Starlight twinkle
A chord, then two high notes twinkling like distant stars. One of the ostinato patterns.
How to play it
Find the notes
Put your right hand over a C chord. You need G (thumb, 1), C (middle finger, 3) and E (little finger, 5).
Count and play
Count "1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &" (say "and" for &). Play G and E together on 1, then C on 1&, then E on 2, then C on 2&, then E on 3, then C on 3&, then E on 4, then C on 4&.
Move it with the chords
When the chord changes to G, the same rhythm moves to the notes of G: D, G and B. Play it slowly over the chord loop above, at 60% speed first, then faster.
Songs that use it
Questions
What is Starlight twinkle on piano?
A chord, then two high notes twinkling like distant stars. The right hand alternating two chord tones. Musicians call it two-note ostinato 10-8.
Is Starlight twinkle 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 Starlight twinkle?
Coat Of Many Colors by Dolly Parton, Loving You by Michael Jackson and Get Busy by Sean Paul use Starlight twinkle. The songs on this page all use it in the right hand, the most played first.