Piano chords · Dreamy ballad
How to play Saginaw, Michigan on piano
Written by Don Wayne & Bill Anderson
- C major
- 2/2
- 100 BPM
- I–V7–I–IV loop
- 1963
- Easy
Play the full song with sheet music
Learn Saginaw, Michigan in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: C – G7 – C – F
How it goes
Saginaw, Michigan sits in C major: C is home, where the song ends. It goes round 4 chords: C is C, E and G; G7 is G, B, D and F; F is F, A and C. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
CIG7V7CIFIV- CC · E · G
- G7G · B · D · F
- FF · A · C
- 2
Left hand: Tumble down
How it goes
Three notes falling down the chord, one per beat, then a rest. Musicians call it broken chord 8-5-1 (broken chord), an easy pattern heard in 635 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: Steady chords
How it goes
A full chord on every beat, steady and simple. 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: C – G7 – C
How it goes
The last chords are I – V7 – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
CG7C
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Questions about Saginaw, Michigan
What chords are in Saginaw, Michigan?
The loop is C – G7 – C – F (I – V7 – I – IV) in C major, and the song ends on C – G7 – C.
What key is Saginaw, Michigan in?
C major, at about 100 beats a minute in 2/2.
What does the left hand play in Saginaw, Michigan?
Tumble down: broken chord 8-5-1, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Saginaw, Michigan 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.