3 Left Hand Accompaniment Patterns for Worship Piano [Video Tutorials]
One of the most common questions I am asked as a worship piano teacher is, "What are some interesting accompaniment patterns I can use in worship/church music?" In this tutorial, you will learn several beginning- and intermediate-level patterns that you can use in the left hand.
Before you begin, download your free chord & reference charts to use as you play these patterns!
Pattern 1: Bass Note
The most basic left hand pattern (and the first one that you should learn) is to simply play one note per measure:
This video demonstrates the Bass Note pattern in more detail, using the worship songs "Majesty" and "Way Maker":
This accompaniment pattern is the foundation of all other patterns and is used the most often, so be sure to master it before moving on to the other patterns.
Pattern 2: Octaves
For the Octaves pattern, we simply play the bass note in octaves. It is best to use this accompaniment pattern in combination with others to avoid tension in the left hand.
This video explains the Octaves pattern in more detail:
Pattern 3: 1-5-8 Arpeggio
The 1-5-8 Arpeggio is a flowing accompaniment pattern that adds beauty, elegance, and a sense of movement to your playing. Be sure to watch the video to learn how to find the 1-5-8 notes, how to play the pattern for slash chords, and how to use the proper technique to avoid tension or pain as you play.
This video explains the 1-5-8 Arpeggio pattern in detail:
Ready to go further?
These are the three foundational left hand accompaniment patterns for worship piano. However, there are certainly many others that you can use as well, which I discuss in detail in the Early Advanced Worship Piano course.
Alternatively, the Membership gives you a structured, step-by-step pathway from basics to real worship-ready playing—covering chords, progressions, patterns, and full song application so you can play with confidence.
