Piano chords · Lullaby boat
How to play Night School on piano
Written by Rosanne Cash & John Leventhal
- Ab major
- 6/8
- 72 BPM
- 2014
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Night School in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: Ab – Fb – Ab – Fb
How it goes
Night School sits in Ab major: Ab is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: Ab is Ab, C and Eb; Fb is Fb, Ab and Cb. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
AbIFbbVIAbIFbbVI- AbAb · C · Eb
- FbFb · Ab · Cb
- 2
Left hand: Lilting climb
How it goes
Three notes climbing in a long-short swing, then a pause to ring. Musicians call it broken chord 1-5-8 (6/8) (broken chord), an easy pattern heard in 120 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: the chords, held
How it goes
In this song the right hand mostly plays the tune itself. Hold the chords lightly, or play the melody over the left hand.
- 4
Both hands at 72 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: Db – Eb – Ab
How it goes
The last chords are IV – V – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
DbEbAb- DbDb · F · Ab
- EbEb · G · Bb
Play next
Questions about Night School
What chords are in Night School?
The loop is Ab – Fb – Ab – Fb (I – bVI – I – bVI) in Ab major, and the song ends on Db – Eb – Ab.
What key is Night School in?
Ab major, at about 72 beats a minute in 6/8.
What does the left hand play in Night School?
Lilting climb: broken chord 1-5-8 (6/8), an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Night School 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.