When doing a tremolo on piano...?

Question:Is it the right or left hand that shakes?

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: Is it the right or left hand that shakes?

It can be either separately, or both together. Usually a tremolo is indicated by the full chord spread out with parallel lines in the middle (I will try to do an approximation):

O
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=
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O

This can occur in octaves or chords. To practice the execution of the tremolo, look up Hanon's exercise number 60 – it deals only with tremoloes.

The music score will indicate which hand is being used. The music notation is 3 thick parallel bars angled upward. Historically, its use on keyboard instruments can be traced back to a time before the invention of the piano. Instruments like the harpsichord and spinet were standard keyboard instruments, but could not sustain notes for nearly as long as a modern piano. Therefore, tremolo was used to simulate a longer sustain as well as being used for added effect.