Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play Day-O on piano
Written by Irving Burgie & William Attaway
- D major
- 2/2
- 90 BPM
- I–V7–I–V7 loop
- 1955
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Day-O in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: D – A7 – D – A7
How it goes
Day-O sits in D major: D is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: 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.
DIA7V7DIA7V7- DD · F# · A
- A7A · C# · E · G
- 2
Left hand: Island pulse
How it goes
Three, three, two: the island rhythm in so many pop hits. Musicians call it root bass · tresillo 3-3-2 (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Pausing chords
How it goes
Three steady chords, then beat 4 left empty to breathe. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 90 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 – A7 – D
How it goes
The last chords are I – V7 – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
DA7D
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Questions about Day-O
What chords are in Day-O?
The loop is D – A7 – D – A7 (I – V7 – I – V7) in D major, and the song ends on D – A7 – D.
What key is Day-O in?
D major, at about 90 beats a minute in 2/2.
What does the left hand play in Day-O?
Island pulse: root bass · tresillo 3-3-2, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Day-O 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 2 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.