Piano chords · Rock drive
How to play Greased Lightnin’ on piano
By John Travolta
- C major
- 4/4
- 140 BPM
- I–IV–I–V loop
- Easy
Learn Greased Lightnin’ in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: C – F – C – G
Greased Lightnin’ sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: C is C, E and G; F is F, A and C; G is G, B and D. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
CIFIVCIGV- CC · E · G
- FF · A · C
- GG · B · D
- 2
Left hand: Heartbeat octaves
Low, high, low, high: a bouncing heartbeat. Musicians call it rocking octaves (rocking octaves), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Gospel-clap chords
Skips beat 1, then soulful chords that bounce off the “ands”. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 140 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: C – F – C
The last chords are I – IV – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
CFC
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Questions about Greased Lightnin’
What chords are in Greased Lightnin’?
The loop is C – F – C – G (I – IV – I – V) in C major, and the song ends on C – F – C.
What key is Greased Lightnin’ in?
C major, at about 140 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Greased Lightnin’?
Heartbeat octaves: rocking octaves, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Greased Lightnin’ 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.