Piano chords · Pop heartbeat
How to play Sailor on piano
By Anne Shelton
- C major
- 2/2
- 100 BPM
- I–IV–I–V7 loop
- 1961
- Easy
Learn Sailor in 5 steps
The chords first, then one hand at a time. Each step plays in the player above.
- 1
Chords: C – F – C – G7
Sailor 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; G7 is G, B, D and F. Play each one as a block with your right hand until the changes feel easy.
CIFIVCIG7V7- CC · E · G
- FF · A · C
- G7G · B · D · F
- 2
Left hand: Stair steps
Three notes climb up the chord in the island rhythm. Musicians call it broken chord 1-3-5 (broken chord), an easy pattern heard in 438 songs of the library.
- 3
Right hand: the chords, held
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 100 BPM
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 – F – C
The last chords are I – IV – I, then one chord rolled from the bottom up, left to ring.
CFC
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Questions about Sailor
What chords are in Sailor?
The loop is C – F – C – G7 (I – IV – I – V7) in C major, and the song ends on C – F – C.
What key is Sailor in?
C major, at about 100 beats a minute in 2/2.
What does the left hand play in Sailor?
Stair steps: broken chord 1-3-5, an easy pattern. It follows the chords, so the same shape works for every bar.
Is Sailor 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.