Super Simple Piano
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Gondola ripple

Up to the top, a pause to sway, and back: a gentle boat ride. One of the broken chord patterns.

Chords: Am, F, C, G
Practice in C

How to play it

  1. Find the notes

    Put your left hand over a C chord. You need low C (little finger, 5), G (index finger, 2) and high C (thumb, 1).

  2. Count and play

    Count the eighth notes: 1 2 3 4 5 6. Play low C on 1, then G on 2, then high C on 3 and 5, then G on 6.

  3. Move it with the chords

    When the chord changes to G, the same rhythm moves to the notes of G: low G, D and high G. Play it slowly over the chord loop above, at 60% speed first, then faster.

Songs that use it

Questions

What is Gondola ripple on piano?

Up to the top, a pause to sway, and back: a gentle boat ride. Chord tones one at a time, within an octave. Musicians call it broken chord 1-5-8-8-5 (6/8).

Is Gondola ripple 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 Gondola ripple?

We Are Man And Wife by Michelle Featherstone uses Gondola ripple. The songs on this page all use it in the left hand, the most played first.