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Ostinato Patterns on Piano

An ostinato is a short figure repeated over and over while the chords change underneath: two notes rocking, one note ticking like a clock, or a small broken-chord shape. It gives a song its hook and its sparkle. Start with two notes, keep them even, and let your left hand change the chords.

Start with Ticking clock, the one most songs use.

Patterns

Ticking clock

One high note repeated on every quick beat: tick, tick, tick.

Rocking thirds

Two neighbouring chord notes rocking back and forth, soft and sweet.

Twinkle

Two notes twinkling back and forth.

Lighthouse blink

A note and the one above flash in turn, steady as a lighthouse.

Candle flicker

Two low chord notes flicker back and forth, warm like candlelight.

Firefly blink

The top note and the one below blink back and forth like a firefly.

Starlight twinkle

A chord, then two high notes twinkling like distant stars.

Neon flicker

A rich chord, then two notes flickering with a cool, bluesy glow.

Dewdrop twinkle

Two low, close notes twinkling up and back like morning dew.

Circling light

Three notes circle round and round in a soft, glowing loop.

Swinging lantern

Two notes far apart swing back and forth like a lantern in the wind.

Fairy lights

A chord, then two bright notes blinking like fairy lights.

Dripping tap

A soft chord, then the same note dripping steadily, drop by drop.

Spinning lantern

Notes circle up through the chord and widen, like a spinning lantern.

Moonbeam glimmer

The top note dips to a sweet lower note and back, glimmering softly.

Swinging bell

A ringing chord, then two low notes swinging back and forth.

Beacon blink

The root and a higher note blink on and off, calm and clear.

Telegraph taps

One note tapping like a telegraph, then slipping a step down.

Knock-and-peek

The same note knocks five times, then peeks one step higher.

Dreamy flicker

Two notes flicker with a soft, dreamy, slightly bluesy colour.

Pulsing star

A chord, then one bright high note pulsing on every quick beat.

Swinging star

A high note and a lower one swing back and forth in quick notes.

Pitter-patter

A chord, then one note pattering steadily like gentle rain.

Sparkler

One note fizzes in quick little bursts, then wiggles at the end.

Rooftop rain

A chord, then one high note pattering again and again like rain.

Hailstones

The top note rattles in very quick bursts, like hail on a window.

Waltzing clock

One note ticking six times per waltz bar, light and even.

Bouncing star

A note and its twin an octave away bounce back and forth.

Doorbell twinkle

A chord rings, then two middle notes twinkle in quick turns.

Cuckoo clock

High, high, a little lower, twice per bar: cuckoo, cuckoo.

Jazzy flicker

Two notes with a big gap between them flicker in a smooth, jazzy colour.

Drip-drop slide

Taps on the top note just off the beat, then a slide one step down.

Swaying kite

The top note swings down to a low one and back, like a kite.

Wind chimes

A bright chord, then two notes chiming back and forth in the breeze.

Stepping-down taps

A late start, three taps on one note, then three on a lower one.

Woodpecker taps

A chord, then a high note tapping again and again like a woodpecker.

Tap-and-nudge

Waits a beat, taps the root five times, then nudges one step up.

Slipping taps

A chord, a few taps on the top note, then a slip one step down.

Woodblock taps

Starting off the beat, the top note taps away, then drops at the end.

Glass bells

A chord, then two clear notes ringing back and forth like glass bells.

Leaping sparkle

A note and a much higher one leap back and forth, bright and playful.

Waltz flicker

Two low chord notes flicker back and forth in a gentle waltz.

Bubble pop

A note leaps up to a higher one and back, popping like bubbles.

Pendulum swing

One note ticking on every quick beat, rocking in two big swings.

Marching clock

One note ticking evenly in a short two-beat bar, like a toy march.

Pinwheel

Three notes spin in a loop that keeps landing in new places.

Rain-gutter drip

A small chord, then drips on one note that slips down at the end.

Clock-tower chimes

A ringing chord, then two notes chiming steadily like a clock tower.

Tap-and-hop

One note taps five times, then hops up to the next chord note.

Snow-globe twinkle

Two low, close notes twinkle up and back in a gentle waltz.

Waltz twinkle

Two neighbouring chord notes twinkle back and forth in three.

Questions

What is an ostinato in piano music?

A short pattern that repeats again and again, often in the right hand, while the chords move. The word is Italian for stubborn.

Is an ostinato hard to play?

The notes are few, so the hard part is keeping them steady while the left hand moves. Practice each hand alone at 60% speed, then put them together.

Which songs use an ostinato?

The One That Got Away by Katy Perry, Love Story by Taylor Swift and You Rock My World by Michael Jackson use an ostinato. The songs on this page all use it, the most played first.