Breaking wave
Four notes roll up quickly to a bright high top, then let it ring. 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), G (index finger, 2), high C (thumb, 1) and E (index finger, 2).
Count and play
Count "1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &" (say "and" for &). Play low C on 1, then G on 1&, then high C on 2, then E on 2& and hold it.
Move it with the chords
When the chord changes to G, the same rhythm moves to the notes of G: low G, D, high G and B. Play it slowly over the chord loop above, at 60% speed first, then faster.
Songs that use it
Questions
What is Breaking wave on piano?
Four notes roll up quickly to a bright high top, then let it ring. An arpeggio spanning a 10th: the classic ballad left hand. Musicians call it open arpeggio 1-5-8-10.
Is Breaking wave hard to play?
It is an intermediate pattern. Learn it with your left hand alone at 60% speed first, then play it over a chord loop.
Which songs use Breaking wave?
I Believe In You And Me by Whitney Houston, Woman by John Lennon and Let It Be Me by Everly Brothers use Breaking wave. The songs on this page all use it in the left hand, the most played first.