Piano chords · Old-time stride
How to play Drunkard’s Prayer on piano
Written by Chris Stapleton & Cristopher Jameson Clark
- E major
- 4/4
- 92 BPM
- I–V7–I–V7 loop
- 2003
- Easy
Learn Drunkard’s Prayer in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: E – B7 – E – B7
Drunkard’s Prayer sits in E major: E is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: E is E, G# and B; B7 is B, D#, F# and A. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
EIB7V7EIB7V7- EE · G# · B
- B7B · D# · F# · A
- 2
Left hand: Stride jumps
Deep bass, then a chord in the middle: the left hand leaps. Musicians call it stride (stride & boom-chick), an easy pattern heard in 961 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Bossa chords
Long-short, long-short, leaning ahead: soft Brazilian chords. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 92 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 – B – E
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
ABE- AA · C# · E
- BB · D# · F#
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Questions about Drunkard’s Prayer
What chords are in Drunkard’s Prayer?
The loop is E – B7 – E – B7 (I – V7 – I – V7) in E major, and the song ends on A – B – E.
What key is Drunkard’s Prayer in?
E major, at about 92 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Drunkard’s Prayer?
Stride jumps: stride, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Drunkard’s Prayer 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.