“What Is This Feeling” from Wicked becomes a compelling piano piece because its theatrical contrast, tight motifs, and duet interplay translate cleanly to solo and arranged formats, and pianists often look for chords, sheet music, and tutorials under the search term what is this feeling piano.
Why What Is This Feeling from Wicked makes a great piano piece for players and arrangers
The song’s punchy call-and-response and abrupt shifts between gleeful sarcasm and snide harmony create instantly readable moments on piano; those contrasts let you highlight melody or accompaniment independently.
Catching motifs repeat often. That repetition makes short, memorable phrases perfect for recital pieces or YouTube covers, and it gives arrangers compact building blocks for reharmonization.
Duet interplay maps well to a solo keyboard: melody on top, rhythmic push in the left hand, and inner-voice comments that emulate the other singer. That structure suits arrangements from beginner to advanced.
Search intent behind queries like what is this feeling piano usually splits into three needs: playable sheet music, chord charts for quick covers, and step-by-step tutorials for learners and performers.
Breaking down the tune: melody motifs, harmonic skeleton, rhythm, and form
The melody uses short punchy phrases—often two- to four-bar motifs—answered immediately by a contrasting line, creating a clear call-and-response frame that you can isolate for practice.
Rhythmally the song sits on an upbeat, with frequent syncopation and staccato articulation; keep a brisk but controlled tempo to maintain theatrical drive and comedic timing.
Harmonically the skeleton relies on tonic–dominant motion with well-timed cadences and a few surprising shifts that support the lyric twist; treat those moments as opportunities for reharmonization or dramatic voicing changes.
Form is straightforward: short verses that function like musical statements, a chorus with stronger harmonic closure, and bridge material that contrasts both rhythm and chord color—map these as practice chunks for efficient learning.
Picking the right score: lead sheets, piano-vocal, or solo piano arrangements and where to get them
Choose a lead sheet if you want stems to improvise quickly; choose a piano-vocal if you need exact voicings and lyrics for accompaniment; choose a full solo piano arrangement if you want a performance-ready piece that replicates both voices and orchestral texture.
Licensed sources like Hal Leonard and Musicnotes offer reliable editions and downloadable PDFs; paid editions usually guarantee accurate voicings and official lyrics while free sources risk errors or incomplete notation.
Search phrases that return useful results include sheet music PDF, printable piano score, simplified arrangement, and what is this feeling piano chords; verify edition quality by checking preview pages and publisher credentials.
Translating chords to the keyboard: voicings, inversions, and left-hand patterns that fit the song
Read chord symbols as guides and choose inversions that create smooth voice-leading: use first or second inversions to avoid big jumps and keep inner voices connected.
Left-hand patterns to consider: root-octave for forward drive, stride for punch, Alberti or broken-arpeggio patterns for flowing support, and block chords for hits that match dramatic accents.
To capture Broadway color without overcomplicating the arrangement, use add9, 7th, and sus voicings on sustained chords and save dense extensions for brief moments of emphasis.
Beginner-friendly roadmap: simplified arrangement, practice chunks, and fingering tips
Start by learning the melody with your right hand alone at a slow tempo; once secure, add a simplified left-hand consisting of root notes or simple octave drones.
Practice plan: 1) hands separately at 60–72 BPM, 2) hands together short sections of 4–8 bars, 3) increase tempo in 5–10% increments. Use a metronome and keep each run precise.
Fingering tips: aim for consistent fingerings on repeated motifs, use thumb-under on scale passages, and prefer fifth or fourth finger for stable leaps. Mark tricky spots and practice them in isolation.
Intermediate and advanced approaches: recreating duet texture, reharmonization, and pianistic flourishes
To emulate two voices, assign the primary melody to the right hand and fold the duet partner into inner voices or octave doublings; alternate which voice dominates to recreate conversational energy.
Reharmonization ideas: insert passing chords, substitute ii V progressions, or use secondary dominants for tension. Extend chords with 9ths or 11ths to add color where the vocal line pauses.
Advanced flourishes: tasteful octave doubling, quick chromatic fills, controlled rubato in transitions, and syncopated left-hand accents—all used sparingly to preserve lyric clarity.
Arranging for singers and accompanying vocalists: transposition, balance, and cues
Transpose the piece to suit the singer’s tessitura; move in half-step increments until the melody’s highest and lowest notes fall in the comfortable part of the range.
