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Left-Hand Arpeggios on Piano

An arpeggio rolls up through the notes of a chord, one at a time. In the left hand it often reaches past the octave, root, fifth and then the third an octave higher, which gives piano ballads and film music their flowing sound. Start with the three-note shapes slowly; the wide sweeps over two octaves come later.

Practice it

Start with Open sky, the one most songs use.

Patterns

Chords: C, G

Open sky

Root, fifth, then a high third: open and airy, the sound of a big sky.
Chords: C, G

Rolling waves

Rolls up to the high third and back down, like a wave on the shore.
Chords: C, G

Moon River roll

A wide, flowing roll in three, the Moon River feel.
Chords: C, G

Swelling 6/8

Rises to the top and falls back in one rocking six-note wave.
Chords: C, G

River roll

Flows up five notes with a little step near the top, like a river.
Chords: C, G

Big sweep

Two octaves in one sweep: the film-score sound.
Chords: C, G

Dreamy wave

Rolls up through a soft extra note: a dreamy, open, modern sound.
Chords: C, G

Breaking wave

Four notes roll up quickly to a bright high top, then let it ring.

Rising tide

Five notes roll up wide and high, then hold: a tide coming in.

Sea-breeze roll

Four notes roll up and float in a gentle sway, light as a sea breeze.

Rocket sweep

Climbs two octaves in two big leaps, soaring like a rocket.

Waltzing river

Flows up five notes with a little step near the top, in three.

Lapping waves

A low note, then a high pair rocking like small waves in a waltz.

Shimmering waves

A low root, then two notes rocking fast like light on water.

Rainbow sweep

Five notes arc up two octaves like a rainbow, then let it ring.

Bobbing boat

High, higher, then a dive to the bottom and back: a bobbing boat.

Moonlit waves

Rolls up to a high note and back down, slow and wide in three.

Mountain leap

Three notes from very low to very high, leaping across the keyboard.

Splashing wave

Two low notes, then a splash up high, in the three-three-two rhythm.

Ocean swell

Eight notes rise high and fall back down: one big ocean swell per bar.

Waltzing tide

Five notes roll up wide and high, then hold, in a slow three.

Drifting waves

A low note, then a high pair drifting back and forth in three.

Songs that use left-hand arpeggios

Questions

What is a left-hand arpeggio?

The chord played one note at a time going up, often with the hand stretched past the octave: the root, the fifth, then the third an octave higher (a tenth).

My hand is small. Can I still play these?

Yes. If the tenth is a stretch, start with the patterns that stay inside an octave, or move your hand between the notes with the pedal down. Go slowly at 60% speed.

Which songs use left-hand arpeggios?

A Thousand Years by Christina Perri, Next To Me by Imagine Dragons and Nothing Else Matters by Metallica use left-hand arpeggios. The songs on this page all use it, the most played first.