Ticking clock

One high note repeated on every quick beat: tick, tick, tick. One of the ostinato patterns.

Chords: D, C, G, D
Practice in DLove Story by Taylor Swift

How to play it

  1. Find the notes

    Put your right hand over a C chord. It plays one note, C (thumb, 1).

  2. Count and play

    Count "1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &" (say "and" for &). Play C on every count.

  3. Move it with the chords

    When the chord changes to G, the same rhythm moves to the notes of G: G. Play it slowly over the chord loop above, at 60% speed first, then faster.

Songs that use it

Questions

What is Ticking clock on piano?

One high note repeated on every quick beat: tick, tick, tick. One right-hand note repeated as a pulse. Musicians call it repeated-note pulse.

Is Ticking clock 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 Ticking clock?

Love Story by Taylor Swift, You Rock My World by Michael Jackson and Ultraviolence by Lana Del Rey use Ticking clock. The songs on this page all use it in the right hand, the most played first.