Fairy lights
A chord, then two bright notes blinking like fairy lights. One of the ostinato patterns.
How to play it
Find the notes
Put your right hand over a C chord. You need low E (thumb, 1), F♯ (index finger, 2), C (ring finger, 4) and high E (little finger, 5).
Count and play
Count "1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &" (say "and" for &). Play low E, F♯ and C together on 1, then high E on 1&, then C on 2, then high E on 2&, then C on 3, then high E on 3&, then C on 4, then high E on 4&.
Move it with the chords
When the chord changes to G, the same rhythm moves to the notes of G: low B, D♭, G and high B. Play it slowly over the chord loop above, at 60% speed first, then faster.
Songs that use it
Questions
What is Fairy lights on piano?
A chord, then two bright notes blinking like fairy lights. The right hand alternating two chord tones. Musicians call it two-note ostinato 8-10.
Is Fairy lights 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 Fairy lights?
You Sang To Me by Marc Anthony, Morning Dew by Grateful Dead and To All The Girls I've Loved Before by Julio Iglesias & Willie Nelson use Fairy lights. The songs on this page all use it in the right hand, the most played first.