Swinging star
A high note and a lower one swing back and forth in quick notes. 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) and E (little finger, 5).
Count and play
Count "1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &" (say "and" for &). Play E on 1, then G on 1&, then E on 2, then G on 2&, then E on 3, then G on 3&, then E on 4, then G on 4&.
Move it with the chords
When the chord changes to G, the same rhythm moves to the notes of G: D and B. Play it slowly over the chord loop above, at 60% speed first, then faster.
Songs that use it
Questions
What is Swinging star on piano?
A high note and a lower one swing back and forth in quick notes. The right hand alternating two chord tones. Musicians call it two-note ostinato 10-5.
Is Swinging star 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 star?
I Believe by Diamond Rio, Majesty by Delirious? and Sissy's Song by Alan Jackson use Swinging star. The songs on this page all use it in the right hand, the most played first.