The Great Pretender

by The Platters

The Great Pretender

The Platters

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Piano arrangementLv 49·Intermediate4:35

Rewritten for piano by another musician.

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About The Great Pretender

Piano sheet music for The Great Pretender by The Platters, free to view and play along. Grade 4 (Intermediate (Grade 4)) piece suitable for students at about grade 4 level.

"The Great Pretender" by The Platters is a grade 4-level piano piece with a duration of approximately 4:35. A Grade 4 piece featuring sixteenth notes, triplets, and a larger repertoire of techniques. Suitable for confident intermediate players. This arrangement is ideal for pianists with 3-4 years of experience. The Platters's composition showcases sixteenth notes and triplets and key signatures up to 4 sharps/flats, making it an excellent choice for developing these essential skills.

The Great Pretender is a classic pop song originally recorded by The Platters in 1955. It features a poignant melody and heartfelt lyrics about longing and deception.

Is it right for you?

Who it's for

  • Students at about Grade 4 level
  • Self-taught pianists with solid fundamentals
  • Those comfortable with varied repertoire
  • Players looking to expand their technique

Skill level: Grade 4

Level
Intermediate (Grade 4)
Experience
3-4 years
Length
4:35

What you'll learn

Technical skills

  • Scales and arpeggios
  • Sixteenth note passages
  • Triplet patterns
  • Independent hand movement
  • Pedal technique
  • Varied articulation

Musical concepts

  • Sixteenth notes and triplets
  • Key signatures up to 4 sharps/flats
  • Expressive dynamics
  • Tempo variations (ritardando, accelerando)
  • Musical phrasing

How long it takes

To learn

3-5 weeks with dedicated practice

Practice time

30-60 minutes daily

To master

6-10 weeks to performance-ready

Practice tips

  1. Analyze the piece structure before starting
  2. Practice difficult sections at half tempo
  3. Focus on musical expression, not just notes
  4. Record yourself to identify areas for improvement
  5. Work on maintaining consistent tempo

Need fingering? Add finger numbers to The Great Pretender with our free piano fingering tool.

Frequently asked questions

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