Full ladder up
Four steps up from the fifth, arriving right on the next root. One of the walking bass patterns.
How to play it
Find the notes
Put your left hand over a C chord. You need G (little finger, 5), A (ring finger, 4), B (middle finger, 3) and C (index finger, 2).
Count and play
Count 1, 2, 3, 4. Play G on 1, then A on 2, then B 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: D, E, F♯ and G. Play it slowly over the chord loop above, at 60% speed first, then faster.
Songs that use it
None of the songs here use Full ladder up as their main pattern yet.
Questions
What is Full ladder up on piano?
Four steps up from the fifth, arriving right on the next root. A stepwise bass line rising into the next chord. Musicians call it walk-up 5-6-7-8.
Is Full ladder up 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 Full ladder up?
None of the songs here use it in the left hand as their main pattern yet. You can still hear it and practice it from this page.