Rain-gutter drip
A small chord, then drips on one note that slips down at the end. One of the ostinato patterns.
How to play it
Find the notes
Put your right hand over a C chord. You need E (thumb, 1) and G (middle finger, 3).
Count and play
Count "1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &" (say "and" for &). Play E and G together on 1, then G on 1&, 2&, 3 and 3&, then E on 4&.
Move it with the chords
When the chord changes to G, the same rhythm moves to the notes of 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 Rain-gutter drip on piano?
A small chord, then drips on one note that slips down at the end. The right hand alternating two chord tones. Musicians call it repeated 5th → 3rd, 5-5-5-5-5-3.
Is Rain-gutter drip 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 Rain-gutter drip?
Burn by Usher uses Rain-gutter drip. The songs on this page all use it in the right hand, the most played first.