I Wish I Knew This Piano Trick 25 Years Ago…

When most people start learning piano, one of the first things they come across is the C major scale. It’s simple, it’s foundational… and honestly, after a few runs through it, you might start thinking:

"This is kind of boring. What’s next?"

So naturally, you move on to learning a few simple chords. Now we’re getting somewhere! Chords sound cool — they feel like music. But then another thought pops up:

"How do I make these sound even better?"

And so begins the journey. You start diving into all the things — inversions, chord extensions, broken chord patterns, arpeggios, rhythm techniques — the list goes on.

But here’s the thing I wish I knew way back at the beginning:

With just those first two things — the C major scale and a few simple chords — you already have enough to make beautiful, impressive-sounding piano music.

Let me show you what I mean...

A Simple Progression, A Powerful Trick

Take this classic chord progression:

C – G – Am – F

It’s in the key of C major, so you can use the C major scale over the top of it — and not just randomly, but with intention.

Here’s the trick:

• Play the chord for the first two beats of the bar.

• Then, using the C major scale, fill in the rest of the bar by moving up or down the scale.

 

 

And you don’t even need to start on C. Try starting your fills on different notes — for exmple the root note of the chord you’re on. 

Slow Easy Piano Fills

You can also try going slow and super simple. By using just a 4 notes from the C major scale you still get a great sounding fill.

 

 

 

Creating Melody with the Scale

Once you’re comfortable using scale notes as fills, take it a step further: use the scale to create melody lines between the chords.

You’re not locked into any specific starting note — explore! And have fun with rhythm, too.

 

You can even extend the melodies throughout the whole chord progression, essentially creating full improvisations.

 

And if it sounds like something’s "off" — maybe a note feels like it doesn’t quite fit — that’s okay. That’s called tension, and it’s part of what makes music interesting.

Here’s a little fix:

If you land on a note that feels off, keep stepping up or down the scale until you land on a note that belongs to the chord you’re on.

For example, if you’re playing over a G chord (G – B – D), and you hit an A that feels a bit tense, try moving up to B or down to G. You’ll immediately hear it resolve — and that resolution creates emotional payoff.

 

Make It Sing: Use Octaves

Want to make your melodies even more expressive?

Try using octaves in your right hand. Playing the same note an octave apart gives your melody more power and presence. It’s a small change that makes a big difference.