Piano chords · Rock drive
How to play China Grove on piano
Written by Tom Johnston
- E major
- 4/4
- 120 BPM
- I–bVII–IV–I loop
- 1973
- Medium
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn China Grove in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: E – D – A – E
How it goes
China Grove sits in E major: E is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: E is E, G# and B; D is D, F# and A; A is A, C# and E. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
EIDbVIIAIVEI- EE · G# · B
- DD · F# · A
- AA · C# · E
- 2
Left hand: Giant steps
How it goes
A full chord on every beat, low and heavy, like a giant walking. Musicians call it lh chords (left-hand chords), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Ticking clock
How it goes
One high note repeated on every quick beat: tick, tick, tick. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 120 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: D – A – E
How it goes
The last chords are bVII – IV – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
DAE
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Questions about China Grove
What chords are in China Grove?
The loop is E – D – A – E (I – bVII – IV – I) in E major, and the song ends on D – A – E.
What key is China Grove in?
E major, at about 120 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in China Grove?
Giant steps: lh chords, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is China Grove 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.
Made from one arrangement of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.