Piano chords · Blues & boogie
How to play Detroit City on piano
Written by Danny Dill & Mel Tillis
- C major
- 2/2
- 120 BPM
- IV–I–V7–I loop
- 1963
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Detroit City in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: F – C – G7 – C
How it goes
Detroit City sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: F is F, A and C; C is C, E and G; G7 is G, B, D and F. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
FIVCIG7V7CI- FF · A · C
- CC · E · G
- G7G · B · D · F
- 2
Left hand: Jazz walk
How it goes
One note per beat, strolling like a jazz bassist. Musicians call it walking bass (walking bass), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Steady chords
How it goes
A full chord on every beat, steady and simple. 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: C – F – C
How it goes
The last chords are I – IV – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
CFC
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Questions about Detroit City
What chords are in Detroit City?
The loop is F – C – G7 – C (IV – I – V7 – I) in C major, and the song ends on C – F – C.
What key is Detroit City in?
C major, at about 120 beats a minute in 2/2.
What does the left hand play in Detroit City?
Jazz walk: walking bass, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Detroit City 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 one arrangement of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.