Take-off climb
Two pushes on the root, then a climb up the chord to beat 4. One of the broken chord patterns.
How to play it
Find the notes
Put your left hand over a C chord. You need C (little finger, 5), E (middle finger, 3) and G (thumb, 1).
Count and play
Count "1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &" (say "and" for &). Play C on 1 and 2&, then E on 3, then G on 4.
Move it with the chords
When the chord changes to G, the same rhythm moves to the notes of G: G, B and D. Play it slowly over the chord loop above, at 60% speed first, then faster.
Songs that use it
Questions
What is Take-off climb on piano?
Two pushes on the root, then a climb up the chord to beat 4. Chord tones one at a time, within an octave. Musicians call it broken chord 1-1-3-5.
Is Take-off climb 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 Take-off climb?
Good Directions by Billy Currington, Demons by Imagine Dragons and Arabian Nights by Alan Menken use Take-off climb. The songs on this page all use it in the left hand, the most played first.