Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play Bonanza on piano
Written by Jay Livingston & Ray Evans
- G major
- 2/2
- 160 BPM
- I–V7–ii–V7 loop
- 1959
- Medium
Learn Bonanza in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: G – D7 – Am – D7
Bonanza sits in G major: G is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: G is G, B and D; D7 is D, F#, A and C; Am is A, C and E. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
GID7V7AmiiD7V7- GG · B · D
- D7D · F# · A · C
- AmA · C · E
- 2
Left hand: Racing heartbeat
One calm beat, then non-stop quick notes racing to the end. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 2 · 2& · 3 · 3& · 4 · 4& (root bass rhythm), a medium pattern heard in 431 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Slow-down chords
Quick chords rush through the first half, then slow down to land on 4. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 160 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: Am – D7 – G
The last chords are ii – V7 – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
AmD7G
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Questions about Bonanza
What chords are in Bonanza?
The loop is G – D7 – Am – D7 (I – V7 – ii – V7) in G major, and the song ends on Am – D7 – G.
What key is Bonanza in?
G major, at about 160 beats a minute in 2/2.
What does the left hand play in Bonanza?
Racing heartbeat: root bass · 1 · 2 · 2& · 3 · 3& · 4 · 4&, a medium pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Bonanza easy to play on piano?
It is a medium one: learn the 4 chords as blocks first, then add the left hand, then the right, slowly.
Made from one arrangement of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.