Piano chords · Dreamy ballad
How to play Drivin’ My Life Away on piano
Artist unknown
- A major
- 2/2
- 160 BPM
- V7–I–V7–I loop
- Medium
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Drivin’ My Life Away in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: E7 – A – E7 – A
How it goes
Drivin’ My Life Away sits in A major: A is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: E7 is E, G#, B and D; A is A, C# and E. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
E7V7AIE7V7AI- E7E · G# · B · D
- AA · C# · E
- 2
Left hand: Bluesy shrug
How it goes
A long root, then down and back up to a bluesy note. Musicians call it broken chord 8-5-7 (broken chord), an easy pattern heard in 73 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Neon flicker
How it goes
A rich chord, then two notes flickering with a cool, bluesy glow. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 160 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- DD · F# · A
- EE · G# · B
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Questions about Drivin’ My Life Away
What chords are in Drivin’ My Life Away?
The loop is E7 – A – E7 – A (V7 – I – V7 – I) in A major, and the song ends on D – E – A.
What key is Drivin’ My Life Away in?
A major, at about 160 beats a minute in 2/2.
What does the left hand play in Drivin’ My Life Away?
Bluesy shrug: broken chord 8-5-7, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Drivin’ My Life Away easy to play on piano?
It is a medium one: learn the 4 chords as blocks first, then add the left hand, then the right, slowly.
Made from one arrangement of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.