Moon River roll
A wide, flowing roll in three, the Moon River feel. One of the left-hand arpeggio 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 E (thumb, 1).
Count and play
Count "1 & 2 & 3 &" (say "and" for &). Play C on 1, then G on 1&, then E on 2 and hold it.
Move it with the chords
When the chord changes to G, the same rhythm moves to the notes of G: G, D and B. Play it slowly over the chord loop above, at 60% speed first, then faster.
Songs that use it
Questions
What is Moon River roll on piano?
A wide, flowing roll in three, the Moon River feel. An arpeggio spanning a 10th: the classic ballad left hand. Musicians call it open arpeggio 1-5-10 (3/4).
Is Moon River roll 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 Moon River roll?
A Thousand Years by Christina Perri, Norwegian Wood by The Beatles and I'll Be by Edwin McCain use Moon River roll. The songs on this page all use it in the left hand, the most played first.