Piano chords · Rock drive
How to play Day Tripper on piano
By The Beatles
- E major
- 4/4
- 130 BPM
- 1965
- Easy
Learn Day Tripper in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: C – E7 – A7 – E7
Day Tripper sits in E major: E is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: C is C, E and G; E7 is E, G#, B and D; A7 is A, C#, E and G. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
CbVIE7I7A7IV7E7I7- CC · E · G
- E7E · G# · B · D
- A7A · C# · E · G
- 2
Left hand: Heartbeat octaves
Low, high, low, high: a bouncing heartbeat. Musicians call it rocking octaves (rocking octaves), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Shy chords
Waits out beat 1, then a chord on 2 and a little double on 3. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 130 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: A – B – E
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
ABE- AA · C# · E
- BB · D# · F#
- EE · G# · B
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Questions about Day Tripper
What chords are in Day Tripper?
The loop is C – E7 – A7 – E7 (bVI – I7 – IV7 – I7) in E major, and the song ends on A – B – E.
What key is Day Tripper in?
E major, at about 130 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Day Tripper?
Heartbeat octaves: rocking octaves, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Day Tripper 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.
Can I hear the real melody of Day Tripper?
Yes: "The part you know" plays the intro of the song from a score, with both hands.
Made from 5 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.