Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
Harlem River Blues: piano accompaniment sheet music
By Justin Townes Earle
- G major
- 2/2
- 156 BPM
- I–IV–I–V loop
- 1989
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Harlem River Blues written out as piano music: the I – IV – I – V loop in G major for both hands, with chord names and finger numbers. Press play and follow the cursor. The left hand plays pop heartbeat (root bass · charleston push (1 · 2& · 3)) and the right hand push chords.
Harlem River Blues chord chart
The loop once round, bar by bar, in G major. The roman numeral says the chord's place in the key, so the same chart works in any key.
| Bar | Chord | Numeral | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | G | I | G B D |
| 2 | C | IV | C E G |
| 3 | G | I | G B D |
| 4 | D | V | D F# A |
What the sheet music shows
The grand staff: the right hand on the treble staff, the left hand on the bass staff, with the chord names above and a finger number on each note (1 is the thumb). It is the accompaniment: pop heartbeat (root bass · charleston push (1 · 2& · 3)) in the left hand and push chords in the right, over the G – C – G – D chords.
Press play and a cursor follows the music. Above it, Colours paints each note in its key’s colour and Note names writes its letter on its head.
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Questions about Harlem River Blues
Does the sheet music for Harlem River Blues have finger numbers?
Yes: every note of both hands has its finger number, 1 being the thumb. To read the notes alone, turn Fingers off above the music.
What chords are in Harlem River Blues?
The loop is G – C – G – D (I – IV – I – V) in G major, and the song ends on G – D – G.
What key is Harlem River Blues in?
G major, at about 156 beats a minute in 2/2.
What does the left hand play in Harlem River Blues?
Pop heartbeat: root bass · charleston push (1 · 2& · 3), an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Harlem River Blues 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.