Boom-chick
Bass, chord, bass, chord: the bounce of ragtime and country. One of the stride and oom-pah patterns.
How to play it
Find the notes
Put your left hand over a C chord. You need low G (little finger, 5), C (middle finger, 3), E (index finger, 2) and high G (thumb, 1).
Count and play
Count 1, 2, 3, 4. Play C on 1, then E and high G together on 2, then low G on 3, then E and high G together on 4.
Move it with the chords
When the chord changes to G, the same rhythm moves to the notes of G: low D, G, B and high D. Play it slowly over the chord loop above, at 60% speed first, then faster.
Songs that use it
Questions
What is Boom-chick on piano?
Bass, chord, bass, chord: the bounce of ragtime and country. A bass note, then a chord. It is stride when the leap spans an octave or more. Musicians call it boom-chick.
Is Boom-chick hard to play?
It is a beginner pattern. Play it with your left hand alone at 60% speed until it feels steady, then add the other hand.
Which songs use Boom-chick?
Mad World by Gary Jules, The Night Before by The Beatles and Never Ever Getting Rid Of Me by Sara Bareilles use Boom-chick. The songs on this page all use it in the left hand, the most played first.