Happy wiggle
Root, fifth, a step up and back: a cheerful bluesy wiggle. One of the broken chord patterns.
How to play it
Find the notes
Put your left hand over a C chord. You need C (little finger, 5), G (index finger, 2) and A (thumb, 1).
Count and play
Count 1, 2, 3, 4. Play C on 1, then G on 2, then A on 3, then G on 4.
Move it with the chords
When the chord changes to G, the same rhythm moves to the notes of G: G, D and E. Play it slowly over the chord loop above, at 60% speed first, then faster.
Songs that use it
Questions
What is Happy wiggle on piano?
Root, fifth, a step up and back: a cheerful bluesy wiggle. Chord tones one at a time, within an octave. Musicians call it broken chord 1-5-6-5.
Is Happy wiggle 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 Happy wiggle?
You Are My Sunshine by Traditional, Tiny Bubbles by Don Ho and Bury Me Not On The Lone Prairie by E.H. Chapin use Happy wiggle. The songs on this page all use it in the left hand, the most played first.