Piano chords · Rock drive
How to play Jim Dandy on piano
Written by Lincoln Chase
- C major
- 4/4
- 160 BPM
- IV7–I7–V7–IV7 loop
- 1955
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Jim Dandy in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: F7 – C7 – G7 – F7
How it goes
Jim Dandy sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: F7 is F, A, C and Eb; C7 is C, E, G and Bb; G7 is G, B, D and F. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
F7IV7C7I7G7V7F7IV7- F7F · A · C · Eb
- C7C · E · G · Bb
- G7G · B · D · F
- 2
Left hand: Heartbeat octaves
How it goes
Low, high, low, high: a bouncing heartbeat. Musicians call it rocking octaves (rocking octaves), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Pausing chords
How it goes
Three steady chords, then beat 4 left empty to breathe. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 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: F – G – C
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
FGC- FF · A · C
- GG · B · D
- CC · E · G
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Questions about Jim Dandy
What chords are in Jim Dandy?
The loop is F7 – C7 – G7 – F7 (IV7 – I7 – V7 – IV7) in C major, and the song ends on F – G – C.
What key is Jim Dandy in?
C major, at about 160 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Jim Dandy?
Heartbeat octaves: rocking octaves, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Jim Dandy 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.