Toy-soldier march
A bright two-note chord, then the low root: a toy soldier’s left-right. One of the left-hand chord patterns.
How to play it
Find the notes
Put your left hand over a C chord. You need low C (little finger, 5), high C (little finger, 5) and E (middle finger, 3).
Count and play
Count 1, 2, 3, 4. Play high C and E together on 1, then low C on 2, then high C and E together on 3, then low C on 4.
Move it with the chords
When the chord changes to G, the same rhythm moves to the notes of G: low G, high G and B. Play it slowly over the chord loop above, at 60% speed first, then faster.
Songs that use it
Questions
What is Toy-soldier march on piano?
A bright two-note chord, then the low root: a toy soldier’s left-right. Left-hand chords or power fifths in rhythm. Musicians call it lh triads (2/4).
Is Toy-soldier march 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 Toy-soldier march?
You're A Grand Old Flag by George M. Cohan and Painter Song by Norah Jones use Toy-soldier march. The songs on this page all use it in the left hand, the most played first.