Excited heartbeat
Lots of quick notes with a tiny skip before beat 3: full of energy. One of the root note patterns.
How to play it
Find the notes
Put your left hand over a C chord. You need low C (little finger, 5) and high C (thumb, 1).
Count and play
Count "1 e & a 2 e & a 3 e & a 4 e & a" (say "and" for &). Play low C on 1 and 1&, then high C on 2 and 2a, then low C on 3 and 3&, then high 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 and high G. Play it slowly over the chord loop above, at 60% speed first, then faster.
Songs that use it
Questions
What is Excited heartbeat on piano?
Lots of quick notes with a tiny skip before beat 3: full of energy. The root alone in a fixed rhythm, octave jumps optional. The piano version of a kick-drum pattern. Musicians call it root bass, 1, 1&, 2, 2a, 3, 3&, 4.
Is Excited heartbeat 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 Excited heartbeat?
Steal My Kisses by Ben Harper And The Innocent Criminals, Where It's At by Beck and Oxygen by Colbie Caillat use Excited heartbeat. The songs on this page all use it in the left hand, the most played first.