Piano chords · Bossa beach
Jim Crow: piano accompaniment sheet music
Written by John Mellencamp
- C major
- 4/4
- 100 BPM
- vi–iii–vi–iii loop
- 2006
- Easy
Jim Crow written out as piano music: the vi – iii – vi – iii loop in C major for both hands, with chord names and finger numbers. Press play and follow the cursor. The left hand plays island seesaw (root–fifth 1-5-1) and the right hand soft chords.
Jim Crow 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 | Em | iii | E G B |
| 3 | Am | vi | A C E |
| 4 | Em | iii | E G B |
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: island seesaw (root–fifth 1-5-1) in the left hand and soft chords in the right, over the Am – Em – Am – Em 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.
Play next
More by John Mellencamp
Questions about Jim Crow
Does the sheet music for Jim Crow 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 Jim Crow?
The loop is Am – Em – Am – Em (vi – iii – vi – iii) in C major, and the song ends on F – G – C.
What key is Jim Crow in?
C major, at about 100 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Jim Crow?
Island seesaw: root–fifth 1-5-1, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Jim Crow 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.