In Summer Piano Chords & Patterns

Learn In Summer in 5 steps

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

1
Chords: E – F#m – E – F#m
In Summer sits in E major: E is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: E is E, G# and B; F#m is F#, A and C#. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
EIF#miiEIF#mii
- EE · G# · B
- F#mF# · A · C#
164 songs go round the same chords
2
Left hand: Velvet jazz
Two soft notes on each beat: the cozy colour of old jazz ballads. Musicians call it lh shell voicings (1-7 / 1-3) (left-hand chords), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
Velvet jazzLeft-hand chords · Blues and boogie-woogieLeft handEasy
3
Right hand: Marching chords
Two chords per bar, left-right, like a happy little march. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
Marching chordsBlock chords · StrideRight handEasy
4
Both hands at 107 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
- AA · C# · E
- BB · D# · F#

What chords are in In Summer?

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

What key is In Summer in?

E major, at about 107 beats a minute in 4/4.

What does the left hand play in In Summer?

Velvet jazz: lh shell voicings (1-7 / 1-3), an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is In Summer 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.