Hop-up drop
A jump up, the top note twice, then a drop below the start. One of the broken chord patterns.
How to play it
Find the notes
Put your left hand over a C chord. You need low G (little finger, 5), C (index finger, 2) and high G (thumb, 1).
Count and play
Count "1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &" (say "and" for &). Play C on 1, then high G on 2& and 3, then low G on 4.
Move it with the chords
When the chord changes to G, the same rhythm moves to the notes of G: low D, G and high D. Play it slowly over the chord loop above, at 60% speed first, then faster.
Songs that use it
Questions
What is Hop-up drop on piano?
A jump up, the top note twice, then a drop below the start. Chord tones one at a time, within an octave. Musicians call it broken chord 8-12-12-5.
Is Hop-up drop 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 Hop-up drop?
Strangers In The Night by Frank Sinatra and It's Now Or Never by Elvis Presley use Hop-up drop. The songs on this page all use it in the left hand, the most played first.