Skippy stairs up

Three steps up, then a small hop higher, into the next chord. One of the walking bass patterns.

Chords: C, G, Am, F

How to play it

  1. Find the notes

    Put your left hand over a C chord. You need C (little finger, 5), D (ring finger, 4), E (middle finger, 3) and G (thumb, 1).

  2. Count and play

    Count 1, 2, 3, 4. Play C on 1, then D on 2, then E on 3, then G on 4.

  3. Move it with the chords

    When the chord changes to G, the same rhythm moves to the notes of G: G, A, B and D. Play it slowly over the chord loop above, at 60% speed first, then faster.

Songs that use it

None of the songs here use Skippy stairs up as their main pattern yet.

Questions

What is Skippy stairs up on piano?

Three steps up, then a small hop higher, into the next chord. A stepwise bass line rising into the next chord. Musicians call it walk-up 1-2-3-5.

Is Skippy stairs up 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 Skippy stairs up?

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.