Gold Rush Piano Chords & Patterns

Learn Gold Rush in 5 steps

The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.

1
Chords: D – G – D – A7
Gold Rush sits in D major: D is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: D is D, F# and A; G is G, B and D; A7 is A, C#, E and G. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
DIGIVDIA7V7
- DD · F# · A
- GG · B · D
- A7A · C# · E · G
94 songs go round the same chords
2
Left hand: Boom-chick
Bass, chord, bass, chord: the bounce of ragtime and country. Musicians call it boom-chick (stride & boom-chick), an easy pattern heard in 762 songs of the library.
Boom-chickStride & boom-chick · StrideLeft handEasy
3
Right hand: Rocking thirds
Two neighbouring chord notes rocking back and forth, soft and sweet. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
Rocking thirdsTwo-note ostinato · PopRight handMedium
4
Both hands at 160 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: D – A7 – D
The last chords are I – V7 – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
DA7D

What chords are in Gold Rush?

The loop is D – G – D – A7 (I – IV – I – V7) in D major, and the song ends on D – A7 – D.

What key is Gold Rush in?

D major, at about 160 beats a minute in 2/2.

What does the left hand play in Gold Rush?

Boom-chick: boom-chick, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is Gold Rush 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.