Rainy Day People Piano Chords & Patterns

Learn Rainy Day People in 5 steps

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

1
Chords: C – F – G – F
How it goes
Rainy Day People 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; G is G, B and D. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
CIFIVGVFIV
- CC · E · G
- FF · A · C
- GG · B · D
49 songs go round the same chords
2
Left hand: Bossa seesaw
How it goes
Low-low, high-high in a laid-back Brazilian sway. Musicians call it root–fifth 1-1-5-5 (root–fifth bass), an easy pattern heard in 428 songs of the library.
Bossa seesawRoot–fifth bass · Bossa novaLeft handEasy
3
Right hand: Freeze-tag chords
How it goes
Chord, chord-and, then freeze for the rest of the bar. It moves with the chords, so it fits every bar of the loop.
Freeze-tag chordsSyncopated chords · PopRight handEasy
4
Both hands at 116 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: G – F – C
How it goes
The last chords are V – IV – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
GFC

What chords are in Rainy Day People?

The loop is C – F – G – F (I – IV – V – IV) in C major, and the song ends on G – F – C.

What key is Rainy Day People in?

C major, at about 116 beats a minute in 4/4.

What does the left hand play in Rainy Day People?

Bossa seesaw: root–fifth 1-1-5-5, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.

Is Rainy Day People 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.