Super Simple Piano

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Left-Hand Root Notes on Piano

The root is the note a chord is named after: C for a C chord, G for a G chord. Playing only that note with your left hand, in a steady rhythm, is the first left hand most beginners learn, and it sits under pop, rock and folk songs alike. Start with one low note on every beat, then try the rhythms below.

Start with Engine 8ths, the one most songs use.

Patterns

Engine 8ths

The lowest note on every eighth: the engine of rock.

Pop heartbeat

Long, short, long: the heartbeat under a thousand pop songs.

Walking roots

One low note on every beat, steady as walking feet.

Bossa sway

Long-short, long-short, leaning ahead: a gentle Brazilian sway.

Island pulse

Three, three, two: the island rhythm in so many pop hits.

Lazy footsteps

One long low note, then two calm steps to finish the bar.

Push and land

A push just before beat 3, then two calm landings.

Pausing footsteps

Three even steps, then a quiet beat to breathe.

Rock hop

Low, high, a quick double, then high again: a hopping rock bass.

Drowsy heartbeat

Two slow notes, then a late one that slips in before the next bar.

Late-hop footsteps

Steady low-high steps with one quick extra hop after beat 3.

Tick-tick-boom pulse

Two quick low notes and a high one, twice: ta-ta-DUM, ta-ta-DUM.

Rowing-boat pulse

Six even low notes per bar, rolling along like oars on water.

Hurry-and-wait pulse

Three quick notes rush out early, then the bass waits for the next bar.

Sneaky heartbeat

One strong note, then two sneaky ones hiding between the beats.

Run-up footsteps

Four steady steps plus a quick extra one that leads into the next bar.

Sleepy heartbeat

One long note, then a soft double tap in the second half.

Knock-knock footsteps

Step, then a quick knock-knock, a pause, and one last step.

Groovy roots

Notes jump around the “ands”, giving the bass a funky bounce.

Cradle pulse

A deep note, a rock to beat two, a soft pickup back: like a cradle.

Eager heartbeat

Jumps in early on the “and” before beat 3, like it can’t wait.

Slow-dance heartbeat

Four slow, deep beats under a swaying fifties ballad.

Lub-dub heartbeat

Two quick beats, a pause, two quick beats: just like a real heart.

Leapfrog pulse

One long note, then a quick hop that leaps right into beat 3.

Double-skip footsteps

Steady steps with two quick skips, one mid-bar and one at the end.

Hopscotch steps

Step, step, skip a beat, step: like hopping over a square.

Waltz roots

One low note on each of the three beats: a simple waltz floor.

Galloping heartbeat

Ta-DUM, ta-DUM: quick pickups into beats 2 and 4, like hooves.

Hop-skip heartbeat

Three steps, then a quick hop that skips right over beat 4.

Fluttering heartbeat

A quick flutter before beat 2, then a push before beat 3.

Hiccup heartbeat

A tiny hiccup just before beat 3, then a push on the “and”.

Skipping-stone pulse

One strong note, then two bounces on the “ands”, like a stone on water.

Hurrying footsteps

Calm steps in the first half, then twice as fast to the end.

Rush-and-step pulse

Three quick notes tumble out, a pause, then one high step on beat 4.

Tiptoe heartbeat

One firm note, then three tiptoe steps between the beats.

Dawdling footsteps

Two steps, then a lazy late note after beat 3 that catches up on 4.

Stumbling footsteps

Steady steps with one tiny stumble right before beat 3.

Double island pulse

The island rhythm squeezed in twice per bar: quick and dancy.

Hammock heartbeat

Long-short, long-short: the low notes sway like a hammock.

Tumbling heartbeat

Quick notes tumble forward from the start and land on beat 4.

Freeze-tag footsteps

Step, step-and, then freeze for the rest of the bar.

Dancing heartbeat

Notes dance around the beats, pushing ahead on the “ands”.

Bubbly heartbeat

Steady beats filled with quick little pickups around beat 3.

Busy-bee pulse

Busy and bouncy, with pushes before beat 3 and at the very end.

Wobbly heartbeat

Two off-balance notes on the “ands”, then a firm landing on beat 4.

Bouncy-ball heartbeat

A low note, then high bounces on every “and”, like a bouncing ball.

Racing heartbeat

One calm beat, then non-stop quick notes racing to the end.

Lingering footsteps

Two steps, then one late note after beat 3 that hangs in the air.

Cartwheel heartbeat

Five evenly spaced notes roll across the beats, then land on 4.

Jogging footsteps

A calm start, then quick jogging notes through the middle of the bar.

Hopping heartbeat

Quick hops into the middle of the bar, then a rest on beat 4.

Butterfly heartbeat

A quick fluttery group at the start, then a long glide to beat 4.

Springy footsteps

A quick double skip at the start, then steady steps to the end.

Tap-dance footsteps

Busy little taps around beat 2, then two calm steps to finish.

Upside-down pulse

Every note lands between the beats, so it bounces like reggae.

Pony-trot pulse

Quick trotting notes, then a jump over beat 3 to its “and”.

Spinning-top pulse

Six even low notes in a three-beat bar, spinning round and round.

Chugging-train pulse

Chugs along in quick even notes, then takes one tiny breath at the end.

Gear-shift pulse

Quick even notes that skip beat 3, like an engine changing gear.

Excited heartbeat

Lots of quick notes with a tiny skip before beat 3: full of energy.

Questions

What does playing root notes mean on piano?

Your left hand plays only the root of each chord, the note the chord is named after, while the right hand plays the chord or the tune. Over C, G, Am and F you play C, G, A and F.

What should I learn after root notes?

When one note a beat feels easy, add the fifth of the chord (root and fifth bass), play the root in octaves, or try broken chords.

Which songs use root notes?

Yellow by Coldplay, Test Drive (From "How To Train Your Dragon") by John Powell and Salvatore by Lana Del Rey use root notes. The songs on this page all use it, the most played first.