Ladder home
A low chord, then three steps climbing up to the octave. One of the walking bass patterns.
How to play it
Find the notes
Put your left hand over a C chord. You need low C (little finger, 5), G (ring finger, 4), A (middle finger, 3), B (index finger, 2) and high C (thumb, 1).
Count and play
Count 1, 2, 3, 4. Play low C and G together on 1, then A on 2, then B on 3, then high C on 4.
Move it with the chords
When the chord changes to G, the same rhythm moves to the notes of G: low G, D, E, F♯ and high 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 Ladder home as their main pattern yet.
Questions
What is Ladder home on piano?
A low chord, then three steps climbing up to the octave. A stepwise bass line rising into the next chord. Musicians call it walk-up 1-6-7-8.
Is Ladder home 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 Ladder home?
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.