Cotton Jenny Piano Chords & Patterns

Learn Cotton Jenny in 5 steps

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

1
Chords: A – D – A7 – D
Cotton Jenny sits in A major: A is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: A is A, C# and E; D is D, F# and A; A7 is A, C#, E and G. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
AIDIVA7I7DIV
- AA · C# · E
- DD · F# · A
- A7A · C# · E · G
13 songs go round the same chords
2
Left hand: Bossa seesaw
Low-low, high-high in a laid-back Brazilian sway. Musicians call it root–fifth 1-1-5-5 (root–fifth bass), an easy pattern heard in 428 songs of the library.
Bossa seesawRoot–fifth bass · Bossa novaLeft handEasy
3
Right hand: Late-knock chords
One chord, a long wait, then a quick knock-knock at the end. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
Late-knock chordsSyncopated chords · PopRight handEasy
4
Both hands at 140 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: D – E – A
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
DEA
- EE · G# · B

What chords are in Cotton Jenny?

The loop is A – D – A7 – D (I – IV – I7 – IV) in A major, and the song ends on D – E – A.

What key is Cotton Jenny in?

A major, at about 140 beats a minute in 4/4.

What does the left hand play in Cotton Jenny?

Bossa seesaw: root–fifth 1-1-5-5, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is Cotton Jenny 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.