Rooftop rain

A chord, then one high note pattering again and again like rain. One of the ostinato patterns.

Chords: Am, F, C, G

How to play it

  1. Find the notes

    Put your right hand over a C chord. You need E (thumb, 1), G (index finger, 2) and C (little finger, 5).

  2. Count and play

    Count "1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &" (say "and" for &). Play E and G together on 1, then C on 2&, 3, 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: B, D and G. Play it slowly over the chord loop above, at 60% speed first, then faster.

Songs that use it

Questions

What is Rooftop rain on piano?

A chord, then one high note pattering again and again like rain. The right hand alternating two chord tones. Musicians call it chord + repeated octave.

Is Rooftop rain 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 Rooftop rain?

Burning In The Skies by Linkin Park, Scream & Shout by Will.i.am and Stardust by Mika use Rooftop rain. The songs on this page all use it in the right hand, the most played first.