Parachute down
A leap up high, then three steps floating back down. 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), B (index finger, 2), high C (thumb, 1) and D (index finger, 2).
Count and play
Count 1, 2, 3, 4. Play low C on 1, then D on 2, then high C on 3, then B on 4.
Move it with the chords
When the chord changes to G, the same rhythm moves to the notes of G: low G, F♯, high G and A. Play it slowly over the chord loop above, at 60% speed first, then faster.
Songs that use it
None of the songs here use Parachute down as their main pattern yet.
Questions
What is Parachute down on piano?
A leap up high, then three steps floating back down. A stepwise bass line falling, often a line cliché. Musicians call it walk-down 1-9-8-7.
Is Parachute down 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 Parachute down?
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.