Piano World Home Page Forums Our Most Popular Forums Adult Beginners Forum Are there terms for this playstyle of the piano?

Hey

So I've just been wondering.
When people play a song, or they play every note that equals every word that's being sung in the song.

OR

They sing themselves, and use the piano for 'support'

Is there a name to call this difference in playing the same song?

Hey Kenzy, if you're planning on singing the tune while playing piano then accompany yourself playing the rhythm and harmony less the melody. I guess you could throw the melody in there too, but a lot of artists don't.

Accompaniment ?

With the assumed disclaimer that I am NOT a musicologist my lay description follows;
The player might "outline" the theme of the song in the introduction, this could be a few bars or what might be described as a whole "verse".
There may be "verses" in which the singer/pianist plays the melody line on the piano almost "note for note" that they sing in other "verses". It may be in a different key, in a different tempo, etc.

Repetition, familiarity, etc.

Hi
Yes there is a difference. All pieces of music can be arranged as a melody but you can also play the chords and accompany yourself.
It's great to learn songs both ways as it gives you a better understanding of how the music system works.

If you were to jam in a band then playing chords is the best way to play or if you want to sing thr melody yourself. If you are playing for pleasure and want to hear the tune then select the melody from your score and do it this way first.