Moonlit climb
Three notes rising to a soft, jazzy top note in three, left to ring. 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 B (thumb, 1).
Count and play
Count "1 & 2 & 3 &" (say "and" for &). Play C on 1, then G on 1&, then B 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 F♯. Play it slowly over the chord loop above, at 60% speed first, then faster.
Songs that use it
Questions
What is Moonlit climb on piano?
Three notes rising to a soft, jazzy top note in three, left to ring. Chord tones one at a time, within an octave. Musicians call it broken chord 1-5-7 (3/4).
Is Moonlit climb 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 Moonlit climb?
Reflecting Light by Sam Phillips, With You I'm Born Again by Billy Preston and Jesse by Janis Ian use Moonlit climb. The songs on this page all use it in the left hand, the most played first.