Rainbow sweep
Five notes arc up two octaves like a rainbow, then let it ring. One of the left-hand arpeggio patterns.
How to play it
Find the notes
Put your left hand over a C chord. You need low C (little finger, 5), G (index finger, 2), C (thumb, 1), E (middle finger, 3) and high C (thumb, 1).
Count and play
Count "1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &" (say "and" for &). Play low C on 1, then G on 1&, then C on 2, then E on 2&, then high C on 3 and hold it.
Move it with the chords
When the chord changes to G, the same rhythm moves to the notes of G: low G, D, G, B and high G. Play it slowly over the chord loop above, at 60% speed first, then faster.
Songs that use it
Questions
What is Rainbow sweep on piano?
Five notes arc up two octaves like a rainbow, then let it ring. A two-octave arpeggio, Romantic and film-score style. Musicians call it wide arpeggio 1-5-8-10-15.
Is Rainbow sweep hard to play?
It is one of the advanced patterns. Take it slowly, one bar at a time at 60% speed, before you play it over a chord loop.
Which songs use Rainbow sweep?
Bury Me Beneath The Willow by Traditional, I'll Be Seeing You by Sammy Fain and Goodbye Yellow Brick Road by Elton John use Rainbow sweep. The songs on this page all use it in the left hand, the most played first.