Tumbling stairs down
A long root, a jump up, then quick steps tumbling down. One of the walking bass patterns.
How to play it
Find the notes
Put your left hand over a C chord. You need low C (little finger, 5), G (ring finger, 4), A (middle finger, 3), B (index finger, 2) and high C (thumb, 1).
Count and play
Count "1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &" (say "and" for &). Play low C on 1 and hold it, then high C on 3, then B on 3&, then A on 4, then G on 4&.
Move it with the chords
When the chord changes to G, the same rhythm moves to the notes of G: low G, D, E, F♯ and high G. Play it slowly over the chord loop above, at 60% speed first, then faster.
Songs that use it
None of the songs here use Tumbling stairs down as their main pattern yet.
Questions
What is Tumbling stairs down on piano?
A long root, a jump up, then quick steps tumbling down. A stepwise bass line falling, often a line cliché. Musicians call it walk-down 1-8-7-6-5.
Is Tumbling stairs 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 Tumbling stairs down?
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.