Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play Ridin’ in My Car on piano
Written by Alan G. Anderson
- G major
- 4/4
- 100 BPM
- I–V–IV–I loop
- 1977
- Medium
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Ridin’ in My Car in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: G – D – C – G
How it goes
Ridin’ in My Car sits in G major: G is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: G is G, B and D; D is D, F# and A; C is C, E and G. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
GIDVCIVGI- GG · B · D
- DD · F# · A
- CC · E · G
- 2
Left hand: Push and land
How it goes
A push just before beat 3, then two calm landings. Musicians call it root bass · 1 · 2& · 3 · 4 (root bass rhythm), an easy pattern heard in thousands of songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Falling stars
How it goes
Three high notes fall over and over, like stars dropping from the sky. 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: D – C – G
How it goes
The last chords are V – IV – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
DCG
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Questions about Ridin’ in My Car
What chords are in Ridin’ in My Car?
The loop is G – D – C – G (I – V – IV – I) in G major, and the song ends on D – C – G.
What key is Ridin’ in My Car in?
G major, at about 100 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Ridin’ in My Car?
Push and land: root bass · 1 · 2& · 3 · 4, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Ridin’ in My Car 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.