Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play Don’t Sit Under The Apple Tree on piano
Written by Lew Brown, Sam H. Stept & others
- F major
- 2/2
- 140 BPM
- 1942
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Don’t Sit Under The Apple Tree in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: G7 – Gm – C7 – F
How it goes
Don’t Sit Under The Apple Tree sits in F major: F is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: G7 is G, B, D and F; Gm is G, Bb and D; C7 is C, E, G and Bb; F is F, A and C. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
G7II7GmiiC7V7FI- G7G · B · D · F
- GmG · Bb · D
- C7C · E · G · Bb
- FF · A · C
- 2
Left hand: Lazy footsteps
How it goes
One long low note, then two calm steps to finish the bar. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 3 · 4 (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Late-hop chords
How it goes
Steady chords with one quick extra hop after beat 3. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 140 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: F – Bb – F
How it goes
The last chords are I – IV – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
FBbF- BbBb · D · F
Play next
Questions about Don’t Sit Under The Apple Tree
What chords are in Don’t Sit Under The Apple Tree?
The loop is G7 – Gm – C7 – F (II7 – ii – V7 – I) in F major, and the song ends on F – Bb – F.
What key is Don’t Sit Under The Apple Tree in?
F major, at about 140 beats a minute in 2/2.
What does the left hand play in Don’t Sit Under The Apple Tree?
Lazy footsteps: root bass · 1 · 3 · 4, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Don’t Sit Under The Apple Tree 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.