Left-hand pattern · Pop heartbeat
Sneaky heartbeat
One strong note, then two sneaky ones hiding between the beats. Musicians call it root bass on beats 1, 2&, 4&.
Want to mix it with other hands?
How Sneaky heartbeat goes
One bar over a C chord: a row for each key, a column for each step, the finger on each note. Over another chord, move the same shape to its root.
Root bass rhythm: Just the lowest note, played in a rhythm you can dance to.
Songs with Sneaky heartbeat
Each one opens with this pattern in its player.
Often comes next
The patterns songs move to after Sneaky heartbeat, from verse to chorus.
More heartbeats
All patternsQuestions about Sneaky heartbeat
What is Sneaky heartbeat on piano?
One strong note, then two sneaky ones hiding between the beats. Musicians call it root bass on beats 1, 2&, 4&, one of the root bass rhythm patterns: just the lowest note, played in a rhythm you can dance to.
How do I play root bass · 1 · 2& · 4& with the left hand?
Over C major it is C3 (5), then C3 (5), then C3 (5); the number after each note is the finger (1 is the thumb). Over any other chord, move the same shape to that chord's root.
What songs use Sneaky heartbeat?
It is heard in 436 songs of the library, as the main groove of 62 songs, such as Walking in Memphis, Easy Lover, Mama (feat. William Singe), God Only Knows.
Is Sneaky heartbeat easy?
It is an easy pattern, in 4/4, usually around 100 beats a minute.