Piano chords · Waltz garden

How to play High Time on piano

Tuning the piano…

Learn it

Learn High Time in 5 steps

The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.

1
Chords: A – E – D – A
High Time sits in E major: E is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: A is A, C# and E; E is E, G# and B; D is D, F# and A. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
AIVEIDbVIIAIV
- AA · C# · E
- EE · G# · B
- DD · F# · A
39 songs go round the same chords
2
Left hand: Waltz climb
Three notes up the chord, one per beat: a gentle waltz climb. Musicians call it broken chord 1-3-5 (3/4) (broken chord), an easy pattern heard in 248 songs of the library.
Waltz climbBroken chord · WaltzLeft handEasy
3
Right hand: Waltz chords
A chord on each of the three beats: a simple waltz. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
Waltz chordsBlock chords · WaltzRight handEasy
4
Both hands at 92 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: E – F#m – E
The last chords are I – ii – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
EF#mE
- F#mF# · A · C#

What chords are in High Time?

The loop is A – E – D – A (IV – I – bVII – IV) in E major, and the song ends on E – F#m – E.

What key is High Time in?

E major, at about 92 beats a minute in 3/4.

What does the left hand play in High Time?

Waltz climb: broken chord 1-3-5 (3/4), an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is High Time 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.