Keep On Shinin' Piano Chords & Patterns

Learn Keep On Shinin' in 5 steps

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

1
Chords: Am – Dm – G – C
Keep On Shinin' sits in A minor: A is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Am is A, C and E; Dm is D, F and A; G is G, B and D; C is C, E and G. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
AmiDmivGVIICIII
- AmA · C · E
- DmD · F · A
- GG · B · D
- CC · E · G
20 songs go round the same chords
2
Left hand: Late-hop footsteps
Steady low-high steps with one quick extra hop after beat 3. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 2 · 3 · 3& · 4 (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in 659 songs of the library.
Late-hop footstepsRoot bass rhythm · PopLeft handEasy
3
Right hand: Peekaboo chords
A chord on 2, then two surprises popping up between the beats. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
Peekaboo chordsSyncopated chords · PopRight handEasy
4
Both hands at 100 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: F – G – Am
The last chords are bVI – bVII – i, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
FGAm
- FF · A · C

What chords are in Keep On Shinin'?

The loop is Am – Dm – G – C (i – iv – bVII – bIII) in A minor, and the song ends on F – G – Am.

What key is Keep On Shinin' in?

A minor, at about 100 beats a minute in 4/4.

What does the left hand play in Keep On Shinin'?

Late-hop footsteps: root bass · 1 · 2 · 3 · 3& · 4, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is Keep On Shinin' 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.