Swinging lantern
Two notes far apart swing back and forth like a lantern in the wind. One of the ostinato patterns.
How to play it
Find the notes
Put your right hand over a C chord. You need C (thumb, 1) and G (little finger, 5).
Count and play
Count "1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &" (say "and" for &). Play G on 1, then C on 1&, then G on 2, then C on 2&, then G on 3, then C on 3&, then G 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: G and D. Play it slowly over the chord loop above, at 60% speed first, then faster.
Songs that use it
Questions
What is Swinging lantern on piano?
Two notes far apart swing back and forth like a lantern in the wind. The right hand alternating two chord tones. Musicians call it two-note ostinato 5-1.
Is Swinging lantern 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 Swinging lantern?
Dangerously In Love by Beyonce, New Rules by Dua Lipa and Space Between by Stephen Mark Conley use Swinging lantern. The songs on this page all use it in the right hand, the most played first.