Balance strategy: thin the left-hand texture when the singer needs more support, and use fuller voicings for instrumental interludes. Always leave breathing spaces by sustaining or holding chords rather than filling every beat.
Tempo and cueing: set a clear opening tempo, mark phrase endpoints visually in the score, and give small rhythmic cues at entrances so the singer knows where to breathe and attack.
Making a solo piano arrangement: combining melody, harmony, and rhythmic drive
Outline arrangement steps: 1) mark the central motifs, 2) decide which voice carries the melody, 3) write left-hand harmonies that support but don’t overpower, and 4) add rhythmic punctuation aligned with lyrical accents.
Create contrast by changing texture: use thin, high-register accompaniment for verses and thicker, lower-register comping for choruses. Register shifts immediately signal section changes to the listener.
Prioritize melody clarity over technical fireworks; listeners must hear the tune through the harmonies. Keep dramatic phrasing and staccato articulations true to the original theatrical intent.
Common technical challenges and targeted exercises to fix them
Hand independence: practice short 2-bar patterns with the left hand on a steady pulse while the right hand plays syncopated motifs; gradually increase speed by 5–10 BPM after consistent accuracy.
Fast staccato and crisp articulation: use repeated-note drills at the intended tempo for 1–2 minutes, then rest; short bursts build control without fatigue.
Awkward leaps and cramped voicings: map fingerings slowly, then play only the problematic interval in sequence; use arpeggio strengthening and wrist relaxation exercises to reduce tension.
Recording and producing piano covers of What Is This Feeling: MIDI, mic setups, and backing tracks
For acoustic piano, use a pair of small-diaphragm condensers in XY or spaced configuration placed 2–3 feet above the soundboard, and add a stereo pair near the hammers for presence if needed.
For direct MIDI/sample approach, choose a high-quality library and record at high velocity resolution; humanize timing slightly to avoid mechanical sound and add subtle reverb for space.
Use click tracks or tempo maps when syncing to backing tracks or video; make stems for separate processing (piano, backing, vocals) to give final mixes clarity and control.
Copyright, licensing, and posting covers online: what pianists must know
Performance rights cover public performances; mechanical licenses cover audio reproductions; synchronization licenses are required for pairing audio with video posted online—particularly for musical theatre songs owned by publishers.
For audio-only covers distributed commercially, secure a mechanical license through an agency or licensed distributor. For videos, request a sync license from the publisher or use platforms’ built-in cover licensing where available, but expect publisher claims on monetization.
Credits should always list the composers and publishers in the video description or track notes, and use licensed cover services to reduce legal risk when you plan to monetize or widely distribute the recording.
Where to find tutorials, community help, and inspiring piano covers for learning and reference
Use step-by-step video tutorials for tempo and fingering demonstrations, trusted sheet-music marketplaces for reliable scores, and piano forums or social groups for arrangement feedback and critique.
Search terms that return useful resources include piano tutorial, piano cover lesson, playalong backing track, and what is this feeling piano chords. Verify creators by listening to multiple takes and comparing arrangements.
Post short practice clips for targeted feedback, follow playlists of covers to study stylistic choices, and compare simplified and advanced arrangements to set realistic learning goals.
Short FAQ addressing top user queries behind what is this feeling piano
How hard is it to play? Start simple: the melody is short and repetitive, so a clear melody with a basic left-hand pattern is achievable for early-intermediate players; full solo arrangements require intermediate to advanced coordination and reharmonization skills.
Where can I get sheet music? Licensed vendors such as major publishers and reputable online stores offer piano-vocal editions, lead sheets, and solo arrangements; free sources may exist but check accuracy before use.
What key should I choose for singers? Try keys that place the melody in a comfortable mid-range. Move the piece up or down by semitones until the highest and lowest notes sit comfortably within the singer’s range; common transpositions move the song a few semitones up for sopranos or down for altos.
Can I make a solo piano arrangement? Yes. Prioritize melody clarity, fold the duet partner into inner voices or octave doublings, and use left-hand rhythmic patterns to maintain theatrical momentum.
Immediate next steps: download a lead sheet for the melody and chords, watch a short beginner tutorial to lock the rhythm, and practice 4-bar sections hands-separately at slow tempo before combining them.
