Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play Iko Iko on piano
By The Dixie Cups
- F major
- 4/4
- 110 BPM
- I–V–V7–I loop
- 1964
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Iko Iko in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: F – C – C7 – F
How it goes
Iko Iko sits in F major: F is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: F is F, A and C; C is C, E and G; C7 is C, E, G and Bb. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
FICVC7V7FI- FF · A · C
- CC · E · G
- C7C · E · G · Bb
- 2
Left hand: Hurry-and-wait pulse
How it goes
Three quick notes rush out early, then the bass waits for the next bar. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 1a · 2& (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in 336 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Lub-dub chords
How it goes
Two quick chords, a pause, two quick chords: just like a heartbeat. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 110 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: F – Bb – F
How it goes
The last chords are I – IV – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
FBbF- BbBb · D · F
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Questions about Iko Iko
What chords are in Iko Iko?
The loop is F – C – C7 – F (I – V – V7 – I) in F major, and the song ends on F – Bb – F.
What key is Iko Iko in?
F major, at about 110 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Iko Iko?
Hurry-and-wait pulse: root bass · 1 · 1a · 2&, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Iko Iko 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 2 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.