Over-the-hill
A jump up to the top, then down through the chord to home. 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), E (middle finger, 3) and G (thumb, 1).
Count and play
Count 1, 2, 3, 4. Play C on 1, then G on 2, then E on 3, then C on 4.
Move it with the chords
When the chord changes to G, the same rhythm moves to the notes of G: G, B and D. Play it slowly over the chord loop above, at 60% speed first, then faster.
Songs that use it
Questions
What is Over-the-hill on piano?
A jump up to the top, then down through the chord to home. Chord tones one at a time, within an octave. Musicians call it broken chord 1-5-3-1.
Is Over-the-hill 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 Over-the-hill?
Call Me The Breeze by Lynyrd Skynyrd, More Today Than Yesterday by Spiral Starecase and Hard Headed Woman by Elvis Presley use Over-the-hill. The songs on this page all use it in the left hand, the most played first.