Woodblock taps
Starting off the beat, the top note taps away, then drops at the end. 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 C (ring finger, 4).
Count and play
Count "1 & 2 & 3 & 4 &" (say "and" for &). Play C on 1&, 2, 2&, 3 and 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 G. Play it slowly over the chord loop above, at 60% speed first, then faster.
Songs that use it
Questions
What is Woodblock taps on piano?
Starting off the beat, the top note taps away, then drops at the end. The right hand alternating two chord tones. Musicians call it repeated octave → 5th.
Is Woodblock taps 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 Woodblock taps?
You Got It by Roy Orbison and Love In Vain Blues by Robert Johnson use Woodblock taps. The songs on this page all use it in the right hand, the most played first.