Carousel
Boom-chick-chick, boom-chick-chick: round and round like a carousel. One of the waltz bass 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 the eighth notes: 1 2 3 4 5 6. Play C on 1, then E and high G together on 2 and 3, then low G on 4, then E and high G together on 5 and 6.
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 Carousel on piano?
Boom-chick-chick, boom-chick-chick: round and round like a carousel. Bass on 1, chord on 2 and 3 (oom-pah-pah). Musicians call it waltz 6/8 oom-pah.
Is Carousel 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 Carousel?
Motherland by Natalie Merchant, Je Vole by Michel Sardou and The Chain by Ingrid Michaelson use Carousel. The songs on this page all use it in the left hand, the most played first.