5 Left-Hand Patterns for Church Pianists | Congregational Hymn-Playing

If you're learning to play piano for church, one of the first questions you may run into is: What am I supposed to do with my left hand? In this lesson, I demonstrate five practical left-hand patterns you can use when playing hymns and other church music. These are designed especially for beginning and intermediate church pianists who already know the basics but want to add some variety and make their playing sound more developed. We'll look at: • Bass – chord – chord – chord • Bass – chord – fifth – chord • Bass – chord – chord – bass • A rolling or broken-chord pattern for a gentler sound • A walking/march-style bass pattern Not every pattern works for every song. Part of becoming a better church pianist is learning not only more patterns, but when each one fits the character and rhythm of the music. If you're trying to move beyond basic hymn playing without making things unnecessarily complicated, these patterns are a good place to start. Learn more about chords, scales, progressions, and practical music theory at Chordopedia.com.