Dog Days Are Over Piano Chords & Patterns

Learn Dog Days Are Over in 5 steps

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

1
Chords: G – Am – Em – G
How it goes
Dog Days Are Over sits in G major: G is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: G is G, B and D; Am is A, C and E; Em is E, G and B. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
GIAmiiEmviGI
- GG · B · D
- AmA · C · E
- EmE · G · B
15 songs go round the same chords
2
Left hand: Rock hop
How it goes
Low, high, a quick double, then high again: a hopping rock bass. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 2 · 2& · 3 · 4 (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in 809 songs of the library.
Rock hopRoot bass rhythm · RockLeft handEasy
3
Right hand: Pumping chords
How it goes
A chord on every eighth note, driving the song forward. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
Pumping chordsPumping 8ths · RockRight handMedium
4
Both hands at 150 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: Am – C – G
How it goes
The last chords are ii – IV – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
AmCG
- CC · E · G

What chords are in Dog Days Are Over?

The loop is G – Am – Em – G (I – ii – vi – I) in G major, and the song ends on Am – C – G.

What key is Dog Days Are Over in?

G major, at about 150 beats a minute in 4/4.

What does the left hand play in Dog Days Are Over?

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

Is Dog Days Are Over easy to play on piano?

It is a medium one: learn the 4 chords as blocks first, then add the left hand, then the right, slowly.