Canadian Railroad Trilogy Piano Chords & Patterns

Learn Canadian Railroad Trilogy in 5 steps

The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.

1
Chords: F – Cm – F – Cm
How it goes
Canadian Railroad Trilogy sits in F major: F is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: F is F, A and C; Cm is C, Eb and G. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
FICmvFICmv
- FF · A · C
- CmC · Eb · G
28 songs go round the same chords
2
Left hand: Waltz ripple
How it goes
A ripple of three notes in three-time. Musicians call it broken chord 1-5-8 (3/4) (broken chord), an easy pattern heard in 473 songs of the library.
Waltz rippleBroken chord · WaltzLeft handEasy
3
Right hand: Swaying waltz chords
How it goes
Two waltz chords, then a late top note after beat 3 that leans forward. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
Swaying waltz chordsSyncopated chords · WaltzRight handEasy
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: Bb – C – F
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
BbCF
- BbBb · D · F
- CC · E · G

What chords are in Canadian Railroad Trilogy?

The loop is F – Cm – F – Cm (I – v – I – v) in F major, and the song ends on Bb – C – F.

What key is Canadian Railroad Trilogy in?

F major, at about 160 beats a minute in 2/2.

What does the left hand play in Canadian Railroad Trilogy?

Waltz ripple: broken chord 1-5-8 (3/4), an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is Canadian Railroad Trilogy 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.