Piano chords · Dreamy ballad
How to play Cathy's Clown on piano
By Everly Brothers
- F major
- 2/2
- 100 BPM
- I–IV–I–IV loop
- 1960
- Easy
Learn Cathy's Clown in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: F – Bb – F – Bb
Cathy's Clown sits in F major: F is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: F is F, A and C; Bb is Bb, D and F. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
FIBbIVFIBbIV- FF · A · C
- BbBb · D · F
- 2
Left hand: Tumble down
Three notes falling down the chord, one per beat, then a rest. Musicians call it broken chord 8-5-1 (broken chord), an easy pattern heard in 635 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Wait-a-beat chords
Silence on beat 1, then chords on 2, 3 and 4, leaving room for the bass. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 100 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: Bb – C – F
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
BbCF- CC · E · G
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Questions about Cathy's Clown
What chords are in Cathy's Clown?
The loop is F – Bb – F – Bb (I – IV – I – IV) in F major, and the song ends on Bb – C – F.
What key is Cathy's Clown in?
F major, at about 100 beats a minute in 2/2.
What does the left hand play in Cathy's Clown?
Tumble down: broken chord 8-5-1, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Cathy's Clown 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.