Big sweep
Two octaves in one sweep: the film-score sound. One of the left-hand arpeggio patterns.
How to play it
Find the notes
Put your left hand over a C chord. You need low C (little finger, 5), low G (index finger, 2), C (fingers 5 and 1), high G (index finger, 2) and high C (thumb, 1).
Count and play
Count "1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &" (say "and" for &). Play C on 1, then high G on 1&, then high C on 2, then low C on 3, then low G on 3&, then C on 4.
Move it with the chords
When the chord changes to G, the same rhythm moves to the notes of G: low G, low D, G, high D and high G. Play it slowly over the chord loop above, at 60% speed first, then faster.
Songs that use it
Questions
What is Big sweep on piano?
Two octaves in one sweep: the film-score sound. A two-octave arpeggio, Romantic and film-score style. Musicians call it wide arpeggio 8-12-15-1-5-8.
Is Big sweep hard to play?
It is one of the advanced patterns. Take it slowly, one bar at a time at 60% speed, before you play it over a chord loop.
Which songs use Big sweep?
Canon In D by Johann Pachelbel, Say Goodbye by Chris Brown and Someone Like You by Adele use Big sweep. The songs on this page all use it in the left hand, the most played first.