Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play Hang On Sloopy on piano
Written by Wes Farrell & Bert Russell
- F major
- 2/2
- 100 BPM
- 1964
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Hang On Sloopy in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: F – Bb – C7 – Bb
How it goes
Hang On Sloopy sits in F major: F is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: F is F, A and C; Bb is Bb, D and F; C7 is C, E, G and Bb. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
FIBbIVC7V7BbIV- FF · A · C
- BbBb · D · F
- C7C · E · G · Bb
- 2
Left hand: Walking roots
How it goes
One low note on every beat, steady as walking feet. Musicians call it root bass · quarters (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Push chords
How it goes
Two quick chords and a push just before beat 3, then space. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 100 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 – Bb – F
How it goes
The last chords are V – IV – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
CBbF- CC · E · G
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Questions about Hang On Sloopy
What chords are in Hang On Sloopy?
The loop is F – Bb – C7 – Bb (I – IV – V7 – IV) in F major, and the song ends on C – Bb – F.
What key is Hang On Sloopy in?
F major, at about 100 beats a minute in 2/2.
What does the left hand play in Hang On Sloopy?
Walking roots: root bass · quarters, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Hang On Sloopy 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 2 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.