Tumble down
Three notes falling down the chord, one per beat, then a rest. One of the broken chord 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) and high C (thumb, 1).
Count and play
Count 1, 2, 3, 4. Play high C on 1, then G on 2, then low C 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 and high G. Play it slowly over the chord loop above, at 60% speed first, then faster.
Songs that use it
Questions
What is Tumble down on piano?
Three notes falling down the chord, one per beat, then a rest. Chord tones one at a time, within an octave. Musicians call it broken chord 8-5-1.
Is Tumble down 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 Tumble down?
Ev'rybody's Somebody's Fool by Connie Francis, Try A Little Kindness by Glen Campbell and Turn! Turn! Turn! by Pete Seeger use Tumble down. The songs on this page all use it in the left hand, the most played first.