Piano chords · Rock drive
How to play Hollywood Nights on piano
By Bob Seger
- E major
- 4/4
- 140 BPM
- 1978
- Easy
Learn Hollywood Nights in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: E – A – D – E
Hollywood Nights sits in E major: E is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: E is E, G# and B; A is A, C# and E; D is D, F# and A. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
EIAIVDbVIIEI- EE · G# · B
- AA · C# · E
- DD · F# · A
- 2
Left hand: Heartbeat octaves
Low, high, low, high: a bouncing heartbeat. Musicians call it rocking octaves (rocking octaves), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Eager chords
Jumps in early before beat 3, like the chords can’t wait. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 140 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: A – B – E
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
ABE- BB · D# · F#
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Questions about Hollywood Nights
What chords are in Hollywood Nights?
The loop is E – A – D – E (I5 – IV – bVII – I) in E major, and the song ends on A – B – E.
What key is Hollywood Nights in?
E major, at about 140 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Hollywood Nights?
Heartbeat octaves: rocking octaves, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Hollywood Nights 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.