Piano chords · Dreamy ballad
How to play Johnny B. Goode on piano
Artist unknown
- F major
- 4/4
- 120 BPM
- I–I7–IV7–I loop
- 1958
- Easy
Learn Johnny B. Goode in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: F – F7 – Bb7 – F
Johnny B. Goode sits in F major: F is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: F is F, A and C; F7 is F, A, C and Eb; Bb7 is Bb, D, F and Ab. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
FIF7I7Bb7IV7FI- FF · A · C
- F7F · A · C · Eb
- Bb7Bb · D · F · Ab
- 2
Left hand: Rock’n’roll climb
Up three chord notes and one step past: the 1950s rock’n’roll climb. Musicians call it broken chord 1-3-5-6 (broken chord), an easy pattern heard in 204 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: the chords, held
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 120 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: Bb – C – F
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
BbCF- BbBb · D · F
- CC · E · G
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Questions about Johnny B. Goode
What chords are in Johnny B. Goode?
The loop is F – F7 – Bb7 – F (I – I7 – IV7 – I) in F major, and the song ends on Bb – C – F.
What key is Johnny B. Goode in?
F major, at about 120 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Johnny B. Goode?
Rock’n’roll climb: broken chord 1-3-5-6, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Johnny B. Goode 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.