Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play Drive on piano
By The Cars
- C major
- 4/4
- 82 BPM
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Drive in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: D – Am – D – C
How it goes
Drive sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: D is D, F# and A; Am is A, C and E; C is C, E and G. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
DIIAmviDIICI- DD · F# · A
- AmA · C · E
- CC · E · G
- 2
Left hand: Rush-and-step pulse
How it goes
Three quick notes tumble out, a pause, then one high step on beat 4. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 1a · 2& · 4 (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in 157 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Swing push
How it goes
Three chords tumble out early with a swing, then the bar breathes. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 82 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 – G – C
How it goes
The last chords are I – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
CGC- GG · B · D
Play next
Questions about Drive
What chords are in Drive?
The loop is D – Am – D – C (II – vi – II – I) in C major, and the song ends on C – G – C.
What key is Drive in?
C major, at about 82 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Drive?
Rush-and-step pulse: root bass · 1 · 1a · 2& · 4, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Drive 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 Drive?
Yes: "The part you know" plays the catchy part of the song from a score, with both hands.
Made from one arrangement of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.