Waltzing river
Flows up five notes with a little step near the top, in three. One of the left-hand arpeggio 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), high C (thumb, 1), D (middle finger, 3) and E (index finger, 2).
Count and play
Count "1 & 2 & 3 &" (say "and" for &). Play low C on 1, then G on 1&, then high C on 2, then D on 2&, then E on 3.
Move it with the chords
When the chord changes to G, the same rhythm moves to the notes of G: low G, D, high G, A and B. Play it slowly over the chord loop above, at 60% speed first, then faster.
Songs that use it
Questions
What is Waltzing river on piano?
Flows up five notes with a little step near the top, in three. An arpeggio spanning a 10th: the classic ballad left hand. Musicians call it open arpeggio 1-5-8-9-10 (3/4).
Is Waltzing river 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 Waltzing river?
Amazing Grace by Traditional, Come Emmanuel by Twila Paris and Silent Night by Elvis Presley use Waltzing river. The songs on this page all use it in the left hand, the most played first.