Cherry Bomb Piano Chords & Patterns

Learn Cherry Bomb in 5 steps

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

1
Chords: G – Am – G – Am
How it goes
Cherry Bomb sits in G major: G is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: G is G, B and D; Am is A, C and E. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
GIAmiiGIAmii
- GG · B · D
- AmA · C · E
164 songs go round the same chords
2
Left hand: Tiptoe heartbeat
How it goes
One firm note, then three tiptoe steps between the beats. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 2& · 3& · 4& (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in 245 songs of the library.
Tiptoe heartbeatRoot bass rhythm · PopLeft handEasy
3
Right hand: Running-late chords
How it goes
Misses beat 1, then hurries in with busy chords around the beats. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
Running-late chordsSyncopated chords · PopRight handMedium
4
Both hands at 100 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: C – D – G
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
CDG
- CC · E · G
- DD · F# · A

What chords are in Cherry Bomb?

The loop is G – Am – G – Am (I – ii – I – ii) in G major, and the song ends on C – D – G.

What key is Cherry Bomb in?

G major, at about 100 beats a minute in 4/4.

What does the left hand play in Cherry Bomb?

Tiptoe heartbeat: root bass · 1 · 2& · 3& · 4&, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is Cherry Bomb 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.