Knocking drop
Three pushes on the same note, then a drop on beat 4. One of the broken chord patterns.
How to play it
Find the notes
Put your left hand over a C chord. You need G (little finger, 5) and C (index finger, 2).
Count and play
Count "1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &" (say "and" for &). Play C on 1, 2& and 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: D and G. Play it slowly over the chord loop above, at 60% speed first, then faster.
Songs that use it
Questions
What is Knocking drop on piano?
Three pushes on the same note, then a drop on beat 4. Chord tones one at a time, within an octave. Musicians call it broken chord 8-8-8-5.
Is Knocking 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 Knocking drop?
Stand By Me by Ben E. King, Sundown by Gordon Lightfoot and Thong Song by Sisqo use Knocking drop. The songs on this page all use it in the left hand, the most played first.