Piano chords · Pop heartbeat

How to play Carry On Wayward Son on piano

Tuning the piano…

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Learn Carry On Wayward Son in 5 steps

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

1
Chords: Dm – Em7 – Em7 – D – Em – Am – G
How it goes
Carry On Wayward Son sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 7 chords: Dm is D, F and A; Em7 is E, G, B and D; D is D, F# and A; Em is E, G and B; Am is A, C and E; G is G, B and D. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
DmiiEm7iii7Em7iii7DIIEmiiiAmviGV
- DmD · F · A
- Em7E · G · B · D
- DD · F# · A
- EmE · G · B
- AmA · C · E
- GG · B · D
33 songs go round the same chords
2
Left hand: Drowsy heartbeat
How it goes
Two slow notes, then a late one that slips in before the next bar. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 3 · 4& (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in 889 songs of the library.
Drowsy heartbeatRoot bass rhythm · PopLeft handEasy
3
Right hand: Soft chords
How it goes
Soft chords on beats 1, 3 and 4. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
Soft chordsBlock chords · BalladRight handEasy
4
Both hands at 124 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: G – F – C
How it goes
The last chords are V – IV – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
GFC
- FF · A · C
- CC · E · G

What chords are in Carry On Wayward Son?

The loop is Dm – Em7 – Em7 – D – Em – Am – G (ii – iii7 – II – iii – vi – V – ii) in C major, and the song ends on G – F – C.

What key is Carry On Wayward Son in?

C major, at about 124 beats a minute in 4/4.

What does the left hand play in Carry On Wayward Son?

Drowsy heartbeat: root bass · 1 · 3 · 4&, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is Carry On Wayward Son easy to play on piano?

Yes. Both hands play easy patterns over 7 chords. Learn the chords first, then add one hand at a time.

Can I hear the real melody of Carry On Wayward Son?

Yes: "The part you know" plays the main tune of the song from a score, with both hands.

Made from 3 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.