Piano chords · Pop heartbeat

How to play Joy Ride on piano

Tuning the piano…

Learn it

Learn Joy Ride in 5 steps

The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.

1
Chords: C – Bm – C – Bm
Joy Ride sits in G major: G is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: C is C, E and G; Bm is B, D and F#. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
CIVBmiiiCIVBmiii
- CC · E · G
- BmB · D · F#
15 songs go round the same chords
2
Left hand: Pausing footsteps
Three even steps, then a quiet beat to breathe. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 2 · 3 (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
Pausing footstepsRoot bass rhythm · PopLeft handEasy
3
Right hand: Soft chords
Soft chords on beats 1, 3 and 4. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
Soft chordsBlock chords · BalladRight handEasy
4
Both hands at 110 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: C – D – G
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
CDG
- DD · F# · A
- GG · B · D

What chords are in Joy Ride?

The loop is C – Bm – C – Bm (IV – iii – IV – iii) in G major, and the song ends on C – D – G.

What key is Joy Ride in?

G major, at about 110 beats a minute in 2/2.

What does the left hand play in Joy Ride?

Pausing footsteps: root bass · 1 · 2 · 3, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is Joy Ride 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.