Piano chords · Dreamy ballad
How to play Honky Cat on piano
By Elton John
- G major
- 2/2
- 100 BPM
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Honky Cat in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: G – D – Em – C
How it goes
Honky Cat sits in G major: G is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: G is G, B and D; D is D, F# and A; Em is E, G and B; C is C, E and G. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
GIDVEmviCIV- GG · B · D
- DD · F# · A
- EmE · G · B
- CC · E · G
- 2
Left hand: Double-step climb
How it goes
Two beats on the root, two on the next chord note up: simple and steady. Musicians call it broken chord 1-1-3-3 (broken chord), an easy pattern heard in 284 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Wobbly chords
How it goes
Two off-balance chords on the “ands”, then a firm landing on 4. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 100 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: C – D – G
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
CDG
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Questions about Honky Cat
What chords are in Honky Cat?
The loop is G – D – Em – C (I – V – vi – IV) in G major, and the song ends on C – D – G.
What key is Honky Cat in?
G major, at about 100 beats a minute in 2/2.
What does the left hand play in Honky Cat?
Double-step climb: broken chord 1-1-3-3, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Honky Cat 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 one arrangement of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.