Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play James (Hold The Ladder Steady) on piano
Written by John D. Loudermilk
- E major
- 2/2
- 160 BPM
- V7–I–IV–V7 loop
- 1962
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn James (Hold The Ladder Steady) in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: B7 – E – A – B7
How it goes
James (Hold The Ladder Steady) sits in E major: E is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: B7 is B, D#, F# and A; E is E, G# and B; A is A, C# and E. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
B7V7EIAIVB7V7- B7B · D# · F# · A
- EE · G# · B
- AA · C# · E
- 2
Left hand: Pop heartbeat
How it goes
Long, short, long: the heartbeat under a thousand pop songs. Musicians call it root bass · charleston push (1 · 2& · 3) (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: the chords, held
How it goes
In this song the right hand mostly plays the tune itself. Hold the chords lightly, or play the melody over the left hand.
- 4
Both hands at 160 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: A – B – E
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
ABE- BB · D# · F#
Play next
Questions about James (Hold The Ladder Steady)
What chords are in James (Hold The Ladder Steady)?
The loop is B7 – E – A – B7 (V7 – I – IV – V7) in E major, and the song ends on A – B – E.
What key is James (Hold The Ladder Steady) in?
E major, at about 160 beats a minute in 2/2.
What does the left hand play in James (Hold The Ladder Steady)?
Pop heartbeat: root bass · charleston push (1 · 2& · 3), an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is James (Hold The Ladder Steady) 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.