Piano chords · Bossa beach
How to play I'm Always Chasing Rainbows on piano
By Henry Carroll
- G major
- 2/2
- 112 BPM
- I–V7–I–IV loop
- 1996
- Easy
Learn I'm Always Chasing Rainbows 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
I'm Always Chasing Rainbows 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: Lazy seesaw
A low note, a higher one, a gap, then the higher one again. Musicians call it root–fifth 1-5-5 (root–fifth bass), an easy pattern heard in 520 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Hopscotch bells
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 112 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: A7 – D7 – G
The last chords are II7 – V7 – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
A7D7G- A7A · C# · E · G
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Questions about I'm Always Chasing Rainbows
What chords are in I'm Always Chasing Rainbows?
The loop is G – D7 – G – C (I – V7 – I – IV) in G major, and the song ends on A7 – D7 – G.
What key is I'm Always Chasing Rainbows in?
G major, at about 112 beats a minute in 2/2.
What does the left hand play in I'm Always Chasing Rainbows?
Lazy seesaw: root–fifth 1-5-5, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is I'm Always Chasing Rainbows 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.