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Root Beer Rag: piano accompaniment sheet music
By Billy Joel
- C major
- 4/4
- 160 BPM
- I–IV–I–IV loop
- 1974
- Easy
Root Beer Rag written out as piano music: the I – IV – I – IV loop in C major for both hands, with chord names and finger numbers. Press play and follow the cursor. The left hand plays walking roots (root bass · quarters) and the right hand steady chords.
Root Beer Rag chord chart
The loop once round, bar by bar, in C major. The roman numeral says the chord's place in the key, so the same chart works in any key.
| Bar | Chord | Numeral | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | C | I | C E G |
| 2 | F | IV | F A C |
| 3 | C | I | C E G |
| 4 | F | IV | F A C |
What the sheet music shows
The grand staff: the right hand on the treble staff, the left hand on the bass staff, with the chord names above and a finger number on each note (1 is the thumb). It is the accompaniment: walking roots (root bass · quarters) in the left hand and steady chords in the right, over the C – F – C – F chords.
Press play and a cursor follows the music. Above it, Colours paints each note in its key’s colour and Note names writes its letter on its head.
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Questions about Root Beer Rag
Does the sheet music for Root Beer Rag have finger numbers?
Yes: every note of both hands has its finger number, 1 being the thumb. To read the notes alone, turn Fingers off above the music.
What chords are in Root Beer Rag?
The loop is C – F – C – F (I – IV – I – IV) in C major, and the song ends on D7 – G7 – C.
What key is Root Beer Rag in?
C major, at about 160 beats a minute in 4/4.
What does the left hand play in Root Beer Rag?
Walking roots: root bass · quarters, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Root Beer Rag 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.