Only In America Piano Chords & Patterns

Learn Only In America in 5 steps

The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.

1
Chords: A – B – E – A
How it goes
Only In America sits in E major: E is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: A is A, C# and E; B is B, D# and F#; E is E, G# and B. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
AIVBVEIAIV
- AA · C# · E
- BB · D# · F#
- EE · G# · B
141 songs go round the same chords
2
Left hand: Push and land
How it goes
A push just before beat 3, then two calm landings. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 2& · 3 · 4 (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
Push and landRoot bass rhythm · PopLeft handEasy
3
Right hand: Hide-and-seek chords
How it goes
Hides on beat 1, pops up on 2, sneaks in before beat 4, then lands on it. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
Hide-and-seek chordsSyncopated chords · PopRight handEasy
4
Both hands at 120 BPM
How it goes
Put the two hands together over the loop. Start at half speed with the player's speed control, and bring it up once every change is easy.
5
Ending: E – A – E
How it goes
The last chords are I – IV – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
EAE

What chords are in Only In America?

The loop is A – B – E – A (IV – V – I – IV) in E major, and the song ends on E – A – E.

What key is Only In America in?

E major, at about 120 beats a minute in 4/4.

What does the left hand play in Only In America?

Push and land: root bass · 1 · 2& · 3 · 4, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is Only In America easy to play on piano?

Yes. Both hands play easy patterns over 4 chords. Learn the chords first, then add one hand at a time.