Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play Footloose on piano
By Kenny Loggins
- A major
- 4/4
- 160 BPM
- 1984
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Footloose in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: A – A7 – A – A – A
How it goes
Footloose sits in A major: A is home, where the song ends. It goes round 5 chords: A is A, C# and E; A7 is A, C#, E and G. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
AIA7I7AIAIAI- AA · C# · E
- A7A · C# · E · G
- 2
Left hand: Wobbly heartbeat
How it goes
Two off-balance notes on the “ands”, then a firm landing on beat 4. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 2& · 3& · 4 (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in 267 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Pop stabs
How it goes
Chord stabs in the 3-3-2 pop rhythm. 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: G – D – A
How it goes
The last chords are bVII – IV – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
GDA- GG · B · D
- DD · F# · A
Play next
Questions about Footloose
What chords are in Footloose?
The loop is A – A7 – A – A – A (I – I7 – I – I7 – I) in A major, and the song ends on G – D – A.
What key is Footloose in?
A major, at about 160 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Footloose?
Wobbly heartbeat: root bass · 1 · 2& · 3& · 4, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Footloose easy to play on piano?
Yes. Both hands play easy patterns over 5 chords. Learn the chords first, then add one hand at a time.
Can I hear the real melody of Footloose?
Yes: "The part you know" plays the intro of the song from a score, with both hands.
Made from 3 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.