Piano notes Harry Styles — Lights Up
Here is a new song in my piano sheet music archive. The original amateur interpretation of a tune. This sheet music is created in a transformative manner. Plus music notes in the arrangement doesn't copy any existing material.
Piano Player Ability Rating: Advanced
For an easy version visit my second blog with pdf's: Harry Styles — Lights Up PDF (Preview)
To print piano sheet music save the direct PDF
Your tone should be warm and gentle in verses and energetic and rhythmic in choruses.
To sound quietly, keep your fingers close to the keys and do some firm practice from the knuckles.
Accent every note, varying the accents each time you play. Once played lightly and up to speed, the ornament should flow naturally. It’s worth trying out this technique for the entire song.
Take note of the crescendo/decrescendo markings.
Among the hardest facets of piano playing is controlling a lightness of attack, and when coupled with playing at a faster speed, a reliable leggiero touch must rank as among the most prized piano skills.
Music can become repetitive if not coloured imaginatively and played with rhythmic poise.
In playing any piano transcription of a song, the aim is to give the impression of a singer (Harry Styles in the RH) that is being accompanied by a sensitive pianist (the LH). Imagine a duet between a band and Harry Styles so color the two hands differently. Coordinating the parts may take some time to organise convincingly.
The RH here plays a melody (topline) and provides some harmony (accompaniment). First separate the melody from the accompaniment in the RH. Try singing the melody as you play, so you can mentally separate the topline from the accompaniment in the RH.
Practise slowly at first, giving a distinct emphasis on the topline while playing the accompaniment as gently and as evenly as possible. To begin with, play the melody line by itself to develop a confident mastery over the weaker 4th and 5th fingers. Once the RH top line has settled, add the second-voice accompaniment. Because the second voice is played by the stronger fingers in the RH, it can be difficult to keep the right balance of power. Your thumb should do little more than brush the lower note in a small circular movement.
Look at the bars 28 and 58 where the topline is missing. Do not play these bars with equal weight, this is likely to obscure the melody. Treat them as a quiet accompaniment bars.
Don’t forget to bring dynamic colour to your performance quickly moving from piano to forte; play every new part with different volume:
Feel free to arpeggiate the LH chords especially if you can’t stretch your hand yet. Get your hand in position for each chord before playing it. A relaxed wrist will help you to balance chords so that all three notes sound at the same time.
Make full use of the pedal when calculating how best to present composers’ ingenious harmonies. Be brave, and leap straight in with practising.
Avoid tension in the wrist and hand (a danger with repeated patterns) by releasing the muscles swiftly. Practise the LH alone here to ensure a rich and mellow bass.
More Piano Sheet Music from Harry Styles
Free and easy piano sheet music with direct digital preview of music notes.
All credits go to songwriters. The arrangement in sheet music is transformative.
Piano Player Ability Rating: Advanced
For an easy version visit my second blog with pdf's: Harry Styles — Lights Up PDF (Preview)
To print piano sheet music save the direct PDF
Practicing tips
Song is written in a binary verse-chorus form. Both sections are repeated before a short coda.Articulation
Clarity and precision in articulation are essential for playing piano sheet music of Lights Up.Your tone should be warm and gentle in verses and energetic and rhythmic in choruses.
To sound quietly, keep your fingers close to the keys and do some firm practice from the knuckles.
Accent every note, varying the accents each time you play. Once played lightly and up to speed, the ornament should flow naturally. It’s worth trying out this technique for the entire song.
Take note of the crescendo/decrescendo markings.
Among the hardest facets of piano playing is controlling a lightness of attack, and when coupled with playing at a faster speed, a reliable leggiero touch must rank as among the most prized piano skills.
Music can become repetitive if not coloured imaginatively and played with rhythmic poise.
Right Hand
Listen to the actual track Lights Up as you begin to learn the arrangement, in order to balance parts in left and right hands.In playing any piano transcription of a song, the aim is to give the impression of a singer (Harry Styles in the RH) that is being accompanied by a sensitive pianist (the LH). Imagine a duet between a band and Harry Styles so color the two hands differently. Coordinating the parts may take some time to organise convincingly.
The RH here plays a melody (topline) and provides some harmony (accompaniment). First separate the melody from the accompaniment in the RH. Try singing the melody as you play, so you can mentally separate the topline from the accompaniment in the RH.
Practise slowly at first, giving a distinct emphasis on the topline while playing the accompaniment as gently and as evenly as possible. To begin with, play the melody line by itself to develop a confident mastery over the weaker 4th and 5th fingers. Once the RH top line has settled, add the second-voice accompaniment. Because the second voice is played by the stronger fingers in the RH, it can be difficult to keep the right balance of power. Your thumb should do little more than brush the lower note in a small circular movement.
Look at the bars 28 and 58 where the topline is missing. Do not play these bars with equal weight, this is likely to obscure the melody. Treat them as a quiet accompaniment bars.
Don’t forget to bring dynamic colour to your performance quickly moving from piano to forte; play every new part with different volume:
- The opening phrase (bars 1-8) is sprightly and energetic, requiring careful articulation. The RH acciaccaturas should be short and snappy, with the harmony sounding on the beat.
- The Verses demand a different tone-colour. Give the melody in the RH a beautifully graded, warm tone in the verses. Use slightly flatter fingers and imagine that you are trying to pull the sound from the keys rather than striking at them. Articulate tenderly. Guard against any urge to over-project and over-state. Think in long lines, not short phrases. Note the dynamic contrasts in Harry Styles' singing.
- Save a full weight and depth of tone for the Choruses. Aim to sculpt the chorus so that it emerges as a thing of real beauty, shapely, nuanced and expressive. Think about the destination of lyrics phrases; remove the hand completely during pauses in singing. Keep the phrases as long as possible. Pedal carefully in this section.
- The coda requires a full tone and a slight diminuendi over the final four bars; place the last chord with a rich, powerful sound and a decisive touch.
Left Hand
After getting familiar with the RH, focus on the LH. This is one of those pieces where the bulk of the practising will be devoted to an accompaniment. The LH is generally soft throughout.Feel free to arpeggiate the LH chords especially if you can’t stretch your hand yet. Get your hand in position for each chord before playing it. A relaxed wrist will help you to balance chords so that all three notes sound at the same time.
Make full use of the pedal when calculating how best to present composers’ ingenious harmonies. Be brave, and leap straight in with practising.
Avoid tension in the wrist and hand (a danger with repeated patterns) by releasing the muscles swiftly. Practise the LH alone here to ensure a rich and mellow bass.
Pedal
This piece certainly benefits from the added warmth of the pedal, but keep control of your pedalling and listen carefully for any smudges. Using one long pedal held for a whole bar creates a fabulous resonance.More Piano Sheet Music from Harry Styles
Free and easy piano sheet music with direct digital preview of music notes.
All credits go to songwriters. The arrangement in sheet music is transformative.