5 Secrets to Playing Chopin’s E-flat Nocturne

Welcome to LivingPianos.com. I’m Robert Estrin. Today I’m going to show you how to play Chopin’s most famous nocturne, the Nocturne in E-flat Major, with real expression. It’s one of the most beloved piano pieces ever written, and there are some special techniques that will help you bring out its beauty.

Balancing the Hands

One of the greatest challenges in this piece is achieving balance between the hands. The melody must always sing above the accompaniment. To do this, use the weight of your arm in the right hand while keeping your left hand very close to the keys. The left hand should use the smallest possible amount of arm weight. If you let the left hand move too much, it will become too loud no matter how softly you try to play. Staying close to the keys keeps the left hand subdued while allowing the right hand to project the melody. Even though the piece is quiet, the melody must still carry energy and intensity. Concert pianists use a surprising amount of controlled weight in the right hand to achieve a rich, expressive tone. If you simply press with your fingers, the sound will be thin and harsh. Transferring the weight of the arm smoothly from key to key lets you produce a full sound without losing the sweetness and lyricism that define this nocturne.

Practicing the Left Hand

After playing the initial low note in the left hand, get your hand positioned over both of the chords that follow. You can even practice this by playing the chords together, so your hand learns to stay close to the surface of the keys. Being directly over the chords means you can play with minimal effort and maintain control over the balance.
Shaping the Phrase

Balance isn’t just vertical between the hands; it’s also horizontal across time. The melody must have shape. Most phrases rise toward the middle, reach a peak, and then gently fall away. Think of how a singer or wind player shapes a line in one breath, letting the sound rise and fall naturally. If every note is played at the same volume, even with perfect balance, the music will sound flat and lifeless. Instead, let each phrase rise and fall naturally. Build up to the middle of the phrase, then relax as it resolves. This ebb and flow gives the music a natural breath and flow.

Using the Pedal

Take care in using the pedal. It’s really an art to bring out the bass line and the chords without blurring the harmonies together. As the harmonies change, you must adjust the pedal, capturing those deep bass notes while keeping the inner chords and melody distinct. Done well, this creates the effect of almost three separate voices: the bass notes, the accompanying chords, and the singing melody. Capturing the bass notes with the pedal adds depth and richness to the overall sound, giving the piece its characteristic warmth and resonance.

The Art of Rubato

Rubato, the slight flexibility of tempo, is central to Romantic-era music like Chopin’s. A little speeding up and slowing down gives life to the music. It isn’t appropriate for composers like Bach or Mozart, but in Chopin it’s essential!

The key to good rubato is that you never actually gain or lose time overall. You stretch a little here and give it back there, like breathing. If you play the nocturne strictly in time, it sounds mechanical and lifeless. A touch of rubato draws the listener in, like cresting a gentle hill and feeling gravity pull you down the other side. If someone listening can’t tap along with the beat, the rubato has gone too far. The pulse must always be felt, even as the tempo bends slightly. That balance between freedom and structure is what gives Chopin’s music its soul.

Ornamentation and Trills

The nocturne includes trills, mordents, and small ornamental figures that sound spontaneous but should be practiced rhythmically to ensure consistency. Even though they sound free, the underlying rhythm must be solid. For example, in the second measure, there is a turn that can be easily facilitated as five equal notes. You might choose a slightly different way of executing it, but the key is to make it reliable. The same principle applies to trills later in the piece. Decide how many notes you are playing, and make sure you can perform them cleanly each time. Being consistent and secure is more important than trying to play a lot of notes.

Bringing It All Together

To summarize: keep the right hand supported by arm weight and the left hand close to the keys for control. Shape each phrase with a natural rise and fall. Capture the bass notes with the pedal while keeping the harmony clear. Use rubato tastefully to give life and motion to the music. And treat ornaments as measured, expressive decorations rather than random flourishes. These techniques will not only help you play Chopin’s E-flat Nocturne with true expression, but they will also enhance your playing in other Romantic works. With careful attention to balance, phrasing, pedaling, rubato, and ornamentation, you can bring a new level of beauty and depth to your performances.

If you have questions or insights about playing Chopin’s nocturnes, share them in the comments here at LivingPianos.com—Your Online Piano Resource. Thanks for joining me.