Piano chords · Blues & boogie
How Long: piano accompaniment sheet music
Written by John David Souther
- C major
- 4/4
- 138 BPM
- vi–V–IV–I loop
- 1972
- Medium
How Long written out as piano music: the vi – V – IV – I loop in C major for both hands, with chord names and finger numbers. Press play and follow the cursor. The left hand plays rock’n’roll rocker (rock’n’roll 5–6 shuffle) and the right hand hurrying chords.
How Long chord chart
The loop once round, bar by bar, in C 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 | Am | vi | A C E |
| 2 | G | V | G B D |
| 3 | F | IV | F A C |
| 4 | C | I | C E G |
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: rock’n’roll rocker (rock’n’roll 5–6 shuffle) in the left hand and hurrying chords in the right, over the Am – G – F – C 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 How Long
Does the sheet music for How Long 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 How Long?
The loop is Am – G – F – C (vi – V – IV – I) in C major, and the song ends on F – G – C.
What key is How Long in?
C major, at about 138 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in How Long?
Rock’n’roll rocker: rock’n’roll 5–6 shuffle, a medium pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is How Long easy to play on piano?
It is a medium one: learn the 4 chords as blocks first, then add the left hand, then the right, slowly.
Made from one arrangement of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.