Piano chords · Pop heartbeat

How to play Drift Away on piano

Tuning the piano…

Learn it

Learn Drift Away in 5 steps

The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.

1
Chords: G – D – A – G
Drift Away sits in D major: D is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: G is G, B and D; D is D, F# and A; A is A, C# and E. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
GIVDIAVGIV
- GG · B · D
- DD · F# · A
- AA · C# · E
87 songs go round the same chords
2
Left hand: Island pulse
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.
Island pulseRoot bass rhythm · PopLeft handEasy
3
Right hand: Pop stabs
Chord stabs in the 3-3-2 pop rhythm. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
Pop stabsSyncopated chords · PopRight handEasy
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 – G – D
The last chords are V – IV – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
AGD

What chords are in Drift Away?

The loop is G – D – A – G (IV – I – V – IV) in D major, and the song ends on A – G – D.

What key is Drift Away in?

D major, at about 130 beats a minute in 4/4.

What does the left hand play in Drift Away?

Island pulse: root bass · tresillo 3-3-2, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is Drift Away 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.