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Right-Hand Arpeggios on Piano

In a right-hand arpeggio the notes of the chord ripple up or fall down one at a time, over the bass of the left hand. Rising ones sound like bubbles and falling ones like rain, and both are common in film music and soft piano covers. Start with three notes going up: the root, the third and the fifth.

Practice it

Start with Rising bubbles, the one most songs use.

Patterns

Chords: C, G

Rising bubbles

Three notes float up again and again, each time starting just off the beat.
Chords: C, G

Rising light

Three notes climb again and again, starting just after the beat.
Chords: C, G

Raindrop bounce

From a high note down, then bouncing in the middle: raindrops on a pond.
Chords: C, G

Falling stars

Three high notes fall over and over, like stars dropping from the sky.
Chords: C, G

Sunrise

Three notes keep climbing in quick loops, bright like the morning sun.
Chords: C, G

Rising chords

Up the chord and back in quick notes, gently lifting the song.
Chords: C, G

Waterfall

Down from the top and splashing between two notes, over and over.
Chords: C, G

Falling leaves

Three notes falling again and again, gently drifting down like leaves.

Snowfall

Three notes from the top keep falling, soft and steady like snow.

Songs that use right-hand arpeggios

Questions

What is an arpeggio on piano?

A chord played one note at a time, going up or down, instead of all together. C, E and G one after another is a C arpeggio.

Which fingers play a right-hand arpeggio?

For three notes such as C, E and G, use the thumb (1), the middle finger (3) and the little finger (5), with the hand kept over the chord.

Which songs use right-hand arpeggios?

Turning Page by Sleeping At Last, Grenade by Bruno Mars and Into The West by Annie Lennox use right-hand arpeggios. The songs on this page all use it, the most played first.