Rock’n’roll rocker
The left hand rocks between two shapes, straight out of the 1950s. One of the boogie-woogie patterns.
How to play it
Find the notes
Put your left hand over a C chord. You need C (little finger, 5), G (index finger, 2) and A (thumb, 1).
Count and play
Count "1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &" (say "and" for &). Play C and G together on 1 and 1&, then C and A together on 2 and 2&, then C and G together on 3 and 3&, then C and A together on 4 and 4&.
Move it with the chords
When the chord changes to G, the same rhythm moves to the notes of G: G, D and E. Play it slowly over the chord loop above, at 60% speed first, then faster.
Songs that use it
Questions
What is Rock’n’roll rocker on piano?
The left hand rocks between two shapes, straight out of the 1950s. Rock’n’roll and blues 5-6 shuffle and boogie lines. Musicians call it rock’n’roll 5-6 shuffle.
Is Rock’n’roll rocker 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 Rock’n’roll rocker?
Marry You by Bruno Mars, Juicy Wiggle by Redfoo and Great Balls Of Fire by Jerry Lee Lewis use Rock’n’roll rocker. The songs on this page all use it in the left hand, the most played first.