Piano chords · Rock drive
How to play The River on piano
Written by Josh Silverberg, Colby Wedgeworth & others
- D major
- 4/4
- 120 BPM
- 2015
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn The River in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Bm – A – Bm – E7
How it goes
The River sits in D major: D is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Bm is B, D and F#; A is A, C# and E; E7 is E, G#, B and D. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
BmviAVBmviE7II7- BmB · D · F#
- AA · C# · E
- E7E · G# · B · D
- 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.
- 3
Right hand: Tiptoe chords
How it goes
One firm chord, then three tiptoe chords between the beats. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 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: G – A – D
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
GAD- GG · B · D
- DD · F# · A
Play next
Questions about The River
What chords are in The River?
The loop is Bm – A – Bm – E7 (vi – V – vi – II7) in D major, and the song ends on G – A – D.
What key is The River in?
D major, at about 120 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in The River?
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 The River 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.