Piano chords · Dreamy ballad
How to play Honky Tonk on piano
Written by Berisford “Shep” Shepherd, Clifford Scott & others
- F major
- 4/4
- 108 BPM
- I–IV7–I–IV7 loop
- 1956
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Honky Tonk in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: F – Bb7 – F – Bb7
How it goes
Honky Tonk sits in F major: F is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: F is F, A and C; Bb7 is Bb, D, F and Ab. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
FIBb7IV7FIBb7IV7- FF · A · C
- Bb7Bb · D · F · Ab
- 2
Left hand: Ping-pong bounce
How it goes
High, low, high, low on every beat: a ping-pong bounce. Musicians call it broken chord 8-5 (broken chord), an easy pattern heard in 302 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Steady chords
How it goes
A full chord on every beat, steady and simple. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 108 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: F – C7 – F
How it goes
The last chords are I – V7 – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
FC7F- C7C · E · G · Bb
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Questions about Honky Tonk
What chords are in Honky Tonk?
The loop is F – Bb7 – F – Bb7 (I – IV7 – I – IV7) in F major, and the song ends on F – C7 – F.
What key is Honky Tonk in?
F major, at about 108 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Honky Tonk?
Ping-pong bounce: broken chord 8-5, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Honky Tonk 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.