River roll
Flows up five notes with a little step near the top, like a river. 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), high C (thumb, 1), D (middle finger, 3) and E (index finger, 2).
Count and play
Count "1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &" (say "and" for &). Play low C on 1, then G on 1&, then high C on 2, then D on 2&, then E 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, high G, A and B. Play it slowly over the chord loop above, at 60% speed first, then faster.
Songs that use it
Questions
What is River roll on piano?
Flows up five notes with a little step near the top, like a river. An arpeggio spanning a 10th: the classic ballad left hand. Musicians call it open arpeggio 1-5-8-9-10.
Is River roll 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 River roll?
Love Me Tender by Elvis Presley, Mad by Ne-Yo and You'll Be In My Heart by Phil Collins use River roll. The songs on this page all use it in the left hand, the most played first.