Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play Dixie Chicken on piano
Written by Lowell George & Martin Kibbee
- A major
- 2/2
- 120 BPM
- I–IV–I–V loop
- 1973
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Dixie Chicken in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: A – D – A – E
How it goes
Dixie Chicken 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; E is E, G# and B. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
AIDIVAIEV- AA · C# · E
- DD · F# · A
- EE · G# · B
- 2
Left hand: Stair steps
How it goes
Three notes climb up the chord in the island rhythm. Musicians call it broken chord 1-3-5 (broken chord), an easy pattern heard in 438 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Pop stabs
How it goes
Chord stabs in the 3-3-2 pop rhythm. 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 – E – A
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
DEA
Play next
Questions about Dixie Chicken
What chords are in Dixie Chicken?
The loop is A – D – A – E (I – IV – I – V) in A major, and the song ends on D – E – A.
What key is Dixie Chicken in?
A major, at about 120 beats a minute in 2/2.
What does the left hand play in Dixie Chicken?
Stair steps: broken chord 1-3-5, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Dixie Chicken 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.