Pop heartbeat
Long, short, long: the heartbeat under a thousand pop songs. One of the root note patterns.
How to play it
Find the notes
Put your left hand over a C chord. It plays one note, C (little finger, 5).
Count and play
Count "1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &" (say "and" for &). Play C on 1, 2& and 3 and hold it.
Move it with the chords
When the chord changes to G, the same rhythm moves to the notes of G: G. Play it slowly over the chord loop above, at 60% speed first, then faster.
Songs that use it
Questions
What is Pop heartbeat on piano?
Long, short, long: the heartbeat under a thousand pop songs. The root alone in a fixed rhythm, octave jumps optional. The piano version of a kick-drum pattern. Musicians call it root bass, charleston push (1, 2&, 3).
Is Pop heartbeat 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 Pop heartbeat?
Test Drive (From "How To Train Your Dragon") by John Powell, You Rock My World by Michael Jackson and Ultraviolence by Lana Del Rey use Pop heartbeat. The songs on this page all use it in the left hand, the most played first.