Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play Southern Cross on piano
Written by Stephen Stills, Richard Curtis & others
- A major
- 2/2
- 104 BPM
- I–bVII–IV–I loop
- 1974
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Southern Cross in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: A – G – D – A
How it goes
Southern Cross sits in A major: A is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: A is A, C# and E; G is G, B and D; D is D, F# and A. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
AIGbVIIDIVAI- AA · C# · E
- GG · B · D
- DD · F# · A
- 2
Left hand: Hopscotch steps
How it goes
Step, step, skip a beat, step: like hopping over a square. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 2 · 4 (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in 668 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Hopscotch chords
How it goes
Chord, chord, skip beat 3, chord: hopping over a square. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 104 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: D – E – A
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
DEA- EE · G# · B
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Questions about Southern Cross
What chords are in Southern Cross?
The loop is A – G – D – A (I – bVII – IV – I) in A major, and the song ends on D – E – A.
What key is Southern Cross in?
A major, at about 104 beats a minute in 2/2.
What does the left hand play in Southern Cross?
Hopscotch steps: root bass · 1 · 2 · 4, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Southern Cross 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.
Made from 3 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.