Piano chords · Old-time stride
How to play American Made on piano
Written by Bob Dipiero & Pat McManus
- A major
- 4/4
- 120 BPM
- 1982
- Easy
Learn American Made in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: D – A – D – E7
American Made sits in A major: A is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: D is D, F# and A; 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.
DIVAIDIVE7V7- DD · F# · A
- AA · C# · E
- E7E · G# · B · D
- 2
Left hand: Boom-chick
Bass, chord, bass, chord: the bounce of ragtime and country. Musicians call it boom-chick (stride & boom-chick), an easy pattern heard in 762 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Hopscotch bells
A high bell note, a chord, a skipped beat, and one more chord. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 120 BPM
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: A – E7 – A
The last chords are I – V7 – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
AE7A
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Questions about American Made
What chords are in American Made?
The loop is D – A – D – E7 (IV – I – IV – V7) in A major, and the song ends on A – E7 – A.
What key is American Made in?
A major, at about 120 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in American Made?
Boom-chick: boom-chick, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is American Made 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.