How to Play Solas on Piano
Jamie Duffy
About this piece
Solas is a beginner-intermediate piano piece by Jamie Duffy that most students can learn in 3-4 weeks.
A deeply emotional Irish contemporary piece that went viral on TikTok after the composer's grandmother's passing. The simple, folk-inspired melody over gentle arpeggios creates an intimately moving experience.
Practice tips
- The left-hand arpeggio in F major follows a root-5th-octave pattern — practice it until it flows naturally, keeping a consistent gentle tone throughout.
- The right-hand melody uses Irish folk-style ornamentation with grace notes — practice these ornaments separately, playing the grace note quickly into the main note.
- The emotional climax builds through thicker chords and higher register — save your dynamic peak for the final statement of the theme and gradually wind down to silence.
Common mistake
Playing the grace notes too slowly, making them sound like written-out notes rather than quick ornaments — they should be almost instantaneous flicks.
How long to learn
Not sure Solas matches your level? Take the free 2-minute piano level quiz to find pieces that fit where you are.
Frequently asked questions
How hard is Solas to play on piano?
Solas is rated Beginner-Intermediate. A deeply emotional Irish contemporary piece that went viral on TikTok after the composer's grandmother's passing.
How long does it take to learn Solas?
For a beginner, expect 3-4 weeks. An intermediate player can learn it in 1 week.
What is the BPM of Solas?
Solas is typically played at 65 BPM, in F major.
What key is Solas in?
Solas is in F major, typically performed at around 65 BPM.
What's the most common mistake when learning Solas?
Playing the grace notes too slowly, making them sound like written-out notes rather than quick ornaments — they should be almost instantaneous flicks.
Where to find the sheet music
- Free scores on IMSLP (Petrucci Music Library)
- Community sheet music on MuseScore
- Wikipedia: Jamie Duffy
Free public-domain editions of works like Beethoven, Chopin, and Debussy are on IMSLP. For contemporary works, MuseScore has community arrangements.
Ready to practice Solas?
Upload your sheet music and start learning — at your tempo, hands separately, looping the hard parts.
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