Piano Hand Independence Using Sixteenth Notes (Step by Step)

To build piano hand independence with sixteenth notes, count every beat as 1 e & a, place a right-hand melody on chosen sixteenth-note hit points, and play a steady left-hand pulse of chords on the beats underneath it.

Video lesson by Jason Zac · Intermediate · 13 min

Can't see the video? Watch it on YouTube.

This lesson is Part 1 of a hand independence series from Jason Zac at Nathaniel School of Music. You learn a short right-hand melody built on a sixteenth-note grid, then play it over four colourful left-hand chords that keep a steady pulse. It suits pianists who can play simple chords and melodies but find that their hands get tangled when the rhythms differ.

Step 1: Learn the scale behind the melody

The melody uses the G minor scale: G A Bb C D Eb F G. Play it up and down a few times so your right hand knows the notes before you add any rhythm.

Step 2: Count sixteenth notes

Imagine each beat divided into four equal parts. Count them as 1 e & a, 2 e & a, 3 e & a, 4 e & a.

• The numbers are the beats.
• The e and a are the in-between sixteenth notes.
• The & falls exactly halfway through the beat.

Keep the divisions even here, not swung.

The melody does not play on every sixteenth note. That would sound cluttered. The guiding idea is divide more, but play less. Splitting the beat finely gives you many possible spots, and a groovy line picks only some of them. Jason Zac calls those chosen spots the hit points.

Step 3: Use a shaker to lock in the timing

A shaker, such as an egg shaker, makes the counting easier. Shake on every sixteenth note while you count 1 e & a 2 e & a.

Then play the melody against it. Start slowly so you can hear exactly which subdivision each melody note lands on.

Bring it up gradually. The target tempo is about 96 bpm, and anywhere between 90 and 100 bpm works well for the drill.

Step 4: Learn the left-hand chords

The left hand provides a simple pulse with four chords:

1. G minor: G Bb D
2. F sus4: F Bb C
3. Eb major with an added C (Eb6): Eb G Bb C
4. D minor seventh: D F A C

These chords are not played with fancy off-beats. They land on the beats themselves. As a variation, you can strike them only on beats 1 and 3 of the bar, which has its own sound and its own challenge.

Step 5: Sing the melody over the chords

Before putting the melody in your right hand, play the chords in your left hand and sing the melody over them. This connects the tune to the pulse without your fingers getting in the way.

Step 6: Put the hands together

Now play the melody in the right hand and the chords in the left. Keep the shaker running in the back of your mind so the right-hand timing stays exact.

You could work out on paper where every note of each hand lines up. The more organic way is to feel the pulse in your body and let the melody sit on top of the divided beat.

Step 7: Add your voice

For an extra layer of independence, hold one long sung note, such as G, the home note of the scale, while both hands play. Expect the melody to wobble at first; that is part of the challenge.

Explore and have fun, but aim for consistency.

Step 8: Build your own melody on the hit points

Keep the same hit points and invent your own melody on them. You can use any scale and any chords. Treat this exercise as a template for feeling sixteenth notes.

In the video, the passage ends on a G major chord for a bright finish.

How to practise

• Always start slowly. The video closes with a super-slow play-through you can follow along with.
• Count or shake sixteenths until the grid feels natural.
• Only then move towards 90 to 100 bpm.

Questions about this lesson

How do you count sixteenth notes on piano?

Divide each beat into four equal parts and count 1 e & a, 2 e & a, 3 e & a, 4 e & a. The numbers are the beats, and the & sits exactly halfway through each beat.

What chords are used in this hand independence exercise?

The left hand plays G minor (G Bb D), F sus4 (F Bb C), Eb major with an added C (Eb G Bb C) and D minor seventh (D F A C). The chords land on the beats to keep a steady pulse.

What tempo should I practise this exercise at?

The target is about 96 bpm, and anywhere from 90 to 100 bpm works well. Start much slower with a shaker or counted sixteenths, then build up.

Why sing while playing the piano exercise?

Singing the melody over the left-hand chords helps you feel the rhythm before your right hand plays it. Holding a long sung note while both hands play adds a further layer of independence.

Practise it

• Groove MetronomeWork with tempo, accents and polyrhythms instead of a single unchanging click.
• Rhythm TeacherBuild accent patterns, divide beats and explore odd metres and polyrhythms.
• Piano classes at Nathaniel School of MusicLive online or in Bangalore, with a teacher.
• All free music apps40 practice tools for harmony, rhythm, ear training and more.

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• Piano Hand Independence: Play Offbeat Chords Over Arpeggios (Part 1)To build piano hand independence, play a steady sixteenth-note arpeggio in the left hand while the right hand places chords first on the downbeats and then on the e, and and a of each beat, switching between staccato and legato.
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