Piano chords · Rock drive
How to play Green Light on piano
Written by Ella Yelich-O’Connor, Jack Antonoff & others
- A major
- 4/4
- 132 BPM
- bVII–IV–I–bVII loop
- 2017
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Green Light in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: G – D – A – G
How it goes
Green Light sits in A major: A is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: G is G, B and D; D is D, F# and A; A is A, C# and E. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
GbVIIDIVAIGbVII- GG · B · D
- DD · F# · A
- AA · C# · E
- 2
Left hand: Rock hop
How it goes
Low, high, a quick double, then high again: a hopping rock bass. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 2 · 2& · 3 · 4 (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in 809 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Sleep-in chords
How it goes
Quiet for half the bar, then three chords wake up near the end. 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: D – E – A
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
DEA- EE · G# · B
Play next
Questions about Green Light
What chords are in Green Light?
The loop is G – D – A – G (bVII – IV – I – bVII) in A major, and the song ends on D – E – A.
What key is Green Light in?
A major, at about 132 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Green Light?
Rock hop: root bass · 1 · 2 · 2& · 3 · 4, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Green Light 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.