Piano chords · Dreamy ballad
How to play Michael Row The Boat Ashore on piano
Written by Traditional Folk Song
- C major
- 2/2
- 100 BPM
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Michael Row The Boat Ashore in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: C – F – C – Em
How it goes
Michael Row The Boat Ashore sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: C is C, E and G; F is F, A and C; Em is E, G and B. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
CIFIVCIEmiii- CC · E · G
- FF · A · C
- EmE · G · B
- 2
Left hand: Trampoline bounce
How it goes
Root, a jump up, a dip down, a jump up: a country-style bounce. Musicians call it broken chord 8-12-5-12 (broken chord), an easy pattern heard in 257 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Soft chords
How it goes
Soft chords on beats 1, 3 and 4. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
- 4
Both hands at 100 BPM
How it goes
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 – C
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
FGC- GG · B · D
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Questions about Michael Row The Boat Ashore
What chords are in Michael Row The Boat Ashore?
The loop is C – F – C – Em (I – IV – I – iii) in C major, and the song ends on F – G – C.
What key is Michael Row The Boat Ashore in?
C major, at about 100 beats a minute in 2/2.
What does the left hand play in Michael Row The Boat Ashore?
Trampoline bounce: broken chord 8-12-5-12, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Michael Row The Boat Ashore 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 2 arrangements of this song: the left and right hands are the patterns these scores repeat most.