Piano chords · Dreamy ballad
How to play Hawaiian War Chant on piano
By Tommy Dorsey
- G major
- 2/2
- 110 BPM
- I–V7–I–IV loop
- 1936
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Hawaiian War Chant in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: G – D7 – G – C
How it goes
Hawaiian War Chant sits in G major: G is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: G is G, B and D; D7 is D, F#, A and C; C is C, E and G. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
GID7V7GICIV- GG · B · D
- D7D · F# · A · C
- CC · E · G
- 2
Left hand: Trampoline bounce
How it goes
Root, a jump up, a dip down, a jump up: a country-style bounce. Musicians call it broken chord 8-12-5-12 (broken chord), an easy pattern heard in 257 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Hopscotch bells
How it goes
A high bell note, a chord, a skipped beat, and one more chord. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 110 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: G – D7 – G
How it goes
The last chords are I – V7 – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
GD7G
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Questions about Hawaiian War Chant
What chords are in Hawaiian War Chant?
The loop is G – D7 – G – C (I – V7 – I – IV) in G major, and the song ends on G – D7 – G.
What key is Hawaiian War Chant in?
G major, at about 110 beats a minute in 2/2.
What does the left hand play in Hawaiian War Chant?
Trampoline bounce: broken chord 8-12-5-12, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Hawaiian War Chant 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.