Double-skip chords

Steady chords with two quick skips, one mid-bar and one at the end. One of the syncopated chord patterns.

Chords: C, G, Am, F
Practice in CBurning Love by Elvis Presley

How to play it

  1. Find the notes

    Put your right hand over a C chord. You need C (thumb, 1), E (middle finger, 3) and G (little finger, 5).

  2. Count and play

    Count "1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &" (say "and" for &). Play C, E and G together on 1, 2, 2&, 3, 4 and 4&.

  3. Move it with the chords

    When the chord changes to G, the same rhythm moves to the notes of G: G, B and D. Play it slowly over the chord loop above, at 60% speed first, then faster.

Songs that use it

Questions

What is Double-skip chords on piano?

Steady chords with two quick skips, one mid-bar and one at the end. Right-hand chords with off-beat pushes. Musicians call it syncopated chords, 1, 2, 2&, 3, 4, 4&.

Is Double-skip chords hard to play?

It is an intermediate pattern. Learn it with your right hand alone at 60% speed first, then play it over a chord loop.

Which songs use Double-skip chords?

Island In The Sun by Weezer, Alabaster Box by CeCe Winans and Determinate by Lemonade Mouth (Movie) use Double-skip chords. The songs on this page all use it in the right hand, the most played first.