Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play California Sun on piano
Artist unknown
- C major
- 4/4
- 144 BPM
- I–IV–I–IV loop
- Easy
Learn California Sun in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: C – F – C – F
California Sun sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: C is C, E and G; F is F, A and C. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
CIFIVCIFIV- CC · E · G
- FF · A · C
- 2
Left hand: Pausing footsteps
Three even steps, then a quiet beat to breathe. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 2 · 3 (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Springy chords
A quick double skip at the start, then steady chords to the end. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 144 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: D7 – G7 – C
The last chords are II7 – V7 – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
D7G7C- D7D · F# · A · C
- G7G · B · D · F
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Questions about California Sun
What chords are in California Sun?
The loop is C – F – C – F (I – IV – I – IV) in C major, and the song ends on D7 – G7 – C.
What key is California Sun in?
C major, at about 144 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in California Sun?
Pausing footsteps: root bass · 1 · 2 · 3, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is California Sun 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.