Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play Living In America on piano
Artist unknown
- D major
- 4/4
- 120 BPM
- Medium
Learn Living In America in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: D7 – C – D7 – C
Living In America sits in D major: D is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: D7 is D, F#, A and C; C is C, E and G. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
D7I7CbVIID7I7CbVII- D7D · F# · A · C
- CC · E · G
- 2
Left hand: Bouncy-ball heartbeat
A low note, then high bounces on every “and”, like a bouncing ball. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 1& · 2& · 3& · 4& (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in 203 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Pumping chords
A chord on every eighth note, driving the song forward. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 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: G – A – D
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
GAD- GG · B · D
- AA · C# · E
- DD · F# · A
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Questions about Living In America
What chords are in Living In America?
The loop is D7 – C – D7 – C (I7 – bVII – I7 – bVII) in D major, and the song ends on G – A – D.
What key is Living In America in?
D major, at about 120 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Living In America?
Bouncy-ball heartbeat: root bass · 1 · 1& · 2& · 3& · 4&, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Living In America easy to play on piano?
It is a medium one: learn the 4 chords as blocks first, then add the left hand, then the right, slowly.
Made from one arrangement of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.