Piano chords · Dreamy ballad
How to play Anchors Aweigh on piano
By Alfred Hart Miles
- C major
- 2/2
- 160 BPM
- 1997
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Anchors Aweigh in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Am – C – G7 – C
How it goes
Anchors Aweigh sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Am is A, C and E; C is C, E and G; G7 is G, B, D and F. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
AmviCIG7V7CI- AmA · C · E
- CC · E · G
- G7G · B · D · F
- 2
Left hand: Trampoline bounce
How it goes
Root, a jump up, a dip down, a jump up: a country-style bounce. Musicians call it broken chord 8-12-5-12 (broken chord), an easy pattern heard in 257 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: the chords, held
How it goes
In this song the right hand mostly plays the tune itself. Hold the chords lightly, or play the melody over the left hand.
- 4
Both hands at 160 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: C – G7 – C
How it goes
The last chords are I – V7 – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
CG7C
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Questions about Anchors Aweigh
What chords are in Anchors Aweigh?
The loop is Am – C – G7 – C (vi – I – V7 – I) in C major, and the song ends on C – G7 – C.
What key is Anchors Aweigh in?
C major, at about 160 beats a minute in 2/2.
What does the left hand play in Anchors Aweigh?
Trampoline bounce: broken chord 8-12-5-12, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Anchors Aweigh 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.