Piano chords · Blues & boogie
Jolene: easy piano accompaniment in letter notes
By Dolly Parton
- E major
- 2/2
- 160 BPM
- vi–I–V–vi loop
- Easy
The accompaniment with every note named, bar by bar: the bar sheet shows each note as a bar on the staff with its letter inside, so you can accompany Jolene without reading music. The left hand plays seesaw bass (root–fifth 1-5-1-5) and the right hand shy chords.
The intro of Jolene in letter notes
The real notes from a score, both hands, bar by bar. R is the right hand, L the left; C4 is middle C.
Jolene accompaniment in letter notes
The C#m – E – B – C#m loop with seesaw bass in the left hand and shy chords in the right. Notes struck together are joined with a plus; C4 is middle C.
How to read the bar sheet
The player above shows the treble staff (right hand) over the bass staff (left hand). Every note is a bar as long as it sounds, at its place on the staff, with its name inside, and the music scrolls past a line that marks now. The chord names run along the top.
Start with the left hand alone at a slow speed, then the right, then both. When the letters feel easy, try the sheet music.
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Questions about Jolene
What are the letter notes for the Jolene piano accompaniment?
Bar by bar, both hands: the bar sheet on this page names every note of the accompaniment (C4 is middle C) and plays along. The loop is C#m – E – B – C#m, so the letters repeat with the chords.
What chords are in Jolene?
The loop is C#m – E – B – C#m (vi – I – V – vi) in E major, and the song ends on A – B – E.
What key is Jolene in?
E major, at about 160 beats a minute in 2/2.
What does the left hand play in Jolene?
Seesaw bass: root–fifth 1-5-1-5, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Jolene 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.
Can I hear the real melody of Jolene?
Yes: "The part you know" plays the intro of the song from a score, with both hands.
Made from 4 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.