, or as arpeggios.

Video lesson by Jason Zac · Beginner · 25 min

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Key points

This lesson from Jason Zac at Nathaniel School of Music teaches the 3-3-2 rhythm, one of the most common grooves in pop, rock and electronic music. It suits any pianist who can play basic triads and wants their chords to sound less square and more rhythmic. You will learn three ways to use it: single chord hits, accents and arpeggios.

What the 3-3-2 rhythm is

A bar of 4/4 contains eight eighth notes. Instead of feeling them as four even groups of two, you group them as 3 + 3 + 2. Count it as 1 2 3, 1 2 3, 1 2, with the first number of each group being the hit.

You can also count the bar as 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and. The hits then land on beat 1, the and of beat 2 and beat 4. Counting with the ands is recommended, because it shows you clearly which hit falls off the beat.

The chord progression

The lesson uses G minor, Eb major, Bb major, F major, one chord per bar. In the key of Bb major this is vi–IV–I–V: Gm (G Bb D), Eb (Eb G Bb), Bb (Bb D F) and F (F A C). It is the progression behind many hit songs, including Cheap Thrills (in a different key). Chord inversions are used throughout, for example Gm in second inversion as D G Bb, so get comfortable moving between the chords before adding the rhythm.

Technique 1: single hits

Play the whole chord in the right hand only on the three hit points: 1, the and of 2, and 4. For the left hand, start with just the chord root on the downbeat of each bar. Then move on to a steady pulse of quarter notes (1, 2, 3, 4) in the left hand while the right hand plays the 3-3-2 hits.

Once the timing is secure, work on articulation and dynamics. Play the hits very short (staccato), long (legato) or mix them, for example making the last hit of the bar legato. Build the volume up and let it drop rather than staying at one level. This kind of control makes the performance sound human rather than programmed.

Technique 2: accents

Now play all eight eighth notes with the chord, but play the first note of each group (the 1 of each 1 2 3, 1 2 3, 1 2) loudly. Without the accents it sounds robotic. With them, the groove appears. This phrasing is heard in songs such as With or Without You and Yellow.

The left hand has two options: copy the right-hand accents, or play the pulse (a normal or slower pulse). Let the left hand become automatic and keep your conscious focus on the right hand.

Technique 3: arpeggios

Break the chord into single notes, making sure the note you want as the accent lands on the first count of each group. Start from the top note of the chord, then try starting from the bottom note and even the middle note. In the final group of two, you have three chord notes but only two eighth notes, so choose either of the remaining notes. Sustaining the accented note gives a pleasing sound. This is the kind of figure heard in Clocks. Again, the left hand either copies the accents or plays the pulse.

How to practise

  1. Tap the left-hand pulse and the right-hand 3-3-2 on a table, your leg or a book before going to the piano.
  2. At the piano, start with one chord, then add the full progression.
  3. Play at a counting speed, slow enough to understand every note. Feel comes after your brain and fingers are connected.
  4. If counting with both hands is hard, practise the right hand alone first.
  5. Gradually bring it up to a normal pop tempo.
  6. Experiment with the groupings 3-2-3 and 2-3-3 for fresh variations.

Questions about this lesson

Where do the beats fall in the 3-3-2 rhythm?

Counting eighth notes as 1 and 2 and 3 and 4 and, the hits fall on beat 1, the and of beat 2, and beat 4. Counted in groups, it is 1 2 3, 1 2 3, 1 2.

What should my left hand play with the 3-3-2 rhythm?

Start with the chord root on the downbeat of each bar. Then either play a steady quarter-note pulse or copy the right-hand accents.

Which chord progression does the lesson use?

It uses Gm, Eb, Bb and F, which is vi–IV–I–V in Bb major, the progression found in many pop songs such as Cheap Thrills.

How do I play the 3-3-2 rhythm as an arpeggio?

Break the chord into single eighth notes and make sure the accented note lands on the first count of each group. Start from the top, bottom or middle note of the chord, and in the last group of two pick either of the remaining notes.

Practise it

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