Piano chords · Blues & boogie
How to play California Dreamin' on piano
By The Mamas & The Papas
- A minor
- 4/4
- 155 BPM
- 1965
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn California Dreamin' in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: E7 – Am – F7 – E7
How it goes
California Dreamin' sits in A minor: A is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: E7 is E, G#, B and D; Am is A, C and E; F7 is F, A, C and Eb. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
E7V7AmiF7VI7E7V7- E7E · G# · B · D
- AmA · C · E
- F7F · A · C · Eb
- 2
Left hand: Jazz walk
How it goes
One note per beat, strolling like a jazz bassist. Musicians call it walking bass (walking bass), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Offbeat skank
How it goes
Chords only on the “and”: reggae and swing. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 155 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 – G – Am
How it goes
The last chords are bVI – bVII – i, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
FGAm- FF · A · C
- GG · B · D
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Questions about California Dreamin'
What chords are in California Dreamin'?
The loop is E7 – Am – F7 – E7 (V7 – i – bVI7 – V7) in A minor, and the song ends on F – G – Am.
What key is California Dreamin' in?
A minor, at about 155 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in California Dreamin'?
Jazz walk: walking bass, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is California Dreamin' 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.