Piano chords · Dreamy ballad
How to play Frankie's Man, Johnny on piano
By Johnny Cash
- C major
- 2/2
- 132 BPM
- 1959
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Frankie's Man, Johnny in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: G7 – C – F7 – G7
How it goes
Frankie's Man, Johnny sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: G7 is G, B, D and F; C is C, E and G; F7 is F, A, C and Eb. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
G7V7CIF7IV7G7V7- G7G · B · D · F
- CC · E · G
- F7F · A · C · Eb
- 2
Left hand: Yo-yo bounce
How it goes
A long high root, a dip down, and back up like a yo-yo. Musicians call it broken chord 8-5-8 (broken chord), an easy pattern heard in 629 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Soft chords
How it goes
Soft chords on beats 1, 3 and 4. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 132 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 – F7 – C
How it goes
The last chords are I – IV7 – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
CF7C
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Questions about Frankie's Man, Johnny
What chords are in Frankie's Man, Johnny?
The loop is G7 – C – F7 – G7 (V7 – I – IV7 – V7) in C major, and the song ends on C – F7 – C.
What key is Frankie's Man, Johnny in?
C major, at about 132 beats a minute in 2/2.
What does the left hand play in Frankie's Man, Johnny?
Yo-yo bounce: broken chord 8-5-8, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Frankie's Man, Johnny 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.