How Releasing Tension Improves Your Piano Techniqu
If you’ve ever found yourself wrestling with a tricky passage and wondering why your fingers suddenly feel stiff or heavy, you’re not alone. Whenever we concentrate really hard, our body often joins in — and not in a helpful way!
Our shoulders creep upwards…
Our arms tighten…
Our fingers grip the keys like they’re holding on for dear life…
And the result?
Fast passages feel harder, tone becomes harsh, and everything feels like much more effort than it needs to be.
But here’s the lovely secret most pianists don’t discover early enough:
✨ The more you relax, the better you play.
Why Tension Sneaks In
When a piece is complex, our mind goes into “focus mode.”
Unfortunately, the body often interprets this as “brace yourself!” and starts tightening muscles that don’t need to be involved at all.
This tension limits:
- finger dexterity
- speed and agility
- smooth legato
- sensitivity of touch
- your ability to produce a warm, singing tone
In other words — tension gets in the way of the very things you’re trying to achieve.
Try This: Relaxed Fingers Experiment
The next time you practise, try releasing your fingers far more than you think you should.
Lighten the weight.
Soften the knuckles.
Allow the pads of your fingers to simply rest on the keys.
🎹 You may be surprised:
You don’t have to press hard — or “try harder” — to produce clear articulation and evenness.
Lovely, even sound comes far more from coordination than from effort.
“But my fingers wobble!”
Ah yes. That wobbly feeling.
Totally normal.
Totally expected.
When you first relax, the muscles that are usually bracing suddenly stop working overtime.
This can make your fingers feel a bit unsteady — like they’re unsure how to behave without tension helping them cheat.
Please don’t let that put you off.
If you give your fingers permission to wobble a few times, they will very quickly settle.
It’s simply your body learning a new, healthier habit.
What Happens If You Tighten Instead?
If you try to “hold” the fingers in place:
- the sound becomes harsh
- speed becomes difficult
- articulation becomes forced
- and controlling the passage gets harder, not easier
It’s like trying to run fast while clenching your fists — your body is working against itself.
The Shortcut to Ease: Release Before You Play
Whenever you start a piece or a difficult bar, pause for a moment and check:
- Are my shoulders soft?
- Are my elbows hanging freely?
- Are my wrists springy?
- Are my fingers resting, not gripping?
Tiny releases like these create huge improvements in your technique.
Give It a Go
Try the relaxed-finger experiment today and see how it feels.
You might be amazed at how much more fluid, even, and effortless your playing becomes.
💬 I’d love to hear how you get on — pop a comment below and share your thoughts.